Something is shifting, morphing, and evolving in your life. These alchemical changes might be subtle or shocking, sudden or progressive… But whatever the case, something is transforming below the surface. You are like the caterpillar dissolving in its cocoon.
Perhaps life is heading in a surprising direction. New doors may be opening for you out of the blue. Synchronicities may increase. And what haunted you before is beginning to fade away.
You just aren’t the same person you used to be, and this can feel disorienting yet titillating!
If you can relate to these feelings and intuitions, you might be going through a spiritual transformation.
What is spiritual transformation?
Spiritual transformation is what happens when we evolve on the level of the soul. Like a lotus flower (which is symbolic of inner alchemy), we emerge from the muddy waters of the ego into a more divinely expanded version of ourselves. Spiritual transformation can happen slowly throughout time or in an unexpected, fast, or intense way.
Examples of spiritual transformation include, but are not limited to:
- Letting go of an old toxic pattern or behavior
- No longer feeling limited by a certain trauma
- Becoming more authentic and soul-centered
- Desiring to open up rather than shut down and hide
Of course, there are endless possibilities when it comes to spiritual transformation. Can you relate to any of the above examples?
Spiritual Transformation vs. Spiritual Awakening: What’s the Difference?
While spiritual awakening and spiritual transformation sound similar and are certainly connected, these two experiences are different.
Spiritual awakening is an umbrella term that refers to the spiritual path as a whole. Spiritual transformation, on the other hand, is what happens within the spiritual journey.
Another way of distinguishing these two terms is by seeing spiritual awakening as a force of change that happens at the very beginning of the spiritual journey. And spiritual transformation is what happens near the end of the spiritual journey. Keep in mind, though, that the spiritual journey is cyclical, so we may undergo a transformation and then begin a new era of awakening, which will eventually lead to another transformation. The cycle is an ever-expanding mandala.
By
Benambeba C. Matilda
Library Chairperson
GHAMSU- UCC Local