This session explores consciousness as more than a solo trip to bliss—it’s a dynamic dance between self, society, and the strange mess of being human. Through the lenses of Waking Up, Growing Up, and Showing Up, we’ll rethink the mind-body-spirit connection, navigate the increasingly crowded marketplace of spiritual tools and techniques (with a dash of discernment), and gently interrogate where science and spirituality actually overlap—versus where they just wave politely from a distance. We’ll map developmental stages and consider what it means to evolve beyond postmodern eye-rolling into something more whole, more integral, and just maybe, more hopeful. Finally, we ask: how are we loving this world? Expect grounded practices, philosophical nudges, and a reframe of awakening not as an escape, but as a call to responsibility—for each other, our culture, and this wildly alive planet.

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Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

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A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.