Spiritual Awakening and Spiritual Emergence

Someone approached me recently with concern for her adult son who isn’t ‘spiritual’ but says his third eye is opening.  This had me wondering, how many other ‘non-spiritual’ people are spontaneously ‘waking-up’ without a previous frame of reference.  She and her son were doing great.  He, researching his 'non-ordinary' experiences whilst managing well to stay grounded in his daily life.  This isn’t always the case and it’s a real credit to their trusting and heart-centred way. 

In my career so far, I’ve had only a few clients seek my help who were going through intense spiritual awakening.  In my training it was termed ‘spiritual emergence’ or if it’s becoming a crisis for someone ‘spiritual emergency’.

What is Spiritual Emergence?

Spiritual emergence is...
"the movement of an individual to a more expanded way of being that involves
enhanced emotional and psychosomatic health, greater freedom of personal choices, and a sense of deeper connection with other people, nature, and the cosmos. 

An important part of this development is an increasing awareness of the spiritual dimension
in one's life and in the universal scheme of things."
(Grof & Grof, 1990)

Spiritual emergence can happen to anyone, in fact I believe it is happening to our planet.  Those who are spiritually attuned are noticing that the 'veil between worlds' is becoming thinner.  Science is reporting that Earths magnetic field is becoming less defined as our poles begin to shift toward a predicted pole reversal. 

Whatever the reason, as a planet and as people we seem to be awakening to energies beyond our ordinary ‘field’ of vision.  With a shifting personal and planetary field, it makes sense why centreing in our heart chakra and awakening our presence to the greater unifying force of love, has become key to our process.

For each of us this process is also a uniquely personal one, be it sudden and rapid, full of grace or a deepening spiritual path.  For most however, it is just the stuff of life, such as facing major challenges like illnesses, and death/s.  All challenges have the potential to awaken our conscious presence and release what no longer serves our truer self.

How can we help?

There are ten common themes of experience that spiritual emergence may take.  The SEN website www.spiritualemergence.org.au is a great resource with pages of information, such as how to recognise spiritual emergence and how to support a friend or family member who is having an intense awakening.  You may even recognise the key themes showing up in your life as 'mirrors' to your own emergence.

Acknowledging that they are moving through
an important and natural process,
removes much of the fear and resistance,
which then allows it to
flow with more ease and grace.

For some these experiences may be so frightening that it may seem they are 'losing' their mind or going to die.  Death is a common symbolic theme that arises during spiritual emergence as the fear-based consciousness or ‘ego structures’ begin to breakdown and 'die'. 

This breakdown is followed by a break-through into awareness, love and unity-consciousness.

Why is it so important?

Most people going through spiritual emergence intuitively know their experiences are an awakening process.  However, because of the intensity some may seek help, be diagnosed and prescribed strong medication to halt this process.  In some cases when all other practical tools and assistance doesn't help, prescribed medication will be needed to help manage it.

Who else can help?

There is a lot we can all do to help another and ourselves stay present, grounded, fed, rested and safe during spiritual emergence.  Finding a heart-centred practitioner that is versed in the symbolic and energetic terrains of both the collective and the personal unconscious can be very important for some.  Witnessing, integrating and grounding the energies through processes such as art, ritual and client-centred spiritual counselling, will assist the transition from unconscious fear to loving presence in both the ordinary and spiritual realms more effectively and safely.

......And other times, it may simply be a warm bath or immersion in nature that will serve best :-)

To find out more about my art therapy sessions go to Art Therapy.

Namaste,
Tanya