There has been a trend in my life of late. One of seeking simplicity. Let it be. Less is more. Let go, let God. Just BE. The theme has emerged in my own self-reflection and meditations, and very recently it came up very poignantly in an empathic reading I received from one of my friends and colleagues, Susan St. Jean, who channels the collective Engma. (Contact me if you'd like to learn more about Susan and Engma.) To me, this shift toward simplicity is also part of the shift into "Consciousness".
This week, the following question came up from a participant in our monthly Healing & Empowerment Circle. She asked “what is the ‘consciousness’ that seems to be so much the buzzword lately”? She was referring to the term “Christ Consciousness”, which is very much in the hearts and minds of the spiritual community as we all continue on our path of ascension. But really… what does it MEAN?
I know I’ve personally tossed that term around here and there without giving much thought to what I meant by it. Isn’t it obvious? Well, maybe not! So, in the moment of our Circle, here is what came to me…
Let’s start with a definition of “Consciousness”. Courtesy of Merriam-Webster, we find:
the quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself; the state or fact of being conscious of an external object, state, or fact; awareness, especially concern for some social or political cause
the state of being characterized by sensation, emotion, volition, and thought
the totality of conscious states of an individual
the normal state of conscious life
the upper level of mental life of which the person is aware as contrasted with unconscious processes
Finding a commonly accepted definition of “Christ Consciousness” is not nearly as clear cut. I did find this at Yogapedia.com:
"Christ Consciousness is an awareness of the higher self as part of a universal system. Although it can be interpreted in a number of ways, a common understanding is that Christ Consciousness is the state of consciousness in which a person has found self-realization and unity with God or the Divine."
In looking at this and a few other articles, the general theme is that Consciousness is really about being aware of a God energy (whether you call it God, Christ, Allah, Source, Creator, etc.) and being one with that energy – experiencing or belief of Divine unity. Oneness. But if you are “one with God”, how can you be “conscious” of him/her/it/they (feel free to choose your favorite pronoun)? It’s like saying I’m conscious of “Linda”… I am Linda, so I don’t really thing of myself as being conscious of… well, ME… other than when I bump my head or stub my toe when I misjudge the physical clearance around Linda! I just am me, without thinking about it. So if I desire “Consciousness”, perhaps I should cease to be “conscious” of this concept.
(Yes, I’m making Linda’s head hurt a little bit right now too.)
Anyway, this self-reflection brought me back many years ago, and I can’t say exactly when, or what the information source was, but it was back in my corporate dates. We were learning about change… living through change in our company or business unit, becoming a change agent, embracing change, and so on. And also that we needed to lead some people through change who might not quite be on board with the change. What we talked about is the change cycle in terms of a 2x2 grid of “consciousness” and “competence”.
Basically, you start with being “unconsciously incompetent” (you don’t know what you don’t know… blissfully or painfully ignorant so to speak).
You then begin to learn about “something”… about another way or another perspective. But you still don’t have the knowledge or skills to employ that “something”. You are now “consciously incompetent”. You know that there is something different / better, but have no idea how to tap into it.
So next, you decide to learn. You might read a book, watch a documentary, take a class, talk with people who have expertise in the “something”. And you even get to the point where you can start explaining it to others, maybe even help them to find a little “something” in their own lives. At this point, you can proudly consider yourself to be “consciously competent”. You know all about “something”. You have the resources and reference materials at your fingertips to create or access it, pretty much at will!
And after a while, all of those resources and reference materials begin to collect dust. Why? Because you do not need them anymore. That “something” is so ingrained within you, that it’s like breathing. You don’t have to think; you just do. And you have arrived… at “unconscious competence”. This is a state or BEing.
So, why did I take you on this academic journey of “change”? Because for me, it has helped me to crystalize my own journey, and my goal. If my desire is to BE one with that Devine Unity… to access all that it can bring to me, to my family and friends, to my clients and students… without the need to “think” about it, then perhaps I once I am no longer “conscious” of “Christ Consciousness” as a concept, I will have arrived. I will have become “Unconsciously Conscience” and will be able to tap into Devine Unity as a matter of fact, every moment of every day.
I invite you to sign into my website and share your perspective.
What are your thoughts? Or your “non-thoughts”? Is God consciousness an aspiration of yours? If so, what have been your perceived barriers and how have you cleared those perceptions?