21 Traits of an Awakening Soul: Are You One?

A spiritual awakening is a profound shift in consciousness that can transform your entire life.

It’s like waking up from a deep sleep and realizing there’s so much more to reality than you ever imagined.

Most people go through life on autopilot, never truly experiencing the depth and richness of their own existence.

They’re stuck in the rat race, chasing after material success and external validation, completely oblivious to the incredible power that lies within them.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve felt that nagging sense that there’s something more to life. 

You’ve caught glimpses of a deeper truth, moments of clarity that left you questioning everything you thought you knew.

We’re about to dive deep into the world of spiritual awakening and explore the 21 traits that signal you’re on this transformative journey.

a Spiritual Awakening
by Patrick Hendry/ CC0 1.0

What is a spiritual awakening?

Let’s cut through the bull and get real for a second. A spiritual awakening isn’t some woo-woo, new-age concept reserved for monks and hippies. It’s a fundamental shift in how you perceive yourself and the world.

It’s like you’ve been watching life through a dirty window, and suddenly, someone comes along and wipes it clean. Everything becomes clearer, more vibrant, and more meaningful. You start to see the interconnectedness of all things and realize that you’re not just a separate individual struggling to survive in a hostile world.

You’re integral to a vast, intelligent, constantly evolving, and expanding universe. But here’s the kicker: a spiritual awakening isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. It can be messy, uncomfortable, and downright terrifying at times. Why?

It forces you to confront all the limiting beliefs, outdated patterns, and emotional baggage you’ve been carrying for years. It’s like cleaning out a cluttered attic—you must face all the junk you’ve been avoiding before creating space for something new.

This process can be intense, but it’s necessary for growth and transformation.

You might think, “Okay, but how do I know if I’m experiencing a spiritual awakening?” Well, that’s where the signs of an evolving consciousness come in. These are the telltale indicators that you’re starting to wake up to your true nature and potential.

And let me tell you, once you start noticing these signs, there’s no going back. You can’t unsee what you’ve seen or unlearn what you’ve learned. It’s like taking the red pill in The Matrix – you’re choosing to see reality as it truly is, not just the illusion you’ve been fed your whole life.

Traits of an evolving consciousness

When your consciousness starts to evolve, it’s like upgrading the operating system of your mind. Suddenly, you can process information and experiences in a whole new way. One of the first signs you might notice is increased awareness.

You become more present daily, noticing the little details you used to overlook. The taste of your morning coffee becomes more vivid, and the colors of a sunset become more vibrant. It’s like you’re experiencing life in high definition for the first time.

Another major sign is a shift in your priorities and values. Things that used to seem incredibly important – like climbing the corporate ladder or keeping up with the Joneses – start to lose their appeal. Instead, you find yourself drawn to deeper, more meaningful pursuits.

You might suddenly become interested in meditation, yoga, or other spiritual practices. You might feel called to positively impact the world through volunteering, activism, or simply being kinder to those around you.

But here’s where it gets really interesting: as your consciousness evolves, you question everything. And I mean everything.

The beliefs you’ve held your entire life, the societal norms you’ve always accepted without question, even your own thoughts and behaviors – they all come under scrutiny. This can be incredibly liberating, but it can also be disorienting.

You might feel like a stranger in your own life, wondering how you ever believed or acted the way you did before.

A growing sense of interconnectedness is one of the most powerful signs of an evolving consciousness. You start to see the invisible threads that connect all living beings, and you realize that your actions have ripple effects far beyond your immediate sphere of influence.

This can lead to a profound sense of responsibility and a desire to live in harmony with the world around you. It’s like you’ve been playing a solo game your whole life, and suddenly, you realize you’re part of a massive multiplayer experience.

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Emotional Changes During Awakening

Now, let’s talk about the emotional rollercoaster often accompanying a spiritual awakening. Buckle up, because this ride can get intense. One of the first things you might notice is a heightened sensitivity to emotions – both your own and those of others.

It’s like someone cranked up the volume on your emotional receptors. You might feel things more deeply than ever before, which can be both beautiful and overwhelming.

