How Awareness Becomes Conscious

Early in the spiritual awakening process, we begin to observe our thoughts, noticing a delightful sense of space or distance from the mind's automatic chatter. This deeper perspective brings immense relief; we're no longer entirely entranced by our conditioning. Yet, this shift serves a greater purpose: it activates the dormant awareness within us, ready to be made conscious.

We start to explore this other aspect of ourselves, an unknowable yet familiar essence deep within. We discover we can't objectify it, grasp it, or even consciously activate it. All we can do is notice that it's already present and surrender to it. We learn how to immerse ourselves in our formless, silent selves, remembering our immense, true nature.

Over time, worldly desires and the inner narrative become less important. Old unconscious patterns and repressed emotions surface, then dissolve into the vast, aware space. What we focus on expands. Our commitment to deepening this connection to our essential selves is rewarded with increasing clarity and joy.

We start to notice that an opening happens inside the body, and we now have access to our fundamental nature in a deeply embodied way. The felt sense of awareness, sometimes called presence, becomes obvious in the body, and we notice that the more we place attention on this alive emptiness, it grows. This is how awareness becomes conscious in an embodied way.

With consistent practice, a willingness to embrace whatever challenges arise, and a touch of grace, awareness, or beingness, naturally takes the front seat. This marks a profound, permanent shift: the realisation that "I am that" - that unexplainable yet vibrantly alive, divine emptiness. This pivotal moment is often referred to as the end of seeking, and it can be considered the approximate halfway point of the awakening process.