Collective Consciousness

By Marc Lerner

Have you ever clicked with someone? There has to be something that creates a magnetic pull from someone. On the other hand, have you ever gone into a group that you were interested in, but even though they talked the language you were used to, you were never attracted to become a member? There are a lot of things that are not obvious in relationships with people. 

When two or more people get together, their thoughts are stepping stones to the consciousness they share. When we think, there are two components. First, there is the thought. Second is the consciousness that listens to that thought. Most people just focus on thoughts, but in a collective consciousness, they share the consciousness that listens to those thoughts. They don’t always have to agree, for their bond is strong enough that the disagreements don’t break up their shared consciousness. For example, my wife and I have a strong collective consciousness. That does not mean that we always agree with each other; it just means that our bond is strong enough that disagreements don’t separate us.

In a group, they can have a group consciousness also. They don’t have every person in that group thinking the same way; they just have to be open to new ideas. In fact, strong group dynamics allow for disagreements, but those disagreements can lead to new ideas and new ways of doing things. So, it is easy to see that it isn’t what we think that gives us a collective consciousness; it comes more from the way we listen to those thoughts.

Now, let us look at how we enter a shared consciousness. An emotion like love is the most obvious sharing. Two people in an intimate interaction seemingly become one unit. That creates a stronger bond between them and strengthens their shared consciousness. All interactions do not have to be intimate. People can work together on a task they are committed to and feel a sense of oneness. In sports, team spirit is another way of experiencing collective consciousness. A team that works together well plays like one unit and supports each person to be the best he or she can be.

Spirituality is how many people share a collective consciousness. When people meditate together, they can tap into a collective consciousness that helps each individual meditate more deeply. A weak meditation, where they focus on thinking, eliminates them from a collective consciousness. Choirs, where people sing together create a strong unit for each person singing, but only if they surrender and feel like the songs are pulled out of them.

It is important to be a part of something bigger than oneself, because if you are always alone, you will probably live in a mind-made reality. If you are not a part of a collective consciousness, there are many limitations like:

• It is hard to see beyond your thinking and beliefs, for you are never challenged to change.
• It is hard to share your heart, because your blocks are seen as your reality.
• It is difficult for inner growth to happen because the mind-made reality is what you identify with. Inner growth happens when you go beyond your limitations and explore the unknown. When you identify with your mind-made reality, it is almost impossible to change.

The key to a happy life is to have the ability to go beyond yourself and be open to change. From that perspective, it is easy to experience a collective consciousness.

The Conscious and Negative Self Technique

Take ten deep breaths and put yourself into a relaxed state. Once you are in that state of mind, you are ready to move on.

Answer these questions with candid first impressions. This exercise will be more powerful if you write it down. Your written answers will make it easier for you to take a step back and create valuable tools for inner growth.

Step One: Think of a goal, one that you can really put your heart into. Let that goal slip into the background and this technique will show you what part of you has that goal — your CONSCIOUS SELF or your NEGATIVE SELF (NS).

Step Two: We will first connect to the negative part of you. This is the self-image created by your past conditioning. Think of the worst personal experience you can remember, for that experience helps you to connect to your NS. Capture that negative experience in a word or a phrase and record it: __________________________________

Step Three: Describe in two ways how you feel when you experience this negative feeling. 1)_________________________________ 2)____________________________________

Step Four: Think of all of these words or phrases and put them together to give a creative nickname to your NS. What would you call that character? ________________________

Now let us create your CONSCIOUS SELF, the part of you that was created from times when you were connected to and manifested your powerful inner resources.

Step One: Recall the best moment you have had and capture that experience in a word or a phrase _____________________________________________________

Step Two: Think of two ways this experience makes you feel and express those feelings in a word or a phrase. 1________________________2________________________

Step Three: Now give a creative nickname to your CONSCIOUS SELF; what would you call that character? _____________________________

Step Four: State the name of your CONSCIOUS SELF in an “I Am” statement.

I am _____________________ (use your CONSCIOUS SELF’s nickname)

Because this technique is so important, make sure this becomes a strong habit. Strong habits are formed when you sleep on it for at least three nights. We accept so much information in a single day, you have to make room for it with the intention of making this a part of you.

Dreamwork programs the techniques into your subconscious mind. Right before sleep and upon awakening, is when the doors of your subconscious mind are open, and that is the time to create conscious habits. It could take at least 3 days to create a habit if you consciously follow these steps. Dreamwork makes a habit of your “I am” statement to connect to your CONSCIOUS SELF. If you want to connect to your CONSCIOUS SELF at any time, under any circumstance, that connection will manifest for you with that statement.

Write your “I Am” statement on a card and place it by your bed to read before you go to sleep and upon awakening. When you read that note, breathe into the image of your CONSCIOUS SELF. in the first few days, remember times when you experienced your CONSCIOUS SELF, and say your “I Am” statement with the intention of your CONSCIOUS SELF influencing your dreams. When you wake up, say your “I Am” statement with the intention of your CONSCIOUS SELF helping you in your daily life. Dreamwork helps you to program this into your subconscious mind and make it a regular habit.

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Marc Lerner, age 62, has had multiple sclerosis since 1981. A Michigan State graduate in psychology, he worked for 25 years with cancer and AIDS patients, veterans with PTSD, and the mentally ill homeless. In 1982, he founded Life Skills Institute and began writing and giving seminars. His books include A Healthy Way to Be Sick, The Positive Self, and The End: A Creative Way to Approach Death. All are available on Amazon. His website is lifeskillsinc.com. Marc can be contacted at marclerner@att.net. 

Marc's essay on Approaching Death Consciously was published in Issue 60 of Crazy Wisdom Community Journal. 

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