The sleeper must awaken. To be awake etymologically means not asleep, to come out of sleep, from the Old English [awæcnan](https://www.etymonline.com/word/awaken?ref=etymonline_crossreference) to arise, and [wæcnian](https://www.etymonline.com/word/waken) to rise, to come into being.

<center>
<img src="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/Qmd6ufysbCGvS7zLc1ZVXcbXK6u4qBK7HmaL4R46RpEkmw" />
<em><a href="http://intellectualcramps.blogspot.ca/2012/10/you-can-be-asleep-even-if-awake.html">Source</a></em>
</center>

# From Physical to Metaphysical

When we are unconscious, we are asleep. When we are conscious and aware, we are awake. In physical leep we have varying degrees of alertness and awareness (some wake up at loud sounds while others don't, some wake up easily at being touched while others need more physical stimulus, etc.), but there are also varying degrees of wakefulness, where we can be very alert and awake but have diminished capacities for alertness and awareness. Sleep deprivation causes this in our conscious state.

These word symbols apply in other contexts of waking-life as well apart from the physical sleep of nighttime. Our conscious awareness and level of being aware and awake goes beyond having enough sleep or not, into the domains of understanding and wisdom about ourselves and the world.

# Awaken Consciousness

There are also levels of consciousness; levels of awareness that can be attained in life. The faculty of consciousness can be lacking in some people, where they are less psychologically conscious and awake, and more asleep, stuck in that somnambulistic, automatic, programmed and conditioned modality of living. They are "awake" to some degree -- to walk, talk, feel, act, survive, procreate, live and die -- but without ever being aware of their hypnotic condition, a form of "sleep walking" we can say.

Others have awakened more to a higher level of consciousness, liberating themselves from the collective mass hypnosis. They have gone beyond the impositions of education, culture, imitation and conditioned reflexes about how to think. Some people awaken to greater levels of awareness that free them from the shackles of their condition and conformity that was imposed upon them. Many people in history have become awakened and understood various truths, trying to share what they have come to understand. But all too often, their words were not heard and fell on deaf ears who remained blind to what was going on, both in the world and within themselves.

<center>
<img src="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmT1SnjQT5o1BqBYpnKZLhKbeS5rqgr2jk1JMQaKB1KRv6" />
<em><a href="http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Planet-Universe-Earth-Heaven-Celestial-Ascension-1568162">Source</a></em>
</center>

# Awaken to Truth

Increasing our awareness makes us more awake. Truth makes us more awake. Caring for truth awakens the flame of truth within us to desire to live in truth, and specifically moral truth. We can be awakened to the desire to learn, understand and be more aware of reality, and continually ask ourselves "is this really true?" We must also be willing to examine our previously held onto and attached views that we have been conditioned to see and think about our world.

Truth has that affect to wake us up internally. Truth can uncomfortable and shake us up, rattle us, disturb us, awaken us and snap us out of our slumber in lower consciousness and unconscious automated behaviors, responses and thinking patterns we repeat, and to disturb us from the comfort zone of excuses or ignorance we keep ourselves in.

# From Asleep, Unconscious and Dead to Awake, Conscious and Alive

When someone is literally dead, there is no consciousness or action in life, hence the symbolism of being "unconscious".

To be unconscious is to lack consciousness in varying degrees. Being consciously aware, thinking and learning, increases awareness of reality. Being unconscious is akin to not increasing awareness of what is really going on.

When we don't really have care for truth ignited in a significant way, we have apathy for truth. This is to remain "unconscious", "dead", "asleep", "sheep", unawakened and uninitiated. We are "dead" in the coffin or tomb, unawakened, asleep and unconscious to various significant quality truths and the importance of truth in life. It symbolizes a "deadened" "heart" center, a "deadened" core, "essence", "spirit" and consciousness.

<center>
<img src="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmZkgY8S56FbWjhJRH8RLb2QTbmpsYkHjCSiLqN8RQhYdG" />
<em>Unknown Source</em>
</center>

When someone is asleep, not awake, they are also unconscious and inactive. It's to be unconscious and inactive relative to being consciously aware of the importance of truth, caring for truth and acting in alignment with truth. Analogy, metaphor and symbolism is used to expressed this understanding of unrealized and unactualized potential to care for, seek, embrace, embody and live up to our potential truer, realer, higher version of ourselves that aligns with truth, and specifically moral truth.

Having life is related to consciousness and awareness. Higher consciousness is related to being more "alive", to having the light and vision of truth in our lives, to having the flame of truth burning and fueling us from within, to drive and motivate us in life.

Death is being dead, in darkness, no longer conscious but unconscious. Lower consciousness is related to this symbolism, where we are "dead" in a tomb within rather than being "alive", in the darkness and not in the light, blind instead of having vision from the light of truth, to be in "eternal slumber" vs. "eternal life"/"afterlife" of being risen from the "dead" underworld, "reborn", "renewed" and "resurrected" into a new life, an "afterlife".

<center>
<img src="https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmbJuU47XXtmRWTQUQ2pVYRhx7SGUG8xntkdivE3mPxLb8" />
<em>Unknown Source</em>
</center>

When we choose to care for truth, and specifically moral truth, we start on a path, way and journey of higher consciousness potential. We become "initiated", "awake" and aware, where we are "resurrected", "rebirthed" and "raised" from the "deadened" lower state of consciousness. We rise to a higher, truer and realer consciousness and state of being, and are more "awake" and "alive", into a "new life", a "New World", an "afterlife", "eternal life" and "immortal life" that is given to us by the "light" of truth in our lives.

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**Thank you for your time and attention. I appreciate the knowledge reaching more people. Peace.**

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*This post was inspired by @son-of-satire's [contest](https://steemit.com/contest/@son-of-satire/win-10-steem-for-best-describing-what-it-means-to-be-awake), and will be submitted there as well.*

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