The process of waking up from sleep; a moment of realization or enlightenment. Can refer to spiritual, intellectual, or social consciousness emerging.
From Old English 'awaecnan' meaning to wake up, combined with the suffix '-ing.' The metaphorical sense of mental or spiritual awakening developed in the 16th century, influenced by religious reformation movements.
The concept of 'awakening' appears across cultures and religions as a metaphor for enlightenment - from Buddha's awakening under the bodhi tree to the Great Awakening revival movements in American history. Neuroscientists now study the literal awakening process and have discovered that our brains don't wake up all at once, but in stages.
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