On Stages of Consciousness…

Recently, I’ve been ruminating on what the collective consciousness of the masses is currently and more specifically, how we can use consciousness as a tool to forge a sense of unity in what I consider our very polarized climate. I've also been thinking about how our experiences shape and influence the level of consciousness we operate on and how that in turn, influences the collective whole.

I believe we are at a critical juncture, a precipice if you will, in our collective consciousness where the fate of the next twenty or so years is being actively defined.

But what are we fated for? How does fate come about? Through consciousness and as such, can be changed through consciousness.

States of Being

I would say there are two primary levels we can categorize states of consciousness in, they are high and low-level consciousness (I’m sure one could make the case for there being many more than just two levels but for the sake of this argument, we’ll stick with two). Along with states of consciousness, there is also high and low-level energy.

Consciousness is the way we interpret reality and the energy it gives off. Energy emanates from every single thing around us, everything has a frequency it vibrates on, consciousness is how we experience and interpret that frequency.

Consciousness is like the boat, I am the captain and the ocean is the reality that exists outside of this paradigm. Consciousness is the synthesis of experience, it is awareness of experience or even, experience itself. To consider these features as distinct from one another is a mistake. For without one, neither is able to function.

Certain things have an innate energetic frequency to them, certain emotions and feelings, specifically. Think of the low vibrations of feelings of lust, jealousy, or fear.

Individuals are partially shaped by the environment they operate within. When the environment is charged enough with specific energy, as a result of countless factors, it presupposes itself to give off a certain vibration. As a result, individuals take on this energy until it becomes the de facto state of the collective.

As an example, I would say that more recently the collective consciousness was one of immense fear. This was a result of various political heads, news media, perpetuating these ideas throughout culture and having their reach amplified by social media.

If the individual can be wary of what energy they are engaging in and be skeptical of its aim, then we can preserve or alter the collective.

Low-Level Consciousness

The majority of people operate on a low plane of consciousness. On this plane, our differences are heightened. We see the world as black or white, someone as good or bad, and ideas are right or wrong. There is no room for anything that sits outside these rigid criteria of interpretation.

On this plane, we are all part of a ‘tribe’, we are ‘in group’ or ‘out group’. When we participate in tribalism, we see those that are not part of our ‘tribe’ as a threat to our existence.

Low-level consciousness individuals are ruled by their animalistic brain — everything to them is an opportunity to choose either flight or fight. When this part of your brain governs your consciousness, you are constantly evaluating your reality for potential threats. This is how prehistoric man used to live and this is how you live when you are part of a tribe.

Humans are exceptionally talented at evaluating threats in their environment — it’s how we became the most dominant species on the planet, it’s how we survived and conquered rivaling species. We are uniquely talented in anticipating and imagining potential threats all in an effort to remain cautious of potential danger.

However, over the years, the nature of what a threat is has evolved from something environmental (predators, climate, etc) to something a lot more subtle but equally sinister; ideas or ideologies. This is not to say that those previous threats, do not exist anymore, they do, and probably even in a more pronounced way (climate change and environmental shifts are very real threats to humanity). However, as a result of the ways ideas have permeated throughout our culture over the last century, we find ourselves being taken away from the very real threats that plague our existence and instead, creating new imaginary ones in the form of people's ideologies.

Ideas as Threats

The ideas you ascribe to and what you believe, are now the ways in which we determine how threatening our environment is — Ideology is the threat. The world of ideas as threats isn’t a new one, think Cold War and the battle between the two conflicting ideologies of Capitalism and Communism, in fact, all conflict is but a battle for ideology and control of a belief system, but the frequency at which ideas now present themselves to us is novel in its exposure and has become more detrimental to the collective as a result.

We are now waging millions of ideological battles at any given moment.

What has been exhibited by technology is the exacerbation of ideas as threats, the acceleration of such. We are now constantly being exposed to ideas at an unparalleled frequency through these technological mediums. When one operates at a lower level of consciousness, these ideas become incredibly impressionable, they leave a greater impact on the psyche. Because the psyche is already operating at a low level (animalistic), it takes these ideas for truth at face value, it cannot critically examine the environment because it is still living in that fight or flight mentality. In this mentality, there is no time to examine, only to decide and act.

What happens is that because our environment is so rampant with ideology and we are being exposed at such greater frequency, the real dangers that threaten humanity are somehow forgotten, pushed to the side, and instead, we engage in tribalism that leads to the divisiveness that is too common in modern society.

