What do people mean by "an Awakening"?
"Awakening" is a term used in some spiritual practices to denote coming to a new frame of reference, or state of mind. "Awakening" is used in the Otherkin community to denote the point/s of realization that one is not (solely) human.
In Otherkin Awakening, an individual reevaluates their life in new and sometimes scary ways. They realize that, for some reason, they no longer feel -- or never felt -- completely human. Some may feel a new level of consciousness developing, with new thought patterns, new belief structures or new memories.
To some, this 'awakening' to a new life is a quick and complete event. Almost overnight, they 'know' who or what they truly are. For others, and possibly this is the majority, the awakening process is a long process that may take years to complete.
For more information on styles of Awakening, please see: OKNA:wakeup So, You're Awake? by Miaren CrowsDaughter?.
Awakening is, around here and in other spiritual communities, a process of
delving into oneself and coming up with something which is closer and closer
to the truth, the central core, of who you are and perhaps what purpose your higher self has for you.
It's one part in a multilayer process of self-determination,
self-actualization and defining your higher purpose in life.
It does not include using memories as a method of pulling wool over your
eyes, to increase denial, to avoid pain, to avoid living in this reality. It may, however, use memories to convey to you some precious portion of who or what you once were, so you can integrate the knowledge into who and
what you are, and are becoming.
Finding out that you have past lives is not intrinsic to Awakening.
Awakening is a process. One problem with the half-joking title of articles and workshops on the topic of "So you're awake?" is that it assumes the process of awakening is completed. It is possible, and quite likely, that otherkin awakening is simply one step on a longer journey for the individual.
It is possible to awaken to many facets of yourself over a very long period of time:
sexuality, preferred relationship style, a higher order of social caring and obligation (selflessness, honesty, universal love), awareness of one's responsibility to life, to earth, to Her creatures, multiplicity and the plasticity of identity and awareness. It's all part-and-parcel of the Awakening process.
This website deals primarily with awakening on the level of species.