The Three Petals
The term embodied awakening which is the path of awakening that is emerging on the planet, encompasses two of the three petals of this work: the body and consciousness. In this view, you’re not just the awareness observing your life; you’re also the rich mosaic of your physical, emotional, and mental experience. Working with either of these two dimensions alone can lead to profound spiritual growth and substantial transcendent experiences as can be attested by scores of traditions currently available to the spiritual seeker.
However, when you introduce the third petal, relationality, everything opens up in a whole new dynamic way. Relationality extends well beyond our human-to-human interactions, inviting us to explore our connection with nature, Gaia our planet, the cosmos, and the Divine itself. Relationality is like an enzyme involved in an alchemical metabolic process, it takes the substates of embodiment and transcendence and catalyzes them into something new, something that didn’t exist prior to this moment, the product is more than the sum of its initial parts. And the results of this alchemical reaction cannot be predicted. Creation, life, nature is about novelty not maintaining the status quo. Relationality keeps us at our developmental edge as evolving humans.
Together, these three aspects, awareness, embodiment, and relationality, form what we might call the “threefold nature of being.” They are symbolized by three petals, each one essential, and collectively creating a powerful, ever-evolving journey of self-realization.
Awareness
In many spiritual and philosophical traditions, the terms “consciousness” and “awareness” are used interchangeably. Yet it is possible to make subtle distinctions between the two. We must remember though that in reality neither can truly be defined. Both belong to the profound mystery of existence and non-existence, of the manifest and unmanifest, and of the dual and non-dual. Because we’re human we need words to talk with one another, and although these two are truly undefinable, these are the words we’ve settled on to try to convey what we understand about them. And yet, everyone seems to have their own definitions of them which can be very confusing for someone trying to understand them.
In the past, pursuing deeper understandings of consciousness typically meant withdrawing from the everyday bustle of society. Often, this took the form of living within the structured environment of a monastery or convent, where communal rules and disciplined routines were designed to support inward reflection and prayer. In other cases, spiritual seekers would retreat to solitary spaces, like mountain caves or a cabin in the woods, where the absence of worldly distractions allowed them to focus solely on meditative or contemplative practices. The isolation was considered essential for minimizing external influences and quieting the mind, creating an environment where heightened states of awareness could more easily emerge. Such approaches were often reserved for monks, nuns, hermits, or ascetics, whose entire lives were devoted to spiritual development, leaving little room for everyday obligations or relationships.
One way to describe consciousness is as the foundational ground from which all experiences, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and even physical reality unfold and arise. Awareness, by contrast, can be viewed as the direct, immediate knowing or witnessing aspect within that field, the capacity that registers or notices experiences without necessarily identifying with them. Awareness can utilize attention to focus in on a specific object or to expand to include all of existence. In this sense, consciousness might be likened to the sky, where weather patterns such as thoughts, emotions, and sensations occur, while awareness is like the clear lens through which we directly perceive those patterns. Different traditions may blur or stress these distinctions to highlight varying dimensions of our inner life.
But the exploration of awareness isn’t something specifically reserved for monastics anymore, it’s become mainstream, available to everyone. Who hasn’t heard, seen or practiced in a yoga class or attempted or considered sitting down to meditate at least once in their life. But the exploration of awareness is more than that, it’s alive, practical, and accessible in everyday life. Whether you’re driving a car, cooking a meal, walking through a forest or having a conversation with a friend, there’s a subtle, ever-present sense of witnessing that remains untouched by the fleeting drama of personal stories. Tuning into this quiet stillness can bring profound peace, reminding you that there is far more to you than meets the eye.
Embodiment
While many spiritual paths emphasize transcending the body or detaching from physical concerns, embodied awakening invites you to come home to your body, fully, deeply, and without reservation. This approach recognizes that your infinite Awareness doesn’t exist apart from your human form; rather, it blends with your body, weaving the multi-dimensional tapestry of transcendence and immanence into one unified fabric of existence. And it’s important to realize that body doesn’t just mean your flesh-and-blood physiology. It also encompasses your emotions, mental states, subtle energetic fields, and what some might call the dimension of Soul, that aspect that, to me, stands at the boundary between the subtlest of physical form and infinite boundlessness.