On one hand, you might experience moments of pure bliss and ecstasy, feeling a deep connection to the universe and all living beings. These peak experiences can be incredibly powerful, leaving you with a sense of awe and wonder that stays with you long after the moment has passed.

But on the flip side, you might also find yourself grappling with intense feelings of sadness, anger, or fear as you confront and release old emotional wounds.

This emotional purging is a crucial part of the awakening process. Think of it like a spiritual detox – all the pent-up emotions and unresolved issues you’ve been carrying around are coming to the surface to be acknowledged, felt, and released.

It’s not always pretty, but necessary for your growth and healing. You might find yourself crying for no apparent reason or feeling waves of anger about injustices in the world. Don’t resist these emotions – your teachers guide you toward greater self-awareness and compassion.

Another common emotional change during awakening is a growing sense of empathy and compassion. As you become more attuned to your own emotions, you also become more sensitive to the feelings of others.

You might be deeply moved by stories of human suffering or a strong urge to help those in need. This increased empathy can be a beautiful gift but overwhelming if you don’t learn to set healthy boundaries.

One of the most challenging emotional aspects of awakening is the feeling of isolation or alienation that often accompanies it. Seeing the world differently might make you feel like you no longer fit in with your old social circles.

Conversations that used to interest you now seem shallow or meaningless. You might struggle to relate to friends or family members who don’t share your newfound perspective. This can be incredibly lonely, but remember – it’s a necessary part of the process.

You’re outgrowing old patterns and relationships to make room for new ones that align with your evolving consciousness.

Spiritual Experiences and Phenomena

Now, let’s explore the really mind-bending stuff—the spiritual experiences and phenomena that often accompany an awakening.

These moments make you question everything you thought you knew about reality. They’re the experiences that leave you wide-eyed and slack-jawed, wondering if you’ve gone completely crazy or finally tapped into something profound and real.

One common phenomenon is synchronicity – those seemingly random coincidences that feel too meaningful to be mere chance. You might think of an old friend you haven’t spoken to in years, only to have them call you out of the blue five minutes later.

Or you might keep seeing the same number sequence everywhere you look – on license plates, clocks, receipts. These synchronicities are like little winks from the universe, reminding you there’s more behind the scenes than meets the eye.

Another powerful spiritual experience is the sensation of energy moving through your body. This might feel like tingling, warmth, or even electric currents coursing through you.

Some people describe it as a kundalini awakening – a surge of spiritual energy rising from the base of the spine. These energy experiences can be incredibly intense and sometimes even uncomfortable, but they’re often accompanied by profound insights or moments of clarity.

Many awakening individuals also report experiencing altered states of consciousness. This might include vivid, prophetic dreams, out-of-body experiences, or moments of spontaneous meditation where time seems to stand still.

You might slip into trance-like states during everyday activities, feeling a deep sense of peace and connection to something greater than yourself.

One of the most profound spiritual phenomena is the experience of ego dissolution or cosmic consciousness. This is the sensation of your self melting away, leaving you with a profound sense of oneness with all that exists.

It’s like the boundaries between you and the rest of the universe dissolve, and you realize that you are not separate from anything – you are an integral part of the whole. This experience can be both terrifying and liberating, often impacting how you view yourself and your place in the world.

It’s important to note that while these spiritual experiences can be incredibly powerful and transformative, they’re not the end goal of awakening.

They’re more like signposts along the way, glimpses of a deeper reality that’s always present but often overlooked. The real work of awakening is integrating these experiences into your daily life, allowing them to inform how you show up in the world and interact with others.

Deepak Chopra answers this question for one of his readers.

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spiritual awakening

21 Signs Of An Awakening Soul

Alright, now it’s time to get down to brass tacks.

We’ve covered the broad strokes of spiritual awakening, but let’s zoom in on the specific traits that signal you’re on this transformative journey.

These are the 21 signs of a spiritual awakening. As you read through this list, be honest with yourself.

How many of these traits resonate with you?

