Good question. I used to be an existentialist, then became a determinist, now I have a strong theory that actually unites both.

It's about how the universe has a tendency field to move towards complexity (increasing entropy) and how individual will is a force that "super-positions" itself on this field.

So, the TL;DR is - free will exists and works in accordion with the universe's causality framework.

As to awareness, yes, definitely, the higher your planes of awareness, the more you can tap into the "oneness" ie.. the expression of God viz a viz the soul