"Spirituality" (I hate even using that word) costs absolutely nothing... You don't have to go to retreats, read lots of books, visit workshops, or any of that. All of those things do not equal spirituality or self awareness. They are only guideposts... they point you in a direction. They can be useful, but are not necessary. On the other hand, many of those things can also be quite superficial and useless as far as any real "spiritual" progress goes.

Self awareness is ultimately about getting to know who, or what, you really are... getting to know your own depths. Not the superficial surface that has been imposed upon you... not the ethics, manners, morals, opinions, beliefs, or anything else that have been imposed upon you by society, friends, family, peer groups, etc...

Spirituality is a turning inward. Non-spiritual people are fully turned outward. They never look into their own depths. Their whole "realm" is in that external world, and when the world gets chaotic and restless, THEY get restless as well. Their "state" is fully dependant on the state of the external. Spirituality is a fundamental turning... a change of movement... to the inner "world", the inner depths, where the chaotic surface cannot reach. If you're identified with the constantly churning surface of the ocean, then you will be in misery.... but if you decide to dive down below that surface, immediately you see something more calm, untouched by the surface... and as you go deeper and deeper, the more still and silent it is... the surface is so far away and undisturbing. Once you know the silent depth, then you can come up to the surface and experience it without being IDENTIFIED with it... then you know that whatever happens on the ever-changing surface, the depth still remains the same.

It's all about identification, awareness of the "self" that remains forever untouched, and awareness of the moment. Awareness RIGHT NOW... It's not about going to some workshop. It's about taking what life throws at you, no matter what it is, and instead of being a victim, using that circumstance as a TOOL for your own growth. The cultivation of awareness can be developed at *ALL* times. Walking down the street, talking to a stranger, taking a bath, being beaten by thugs, begging for money, enjoying riches... it makes no difference. Those are all external circumstances... the real question is how you deal with them, and how identified you become with them. The rich man is often the real poor man. He gets so attached to his riches, his convenient lifestyle, his pleasures... then when it inevitably comes time for those temporary things to be taken from him, he doesn't know how to deal with it. He feels like he himself is dying. It's like hell for him. He becomes even more miserable than someone who has lived in poverty all their life. But even a rich man can be fully spiritual and unattached to his riches. It all depends on your inner state.

Real spirituality is about being able to deal with anything life throws at you with genuine indifference, patience, acceptance, awareness, nonattachment, compassion and understanding. To see and realize that all circumstances are opportunity to build many different qualities. It's up to you to decide what those qualities are... whether you want to develop positive or negative qualities out of any given situation.

Follow your "heart"... in every situation ask yourself "What is the best thing I can do now? What will really set an example for others to follow, and develop good qualities? What does my heart say is the right thing to do?" and then do it. What reason is there not to? Follow this, and I promise you won't be led astray.

I hope that answers at least a little bit of your question... :)
--James