A Self-Interview
A self-interview with Thomas Whitmire, revised in 2025.
Who are you?
In the present tense, I’m a writer, teacher, coach, and media producer living in North Carolina. In the past tense, I was born and raised on a Christmas Tree farm in upstate South Carolina, with ample time to gaze at the stars and wonder about life. While attending university in North Carolina in the 2000s, I developed a passionate interest in spiritual inquiry. Following a deep realization in 2004, my interest shifted toward healing, metaphysics, well-being, and personal development.
So what’s this website all about?
Topically, the content will examine the essential pillars of self-inquiry: Who am I? Why am I here? How can I learn about my conscious and unconscious self? What is the extent of human potential? What principles can we learn to help relieve suffering, encourage healing, or discover a better way of living?
I am fundamentally interested in the capabilities of human consciousness, and how we can develop it in an immediate, practical way.
Some intentions are:
encourage examination and dialogue regarding the core pillars of spiritual inquiry and self-knowledge
simplify language and provide safe space for exploration and conversation on these matters
encourage an accessible, democratic, empowered approach to spirituality and creative human potential
relieve suffering; promote joy and self-understanding
develop my own voice for this material related to prior and on-going discoveries
Why now?
A global awakening has been taking place. This website is an attempt to encourage this transformation in terms that are safe and accessible. Consider it a travel partner, interpreter, or guidebook.
What about politics?
Avenues of Awakening is designed as a safe, welcoming environment, and it is my belief that the topics herein are relevant regardless of current political winds. As such, I don’t plan to bring up politics in this forum.
However, I recently created a sister page called The Revolution Within to explore how spiritual inquiry, insight, and principles can inform our understanding of and response to the broader sociopolitical zeitgeist. Feel free to visit The Revolution Within if you’d like to engage more on those topics.
Ultimately, I believe in the principle that change begins within. The maturity of our own consciousness is the generating point of all response and reaction. It is our responsibility and opportunity to help each other develop skillful insight now more than ever.
What makes you feel qualified?
I don’t feel qualified per se. However, I do believe that I have an ability to engage these topics in an accessible, safe, and friendly way stemming from years of spiritual group work, teacher training, and coaching practice. I also haven’t heard a voice that adequately expresses what I have been sensing, and figured I’d give it a try.
Who do you hope will use this material?
Honestly, I am split between those who have done long-term spiritual work and are facing some very subtle stuff, versus others who may have an uneasiness to approach these topics to begin with. The irony is, fresh-faced folks may have a leg up because they aren’t full of preconceptions. Regardless, I certainly will open these ideas to anyone who is interested and would want to trade notes or help gain insight.
Why did you decide to do a website?
I felt that this mechanism was the best way to be of service, and also the best way to deepen my own self-knowledge and move forward purposefully. I love talking about these topics, and hope to be effective at communicating, explaining, and discussing these matters in a way that encourages trust, awakening, stabilization, and belonging. It’s really the best ride you can be on.
Do you offer any services?
I am a trained transformational life coach, and am happy to have an introductory consultation with anyone who asks. Longer-term paid engagements are available.
Anything else that pertains to your intention here?
Some of my operating principles, besides those already mentioned, would be:
A belief that a love of the truth in all things can guide us home, and allows for mistakes, patience, compassion, and forgiveness.
We were given the powers of rationality and doubt, but we also must take care of the heart and gut. Each has their strengths and weaknesses.
For every belief and form in this world, there is an opposite, inverse, or complement. The universe abhors a vacuum.
May we all be teachers. May we all be students.
Thanks for talking!
My pleasure, let’s do it again some time.