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It's tricky to frame a definition of enlightenment. It doesn't sit still waiting for a label to be pasted on it.
That is to say, enlightenment looks different depending on where you are when you ask the question.
All truths are relative.
S0, is there an authoritative definition of such as spiritual state? Or is enlightenment different for
everyone?
And what does enlightenment mean to a Witch?
Becoming Light
Enlighten literally means "becoming light."
When you attain a certain level of spirituality, you become able to perceive yourself -- and all things --
as streaming with brilliant white Light.
Why Light?
Light is the fundamental analogy for the Divine Source, and it is also as good a word there is for what
you are really made of.
At the fundamental levels, matter is made up of energy organised into information. Everything in the
universe really is made of Light.
When you are enlightened, Light permeates every level of your being. You become . . .
Light of Mind
You can see Light - that is, the Divine - shining through everything around you, including yourself.
Light of Heart
You become light-hearted. You don't need to take anything so seriously . . . especially yourself.
Light of Body
You lose the things that weigh on you . . . physical weight, illness, lethargy.
So when you become enlightened, you are simply aware of this level of reality - the reality of Light
underlying everything.
Which is, the reality of the Divine manifest in the world.
The reason, I believe, is partly because it's a rare person who is interested in enlightenment, regardless
of religion. (Although this is changing.)
And also partly because of how enlightenment is perceived by Westerners.
Enduring Truth
But if you stop with honouring the Dark, you become attached to what is transitory - and whatever
changes is less than perfectly true. Only what endures is Truth, that is, Divinity.
In terms of the universe, darkness seems more enduring, timeless. Suns are born and suns die, but the
Dark lives on.
So isn't the Dark the ultimate Truth? No. The Dark is illusion as well.
Because even the universe dies. When it does, ALL duality is lost. And then terms such as Light and
Dark show their fundamental meaninglessness.
So we need to fully embrace the Light, too. Otherwise we become too assimilated into earthly life, and
forget that it's all an illusion. Beautiful, joyful, sacred . . . but an illusion.
Wiccan Enlightenment
This is the hook that has kept Wicca from reaching its full spiritual potential. To Witches, it feels
almost a betrayal to look beyond the physical manifestation of the Goddess on Earth.
So Wicca hasn't really addressed enlightenment as such.
Yet as humans we were obviously created to do so.
And as the Spiritual Rebirth of the planet gains momentum, this is changing. As we shift from religion
to spirituality, a new definition of enlightenment is naturally arising in Wiccan circles.
From a Wiccan perspective, enlightenment can be seen as a state of expanded awareness, and direct
experience of the God/dess.
Stated this way, it is obvious that Wicca lends itself naturally to spiritual enlightenment . . .
Wicca is all about expanding awareness to other levels of consciousness, and direct communication
with the Divine.
God-Realization
At the point of complete enlightenment, you realize that you can't draw a line dividing you from the
Divine. That in fact you have never been separate from God.
That's why it's called realizing God, rather than, say, finding God.
You can't lose the Divine. You can only neglect to realize that She's been with you all along.
. . . That in fact She is you.
Self-Realization
This is why God-realization is also called Self-realization. It's exactly the same thing.
When you realize yourself as not separate in any way from the Divine, you can begin to truly know
God . . .
Unlimited
Universal
Infinite
Love
And when you know God, you discover Who you really are.