Individual, Ideology & Consciousness — Certainty & Fear

An individual on low consciousness is familiar with the concept of ‘cling’. They lack a sense of Self and as such, will seek themselves in other things. Ideologies pose as the concreteness for individuals who cannot create their own. This is because ideologies are rigid and structured, they are a defined set of beliefs, and if you lack this in your life, then ideologies are appealing.

In addition to the individual's need for certainty, fear, another primordial instinct, also plays a role in how low consciousness individuals associate with ideologies and tribes.

Individuals latch on to these ideas for fear of appearing as an outsider, as not part of a tribe. Historically, when you are not part of a tribe, you don’t eat, you are not looked after and you are left for nature to do away with you. Humans will do anything to avoid this, whether they are aware of it or not.

When we latch because of fear we fight those that are not like us. We fight to protect our tribe. As a result, we operate in this hyper-divisive level of consciousness that sees everything that doesn’t fit its worldview as an existential threat.

It again, all goes back to the individual. When we operate at a low consciousness our base emotions are heightened. We are fearful of our environment and so we join an ideological tribe in order to stay safe, we pick a side because it means safety. We also lack a sense of self, a certainty of our power and so, we cling again to something outside ourselves for that power.

The Nature of Threat Evaluation — The Problem

This challenge is a result of a fundamental shift in technological innovation and the environment we operate in; not only has the notion of what a ‘threat’ is, has changed drastically (we are not being hunted by wolves any longer), and here, the answer is always to fight or run, but more importantly, we are still interpreting and judging what we consider ‘new’ threats, those of ideas, using this old paradigm of threat evaluation.

This old paradigm is rigid, exceptionally binary, again, it is good or bad, run or fight, right or wrong. This is all there is space for in this mode of thinking. That is why an individual operating on this level can’t ever seem to understand your perspective. They can’t even fathom why you would think otherwise, they ask “don’t you see the danger?” They have an inability to rise above their level and see their own biases but why would they? You are a threat, you are a danger and in this world, there is no time for conversation.

When we operate on this lower plane our disposition towards everything is division, it’s combative, it’s argumentative, it’s frustration, it’s anxiety, it’s anger, malevolence, depression, fatalist, melancholic, unfairness, oppressed, and defeated. You are with me or you are against me.

We see that the low-level consciousness is stoked by feelings of fear and dualistic thinking. They operate in a ‘yes/no’ environment that leaves no room for nuance and critical engagement. But you cannot blame them, for their lives are at stake. Or, are they?

Social Media & Consciousness

Social Media may be the mecca of this low consciousness energy. Many individuals here are incredibly base, superficial, and vain. Everything is done for something else. Everything is a representation of something else until the references no longer actually refer to their initial sign and what emerges is this whole new simulated world (this is Baullidard).

The simulated reality is the lowest possible one because it is never-ending and as such, it carries no meaning. We engage in meaning-making activities in this world, we post, we like, comment, subscribe, etc but… what are we truly engaging with? It is certainly a reality. However, this reality has no beginning, middle, or end, it is the hyperreal. When reality is never-ending it is meaningless and so, we are seeking out meaning in an environment whose very nature is to oppose this search. This only fuels and promotes low-level consciousness experiences because all of our efforts are futile.

Social media has fuelled the creation of certain ideologies. When ideologies are promoted via social media they lack the context that is necessary for truly understanding ideas. Furthermore, ideas that are birthed here lack a central narrative or leader, there is no way to understand the motivations or reason an idea has sprouted, one day it’s here and the next it’s not. Ideas here are reduced to trends as if it is now fashionable to believe something.

In combination with social media’s addictive programming, it is easy to understand why people succumb to identifying with ideas promoted on social. This is again, incredibly dangerous as social was not created for the exchange of complex ideas. The whole environment is so low and that’s why it gives way to tribalism.

The role of news/social media is to distribute information that heightens our animalistic tendencies which leads to division amongst our people.

High Consciousness

Now, high consciousness.

It is important to emphasize the fluidity of these states, that they are not rigid and that individuals are able to drift between these two states. In fact, I would argue that higher consciousness is not possible without first reveling in its lower form first. High consciousness individuals can still experience feelings of jealousy, sadness, guilt, and shame, however, the difference is that these states do not govern the individual, they are not in total control of his energy. High consciousness sees these states as teachers that are illuminating certain aspects of self that may need to be worked on. The difference is in the lack of reactivity and heightened awareness.

