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The 5 Dark Phases of Spiritual Enlightenment and How to Overcome Them

Angela Price2 min read
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The 5 Dark Phases of Spiritual Enlightenment and How to Overcome Them — Lifestyle
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The Death of Your Former Self-Image

The death of the ego
All your life, you’ve carried a self-image shaped by your own beliefs. Our religious, social, and cultural conditioning creates this phantom self—the ego—which is often a false picture we’ve built of ourselves. When you awaken to consciousness, this image and your entire worldview start to shake, and you begin to understand your role in the universe. The death of the ego means realizing your soul is infinite, and the ego was just a tool you used until now.

The Feeling of Loneliness

The feeling of loneliness
This isn’t talked about much, but spirituality is a solitary journey, and in its different phases, you may feel very alone. As your worldview shifts, fewer people will truly understand what’s happening inside you. That’s when you need to turn inward and seek answers through meditation. As you get to know yourself and your place in the world better, you’ll also feel connected to the infinite. As Osho said: only those who can be alone can truly love.

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance
Officially, cognitive dissonance is when someone believes in multiple conflicting ideas at once. During enlightenment, you let go of lifelong beliefs and teachings and undergo a complete shift in perspective. This can cause temporary confusion, but at the end of the path awaits liberation and an open, expanded consciousness.

Meeting Your Shadow Side

Meeting your shadow side
Even the famous psychiatrist Carl Jung said that without pain, we can’t awaken to true consciousness. We must face our own soul, which means looking beyond the darkness. He meant that we need to confront what’s hidden in our subconscious, cleanse ourselves, and accept who we are. If you succeed, you’ll see that your existence in the universe is a true miracle.

Realizing Your Cosmic Power

Realizing your cosmic power
Once spiritually enlightened, there’s nowhere to hide and no more self-deception. You sense your freedom and start shaping your life with this new power. Life’s meaning is what we give it, and we can always rebuild ourselves—even after setbacks.
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