What is Awakening?

Today, I would like to write a bit about what awakening actually is, because this term is used so loosely and interchangeably for EVERYTHING in the spiritual world, leading to a lot of confusion and lack of clarity.

Awakening is very difficult to put into words, which is why I first want to write about what awakening is NOT, even though it is (erroneously) referred to as such. Especially in the esoteric scene, this term is thrown around casually without sound understanding or personal experience. I exclude myself from this—I, too, used to use the term without truly knowing what it meant.

So first, here is a list of what awakening is NOT:

• the realization that we are controlled, manipulated, suppressed, and kept small by an elite/Illuminati/extraterrestrials/archons/reptilians, etc., or that we are living in a Matrix.
• the experience of merging and becoming one with everything.
• the experience of seeing, hearing, feeling, or knowing an overwhelming light, the cosmos, the universe, angels, masters, the Akashic records, or similar phenomena.
• Mystical experiences of any kind associated with expanded consciousness: merging, experiences of God, the opening of the heart chakra, encounters with beings of any kind, or glimpses into higher dimensions of reality.
• The experience of “being an awakened person.”
• The experience of having an open heart and feeling connected in love to all people and beings.
• Symptoms of a vibrational frequency increase are often equated with awakening, which is incorrect. A rise in vibration may precede awakening, but it does not indicate awakening itself. Symptoms of a vibrational shift include: becoming more sensitive and intuitive; developing extrasensory perception; discovering healing abilities within oneself; losing interest in people, things, and activities that used to be fulfilling; experiencing sleep disturbances or physical changes; having lucid dreams; communicating with beings from other dimensions; feeling a desire for withdrawal and meditation; wanting to unravel the meaning of life, etc.
• Kundalini experiences.
• Any expansion of consciousness induced by drugs.
• Insights into one’s own patterns, belief systems, karma, thoughts, and feelings.
• Ascension into higher dimensions.
• Insights concerning the Matrix, grid networks surrounding the Earth, or similar concepts, and “stepping out” of them.
• Everything that does NOT involve a shift in identity and does not question the ego.

All spiritual teachers and teachings that do not question the EGO and work with energy work, angels, shamanic techniques, healing, the quantum field, vibrational shifts, ascended masters, therapy forms of any kind, etc., do not lead to awakening. However, certain practices can serve as preparation by purifying the mind.

So, now we know what awakening is NOT. But what is it then?

Awakening is a shift in identity—in WHAT you actually are. Your identity becomes completely different from what it was before awakening, and it is now your true and everlasting identity. Awakening is therefore the most fundamental self-realization possible.

The consequence of this shift in identity is that you perceive from an entirely different perspective. Typically, two shifts are necessary for this. (Only very rarely does liberation happen in a single, self-contained shift, such as with the Indian sage Ramana Maharshi.)

The First Shift:

The first shift is the transition in perspective from the ordinary ego—the person with all their traits, various roles (father, husband, teacher, son, neighbor, soccer player, etc.), desires, feelings, thoughts, etc.—to perceiving oneself as I AM. Other terms for the I Am include: pure consciousness, pure awareness, pure I, Higher Self, the witness, the true Self, being, existence (consciousness, pure consciousness, witnessing consciousness, SELF, I AM, pure I, I-I, pure awareness, existence, beingness, the screen of consciousness, the unchanging background). This shift is already experienced as a profound liberation. From the narrow, separate perspective of an ego, you now perceive yourself as the open, all-pervading, silent, peaceful “space” in which the entire world appears—indeed, as being and existence itself. While this shift is a radical change in perspective, it is simultaneously recognized that this consciousness has always been there, that it is and always was the background of all experiences, so close and natural, so simple and plain, yet it was simply “overlooked.” This is difficult to describe. This moment of recognition happens at a very specific point in time, but what is recognized is timeless. Now, it is important to know that awakening is not yet complete with the first shift. In fact, this is often confused, and people believe they are already enlightened, whereas in this state a very subtle EGO is still present. This is because there is still a subtle identification with the body. This only dissolves in the second shift, which is then irreversible. This means that after the first shift, one can still fall back into the separate ego, the person, at any time. This can happen after seconds, minutes, days, weeks, or years. Most teachers today who claim to be awakened have experienced this first shift. The ultimate eradication of the ego (the second shift) is rare.

The Second Shift:

In the second shift, true liberation takes place because the ego is now finally dissolved and identification with the body is severed. The consequence is that you no longer have a reference point; instead, you experience yourself as absolutely everything, which corresponds to total completeness. This can neither be understood nor imagined before it is your own direct experience. At this point, I cannot yet speak from personal experience and therefore hold back.

When I was talking with a friend about awakening, she asked me: “Why would anyone want to awaken anyway? I’m doing really well and I’m happy with how my life is going. What do I need an awakening for?”. In Eastern philosophy, awakening/enlightenment is seen as the only way to attain true liberation. Liberation from the ups and downs of life, from pain and suffering, ultimate freedom. In my experience, awakening finds US, rather than it being a conscious decision on our part (at least in the beginning). This process has its own unique dynamics and intelligence. Anyone truly interested in self-realization will sooner or later be guided to the most fundamental self-realization of all: awakening!