Imagine feeling the pulsation of aliveness coursing through every artery and vein, electrifying every neuron in your nervous system, every cell of your body. All subtly “expanding” and “contracting” in perfect synchrony, all the while simultaneously sensing the vastness of your timeless, pristine and unchanging nature. Rather than viewing the body as an obstacle or distraction, this perspective sees it as an essential part of who you are. I encourage you become curious of your body. Place your attention on observing your body’s sensations – hot, cold, aches, pressures, your emotions – sad, angry, happy, and your impulses – what do you want in this moment? These arise as valuable messengers, guiding you to discover deeper layers of your truth and authenticity. These messengers can point to places where you hold constrictions in your body, hold on to limiting beliefs, are numb the history of trauma, your desire for food or sex and even places where there is profound peace and stillness. These bodily signals are always talking to you, looking for integration, but many of these voices are rarely heard because of the noise, confusion and static of your everyday life and the busy-ness of your mind.
This is why even though we cannot become a monastic, we must find some time to be alone with ourselves each day, be it a quiet walk, a few minutes of focusing our awareness inward possibly during meditation or participating in a body-centered practice. By integrating awareness with genuine physical presence, you honor your humanity and infuse each moment with spaciousness, tenderness, and compassion. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, when you move your awareness down into your body, not just being aware of it from the head space but actually moving your awareness down into any particular body part or region, your mind quiets. Unlike meditation where you go up and out to quiet the mind, going down and into the body can have that same sense of quieting.
Being fully present in your body can bring all of life’s sensations into sharper focus—physical aches, emotional currents, and even subtle energetic fluctuations. This can be an intense and sometimes overwhelming experience. For many, this heightened awareness can feel like stepping onto a stage where every spotlight is suddenly aimed inward. This inward focus can bring your awareness to past traumas, repressed emotions, or day-to-day stresses that have gone unacknowledged causing them to rise to the surface, creating a sense of staggering overload and even annihilation. In a world that often encourages us to numb out or distract ourselves, the act of turning inward and truly feeling what is arising in your body can be jarring, even a bit terrifying. Yet, while this intensity can be uncomfortable, it also opens the door to deeper healing and self-discovery, as it allows us to meet each sensation, emotion, and memory with compassion and understanding—a process that ultimately fosters greater wholeness and resilience.
Relationality
Relationality, the recognition that awakening doesn’t occur in a vacuum. Humans are inherently social beings, so our growth unfolds through connection: with partners, friends, family, mentors, and ultimately the entire web of life. This is also called mutuality, emphasizing that no one awakens alone; we awaken together. A friend once told me that, during a period of convalescence, having no one to talk to made her feel as though she were losing her mind. Simply the presence of another person in the room can offer profound comfort, reminding us that we’re not alone in the vastness of creation. We sense someone nearby, likely sharing their own mixture of awe and overwhelm, and just knowing they’re there can bring a deep sense of relief.
There is also the recognition that since your early conditioning, wounding and trauma was created in relationship to your parents, family or friends who didn’t meet you where you were as an authentic expression of the divine, that your healing would naturally arise through healthy relationships with people who actual “saw” you as you truly are. With no expectations on how you should act or be. Since this relational work occurs in a container of safety with a lack of expectation for specific outcomes, you feel safe to express topics and experiences that are not typically acceptable within your current familial and social networks. In this way, your individual awakening becomes a collective dance, each step enriched by the presence and support of others.
Relationality invites you to be real and vulnerable, to let yourself be seen, and to truly see the other, to honor your true and total self while also making room for others to do the same. This is why small group settings and one-on-one sessions can be so transformative. When you share your insights, fears, and breakthroughs, you not only deepen your own growth but also inspire growth in those around you. Many times, you recognize that when another is relating their history of pain and trauma, that you have had a similar experience. This creates a deepening of your connection with the other, and a recognition and that you are not alone in your pain, that others have had similar experiences.
