How does the 'spirit' actualise itself?

[catherinedubliners]

How does the 'spirit' come to know itself in the process of historical self-realisation? I'm getting to grips with philosophy.

It sounds like Hegel. If the books you've been asked to read are not making a lot of sense to you, why don't you try googling him and self actualisation first and then try reading them? Also, see if you can find a few passages online which help to get to grips with him.

I've tried that, but it's still so abstract!

Well you might want to start by asking this to be moved over to the religion and philosophy board, as you'll probably get people answering with 'there's no such thing as Spirit...it's all a load of made up bullocks' which at least would make for a very short essay.
Other than that, your best bet is probably to do with more reading around around Hegel.

Might be worth looking at Maslow and his hierarchy of needs too, although that's more under the psychological umbrella so slightly different to the philosophical one. And of course their is the spiritual self actualisation used in yoga, Buddhist and confucianism teachings, but I'm not sure this is what you are after?

Thank you for your interesting input. My focus is philosophy, although with psychology being more concrete I may better understand Hegel's world-history through the filter of psychology.