awakenings

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awakenings

Postby Aislin Ni MorRhiaghan » Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:20 pm

Awakening

An awakening is generally defined as the awareness of one’s spirit, or one’s true self. Awakening is generally defined among Nightkind as a sudden awareness of one’s heightened state of self. One of the few characteristics that define Nightkind is that we all seem to know intuitively that we are not like other people. We are somehow different. We feel things and sense things that other’s either can not or choose not to. When one approaches their “rebirth” the senses seem to skyrocket into new heights. What was before a simple heightened awareness is now the sudden tumultuous change that begins the path into the darkness and into twilight.

Awakenings generally begin close to or shortly after the onset of puberty, menses, between 18 and 23, or for some between 35 and 50. Otherkin tend to awaken later in life although they may be aware of their nature earlier. For most vampyres, awakenings begin at crucial and emotionally challenging points in life. Ironicly many mystical individuals and magickal practitioners also seem to awaken to their abilities and drives around these times. The awakening for each is different.

Vampyre awakening

“Now look with your vampyre eyes.”….Lestat
A worthy enough quote to begin this section don’t you think? While it is unlikely that the darkest night will suddenly appear as bright as high noon, it is not unlikely that our senses will elevate to a most annoying level. Most commonly noted symptoms of an impending awakening include increased dream frequency, restlessness, sleeplessness, occasionally insomnia, night terrors, odd cravings, violent thoughts, intense or frequent headaches, muscle spasms, increased thirst, heightened psychic awareness, fatigue, heightened aggression, anger, depression, increased past life recall, increased food sensitivities, possible abdominal pains, and heightened mental stimulation. You may have trouble quieting your mind throughout the day and well into the evening. You may find yourself staring at meat or craving constant interaction with people, the elements, or the great outdoors. These issues only intensify after the onset and as we progress through life we may find ourselves undergoing many such episodes which I refer to affectionately as transitions. Some find these along with the heightened hormone levels, menstruation, or the normal challenges of teen life nearly unbearable.

There are certainly ways of making it more tolerable. Cinnamon under the tongue helps the headaches as does cayenne, just be sure that you don’t have high blood pressure as this will make matters worse. A healthy diet and exercise regimen will help any aggressive tendencies as well as instill discipline. You will find that both will be invaluable as you forge your path in the world. Chamomile, lavender, rose petal, St John’s Wort teas also help. Keeping lavender under your pillow will help ease the intensity of the dreams and help in relaxation. Meditation, visualization, grounding, and centering are all invaluable to a young one. Meditation helps us to focus, instills mental stability, and teaches us to quiet the mind. Visualization takes it a bit further by allowing us to visualize ourselves as healthy, strong, and calm and can be recalled at any point that we begin to feel frazzled. Grounding allows us to stabilize our energies as they are extremely chaotic during this period. A good way to do this is to sit on the ground cross legged. Place your palms flat on the earth and close your eyes. Feel the security of the earth’s energy beneath you and know that you are safe. When you feel comfortable and relaxed imagine the stress, turmoil, and excess energies leaving your body through your palms and releasing into the earth. Imagine the earth’s stabilizing energy moving upward through your palms. Centering, or stabilizing your energies and bringing it to a positive level and keeping it there, usually happens after the other techniques have been mastered. At some point we teach ourselves visualizations that automaticly bring us to a point of inner peace and security no matter where we are. Grounding becomes second nature, whether standing or sitting. Regardless of one’s religious practice or background, these are practices that are necessary in order to keep ourselves balanced and prevent harm to ourselves or others.

Therian awakening

Many don’t consider that Therians also undergo a period of awakening. Nor do they consider that it can be every bit as strenuous as that of the vampyre. Therian awakenings usually have many of the same symptoms but may also include dreams of feelings of confused speciation. Much as some may feel that they are trapped in the wrong body, some therians describe their awakening in very much the same manner. Some may feel as they are tigers, wolves, deer, hawks, eagles, even seals trapped within a human shell. Some may even dream or have visions of being beasts or taking on their traits. Although this is not uncommon among vampyres also, it is extremely pronounced in those of therian natures. On a more positive note, whatever interest they may have had with animals as children is greatly intensified as burgeoning adults. This may lead some to comment on an uncanny way with animals, and in fact the therian may find that they have greater communication skills with their pets or with other animals. Totem animals may appear to them regularly in dreams at this time and it is not uncommon for one of this persuasion to take an interest in shamanism, totem magick, and other spiritual indigineous paths that strongly feature animal archetypes. Therian teens may also find that they tend to carry these totems into athleticism and may increase their speed by drawing from a totem panther, deer, or cheetah. While those undergoing vampyre awakenings tend to become introverted, those undergoing a therian awakening tend to have a more social outlook, much like a pack.

Otherkin awakening

Otherkin have a very different set of issues altogether and may come from many different facets of understanding. Generally, Otherkin are ancient souls and carry much of their wisdom and memories with them. They may have some of the symptoms of vampyre awakening (thirst, headaches, fatigue, irregular sleeping patterns), and some of the therian awakening patterns (speciation displacement, a feeling of being something other than human, kinship with animals), but one thing separates the Otherkin awakenings from that of the therian and the vampyre. Otherkin have distinct feelings that they are not at home. It often a part of their entire lives often resulting in bouts of sadness, childhood depression, and dreams of being in other times and places. Some Other describe feelings of being lost, as if they were dropped off on a far away island and their plane just never returned and often feel as if they think in one language and speak a foreign one. Another common trait in Otherkin awakening is the intense feeling as if something is not quite right with their physical traits. They may feel as if they are missing horns, tails, or wings. It is not uncommon for Otherkin babies to be born with tails, develop skin horns later in life, or bony growths that resemble horns. This desire to have these traits returned may continue throughout their lives. Otherkin also tend to awaken later in life, although many are born awakened.

Dhampyri

Dhampyri are probably the most rare of all of the above. They are those Nightkind who are born awakened to their natures. Dhampyri children may experience heightened psychic occurances as children, a natural inclination for the occult, mysticism, and magick, and may also have a tendency to simply know things that stun most adults. They may be very aware of the energies around them and highly sensitive to changes no matter how small. This can result in emotional outbursts and heightened emotional sensitivity. They may have a higher than average IQ, read above average, and have a natural inclination towards science, history, and music. As the dhampyri approaches puberty their already heightened senses may result in extreme sensitivity, aggression, and confusion. They may have bouts of past life recall, long streams of unintelligible information (much like several volumes of encyclopedia being read at one time), and vivid often prophetic dreams.

Whether one is born awakened or is newly awakened, one thing is certain. Throughout our lives we all undergo random periods of heightened awareness much like our initial awakening period. These transitions may continue and intensify in number and experience throughout our lives. During these periods our senses are very much aware of the energies around us, much moreso than usual. We may be greatly affected by what’s going on in the world, intensely emotional, and have great fluxes in our energy patterns. One day we may be low in energy, the next it’s nearly uncontrollable. Our dreams are very vivid, often bizarre, and sometimes terrifying. Past life memories often come to the surface relatively easily at this time, however the already unstable Nightkind may not be prepared emotionally or mentally for what those memories may hold. This can only add to the already emotional state. Nightkind who are especially empathic or who are of a more sensual nature may find their senses overloaded. These periods of transitions may last from a few days to a few weeks and may leave as suddenly as it appeared.

Patience, strength, and wisdom may all be gleaned from this unique experience. Regardless of what path we follow, what our nature reveals to us, or how long these periods last the person undergoing their awakening may never be the same. We emerge something entirely different.
Aislin Ni MorRhiaghan
 

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