Spiritual awakenings can be mildly unnerving at first, as they often cause us to grapple with questions like, Who am I, and why am I here? But there can also be a certain element of wonder and excitement when we find ourselves suddenly feeling very much alive. The idea of the spiritual awakening was popularized in the Western world by famed psychiatrist Carl Jung (who described the process as coming back to the original Self), but the experience of rising to a higher state of consciousness has always been an intrinsic part of what it means to be human. According to spiritual author Shannon Kaiser, a few common causes include life-changing events (i.e., losing your job, moving away from home, a car accident, etc.) and people who open a spiritual “door” for you (like a twin flame or soul mate). “Spiritual awakenings can be spontaneous,” she says, “but for most, they are triggered by major life changes or traumas such as life-threatening illnesses, car accidents, divorces, war, pandemics, quarter-life or midlife crises, mental health crises such as clinical depression or anxiety, or even a near-death experience.” As professional intuitive and the author of Angel Intuition, Tanya Carroll Richardson explains, ultimately, anything that encourages (or forces) you to “look at your life from a more spiritual perspective” can set you on a path toward awakening. In addition to that, “find people you resonate with spiritually that you can talk to,” she suggests. You can look for books or podcasts about spirituality that resonate with you, as well. “Practice self-love and compassion,” Kaiser notes. “Be gentle with yourself and trust the unfolding; all spiritual awakenings occur to guide us back into balance with our true self.” She adds to also pay attention to your inner guide and intuitive nudges, as “they’re helping you harmonize and remove what no longer is authentic in your life.”