When faced with an opposing viewpoint higher consciousness is able to see that at the heart of all matters, individuals all want similar things. That disagreement arises because of the means people believe help obtain their ends. This is again, not about reactivity but awareness. High consciousness sees Oneness in all things.

High Consciousness Individuals & Spirituality

I believe we are all born with a high level of consciousness. The act of becoming into this world, the absolute lowest probability for you to be born and then having this human experience, is something so profound and magical, that it’s inexplicable. For me, the fact that you have been born is evidence of the idea that we come into this world on a high consciousness. We have an innate lovingness in our souls when we are born, children don’t see the differences we see now, we learn these divisions as we enter and grow through a society. The density of the current material plane has a way of ‘bringing us down’ — gravity, but we can learn to float.

It is these high consciousness people that see nuance, that can see grey in all things, and hold the middle ground. That seek Truth in all things. Those that are not easily swayed by the masses. They think for themselves. More importantly, they are lovers, they are emphatic and compassionate to all beings, no matter what state or level they are at. They work restlessly to love, open, and bring in.

When you operate on this level you are part of the superfluity of all things — but maybe, that is beautiful to you. Understanding that we are the only creatures who are wholly aware of our own demise brings meaning into each and everything you experience because if we didn't know we would end, that you and I will end, everything would be entirely meaningless. Meaning requires there to be some sort of fatalism, that's what makes it meaningful, it’s because it doesn’t last. If everything lasted, then nothing is meaningful. Maybe everything does last, just not here on this material plane, but eternally. The ideas of love and compassion have transcended humanity for millions of years, this is eternal life, and this is our story. When you die, your love is what lasts. It is what is to be remembered.

The life force of all things on this planet is love, we share this with every single thing on this earth.

When you are high consciousness you are aware of the Oneness, the interconnectivity of every atom on this planet. Every single one of us is the same because we will all die. I don’t mean this in a nihilistic manner but this is the highest truth that binds every single one of us. The lower level of energy we operate in distracts us from this truth.

Ram Dass has two quotes that I believe illuminate the state of the higher consciousness individual. He goes ‘we are all just walking each other home’. Touching, we are all walking home together. We are all walking to a place of comfort and warmth, together. We are all walking with each other to ourselves. We are all walking with each other to look for ourselves, to find ourselves, to be ourselves. The other is critical in this individualization process, to find our home. This is the context we need when engaging with others.

He continues, “The only thing I can do for you is work on myself and the only thing you can do for me is work on yourself”. No one can be anything for anyone other than themselves. The higher consciousness asks for nothing and gives everything in return.

Higher consciousness accepts this as his truth, as his philosophy.

I reference this because it is exemplary of an attitude or disposition of higher consciousness, of a certain awareness of the fallibility of all things, of these human things. All these things that we get caught up in, these trivial matters we concern ourselves over. That we are taught from a young age to concern ourselves over. When one can transcend themselves, to transcend their nature and maybe, return back to being a child, is when they realize the universal truths.

The higher consciousness sees itself and then its human second. The human is but a vessel for an experience. You are having a human experience but you are not merely your human. You are something far-reaching, you are expansive in your connectivity.

Higher consciousness cannot engage in tribalism because it sees the human secondary to the essence. When you rise above tribalism you open yourself up to all perspectives and ideas and your disposition is not one of combativeness but empathy and compassion. You understand that each human experience and belief system is influenced by an environment. When you encounter conflict, it is not you who I am opposing because I will always love you, but merely, your experiences that I’m engaging with. The distinction of seeing a human and then their experiences is necessary to build that commonality and move past division.

A Path Forward

Ideologies can and are dangerous — this is not new. An individual with a radical, harmful, ideology is very much a threat to humanity.

What I am calling for is that ideology need not be the threat that ruins or gets in the way of humanity prospering on this earth. Yes, there are some seriously troubling ideas permeating in our culture but that’s not every idea. When you categorize every conflicting viewpoint as inherently evil, there is no way for you to engage in the sort of discourse that is necessary for unity or change. We need to move past ideology.

What we need is to see each other from this higher perspective, from a higher state of awareness. To engage with people as humans. To see their essence and then their human.

I believe for us to deal with the most consequential matters that plague our existence, our biggest challenge will be forging togetherness and unity in an environment that currently, seems to be promoting the opposite. Our current level of consciousness has brought us to this point — It has done profound things for people and this world but for us to move beyond this and deal with the real issues, we need a higher state of collective consciousness that sees past differences, while recognizing our individuality.