  1. Heightened intuition: You start trusting your gut feelings more, which often turn out to be right.
  2. Increased empathy: You feel others’ emotions as if they were your own.
  3. A sense of mission or purpose: You feel called to positively impact the world.
  4. Desire for authenticity: You’re no longer willing to pretend or wear masks to fit in.
  5. Increased sensitivity: You become more sensitive to energy, emotions, and environments.
  6. Questioning societal norms: You start challenging the status quo and question why things are how they are.
  7. Desire for solitude: You need more time to process your thoughts and emotions.
  8. Synchronicities: You notice meaningful coincidences happening more frequently.
  9. Interest in spiritual or metaphysical topics: You’re drawn to explore the deeper mysteries of life.
  10. Heightened creativity: You experience bursts of inspiration and creative energy.
  11. Physical changes: You might experience sleep patterns, diet preferences, or energy level changes.
  12. Time perception shifts: Time seems to speed up or slow down in unusual ways.
  13. Increased self-awareness: You become more conscious of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
  14. Desire for simplicity: You feel drawn to declutter your life and focus on what truly matters.
  15. Heightened sense of connection to nature: You feel a deep bond with the natural world.
  16. Lucid dreaming: Your dreams become more vivid and meaningful.
  17. Increased compassion: You feel a growing desire to help others and alleviate suffering.
  18. Letting go of attachments: Material possessions and external validation become less important.
  19. Sense of timelessness: You experience moments where past, present, and future seem to merge.
  20. Increased perception of energy: You might see auras or feel subtle energies around people and places.
  21. Deep sense of inner peace: Despite external chaos, you cultivate a growing sense of inner calm.

Now, here’s the thing: you don’t need to tick every box on this list to be experiencing a spiritual awakening.

Everyone’s journey is unique, and you might resonate strongly with some traits while others don’t apply to you at all. The key is to pay attention to the overall trajectory of your consciousness.

Are you becoming more aware, compassionate, and connected to something greater than yourself? If so, congratulations – you’re waking up.

But let me be clear: identifying with these traits isn’t about stroking your ego or feeling superior to others. It’s about recognizing where you are on your journey so you can continue to grow and evolve. Each of these traits comes with its own challenges and responsibilities.

For example, increased empathy is beautiful, but you must also learn how to protect your energy and set healthy boundaries. A sense of mission is powerful but can also lead to burnout if you don’t balance it with self-care.

The journey of awakening is ongoing. It’s not about reaching some final destination where you’re permanently enlightened and free from all suffering.

It’s about continually expanding your awareness, deepening your compassion, and aligning more fully with your true nature. Each of these 21 traits is like a muscle – the more you exercise it, the stronger it becomes.

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Traits And Signs of an Awakening Soul Conclusion

So, there you have it – the 21 traits of an awakening soul laid bare. If you’ve resonated with many of these characteristics, congratulations. You’re on a path of profound transformation and growth. But here’s the million-dollar question: now what?

First, understand that spiritual awakening isn’t a destination—it’s a journey. Like any journey, it has its ups and downs, its moments of clarity and confusion. There will be times when you feel on top of the world, connected to everything and everyone.

There will also be times when you feel lost and alone and wonder if you’ve gone completely insane. Both are normal and part of the process.

Second, don’t get caught up in spiritual ego. Just because you’re experiencing these traits doesn’t make you better than anyone else. It simply means you’re becoming more aware of who you truly are and the interconnected nature of reality. Use this awareness to cultivate compassion, not superiority.

Third, find your tribe. Surround yourself with others who are on a similar path. They’ll understand what you’re going through in ways others might not. They can offer support, guidance, and a sense of community during the challenging times.

Fourth, keep learning and growing. Read books, attend workshops, meditate, and journal. Do whatever helps you expand your consciousness and deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you.

Finally, and most importantly, integrate your awakening into your daily life. Having profound experiences or intellectual understanding is not enough.

The real work is living your awakening—bringing more presence, compassion, and authenticity into every interaction and decision you make.

Remember, awakening isn’t about escaping reality but fully embracing it. It’s about showing up as your truest, most authentic self and positively impacting in whatever feels aligned for you.

So, as you continue on this journey of awakening, ask yourself: How can I use these traits, these experiences, and this expanded awareness to create more love, more joy, and more peace in the world? That, my friends, is the real purpose of spiritual awakening.

Now, go out there and shine your light.

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