In actual fact I have the feeling that it is always an illusion. Even the choice of books, friends and teacher is conditioned by the different abilities we have developed, which in turn depends on the possibility we were given to develop them and so on. I tend to believe that the teacher, or the book or the potential friends appear when we are ready for them and sometimes not even wishing for it, but they appear as unexpected and precious gifts.
Of course there should be somehow something like “free will” for “it takes two to tango” if I dare say, but I really wonder whether the desire to change and acquire the quality of the Creator, is the expression of free will..
Actually, feeling free is plenty enough, whether it is real or not.