What is Consciousness?
One of our readers here, Marie, was curious to hear how I define or think of “consciousness.” It’s a worthy request as I do use that word often in my mindset conversations. Daunting at first, I’ve settled on some very simple ideas about it that I hope cover enough territory for you to embrace it with me and not be intimidated by it. So I’m starting with a “stream of consciousness” description as a meta-experience of the word, the space, and the energy.
Consciousness: awareness, slowing down to be energetically precise so as to eliminate the antagonism that results from confusion, assumptions, and projections, and to use that awareness to further my understanding of just about everything — myself, and the people, places, and ideas I encounter.Consciousness also supports my larger purpose which is to continue expanding opportunities for creativity and community, to clear the slate of old, tired ideas and replace them with new combinations of human desires and potential.
How Consciousness Can Show Up
In writing, I often practice consciousness by replacing my first draft words. For example, I like the word “tribe.” It conjures a very specific and positive feeling for me, of people who have special and shared wisdom, who vibe on a level that may not be visible but is strongly felt. As you’ll see at the end of this post, I spent many years working with Indigenous communities across the U.S. and Canada, so tribal concepts became a small part of me.Today, though, many of my Native friends consider this casual application of the term “tribe” to be appropriation. So when it falls from the keyboard in the flow of typing, my awareness stops me. I look for another word. The writing improves. I carry on without bitterness for having to throttle myself a tiny bit. Consciousness is its own reward as is respect for others I appreciate.There are other instances where I fight against some of what is called correctness. I believe in some form of reincarnation or having this current life be a tapestry that retains pieces of my soul that have existed previously in human form. I feel energetically certain that I’ve lived as a member of many different nations and cultures. I’m quite sure it explains the kinship I feel with other cultures, even if others see me as a rich white woman. I mean, those adjectives are accurate but they are surely a tiny part of me, no matter how much they dominate my visual presentation. (And it was an actual accusation on Twitter, LOL, that I found humorous.)
Consciousness for Humanity
So one of the main ways I engage with ideas of consciousness is by rejecting prejudice as much as possible. Being human and also prone to snap judgments, this requires me to question anything (previous post) to look beyond the superficial and to trust my intuition and instincts to share notes with me along with my intellect and experience.Being able to be less judgmental is essential to my preferred flavor of consciousness. It is no coincidence that I developed into an incredibly judgmental human, my big intellect fueled by my big fears, leading me to assess just about every one and every thing for safety and security. It’s not a fun place to occupy and I continue dropping unnecessary judgments as often as I can.
The Freedom to Be Unconscious
There is course no right or wrong way to “do” consciousness. To believe otherwise is antithetical to the purpose and the rewards of it. Built within my definition of consciousness is the freedom to be unconscious. I mean, hello, SLEEP! That luxurious time when the brain loses control of the car and we are free to wander. I’ve been a lifelong dreamer of rich and often anxious experiences and have used dream therapy a lot. But when it became an imperative, I realized it was ruling me rather than inspiring me. So now, I don’t worry if I forget a dream; I trust my deeply developed consciousness will raise the point to me later, in a different way, if it’s important.
Grateful to the Academics, and…
Consciousness as a thing also ranges from this very personal, almost DIY experience to a vast academic discipline that has generated millions of words in efforts to define it. That study has given us so many insights about biology, neurology, psychology, philosophy, ontology — I mean there is an entire subset of language devoted to it. I’m not about to touch that sphere here and now, though.One of my interests in life (and I believe one of my gifts) is to play with complexities so I understand them enough to be able to share the basics with others. I think that many humans miss out on some of life’s treats because of the obstacles they present and the guardrails placed by the so-called experts. My many years in health did just that: I didn’t want to be the “health person” that people want to avoid because they feel guilty about their eating, drinking, smoking, or exercising habits and instead to be one they call up for a short tip on a specific challenge. I love the deep study of health but if I want to share it with others, I’ve found it necessary to both throttle the number of facts I share as well as avoid jargon — both can be overwhelming. It’s counter-productive to be too literal, too professional, too verbose when sharing with non-professionals, especially if I want them to try on some new ideas to add to their lifestyle wardrobe.It’s why I stopped being an aerobics instructor for already healthy people and developed a Community Fitness Leader course for Native people living in their own villages and reservations. They face extraordinary health challenges; training tribal members to lead classes for each other had so much impact, including on my own self-worth. Y’all can find five new butt exercises easily enough! Gaining emotional and psychological strength from committing to a walking program on the rez that also helps you shed a few pounds is the gym I prefer.
Edna FTW
Please meet Edna, who has diabetes and is overweight and took the course when I taught it with my Zuni colleague, Lea Pinto. Lea had the idea to bring in props for more fun, one of which was hula hoops. Edna couldn’t get the hula hoop around her so she improvised brilliantly! She proved herself to be the star of the class because the determination of her mindset was limitless. Her consciousness, I would say, was so full of awareness and curiosity and lacking judgment.Please enjoy this photo gallery from a few of my fitness trainings. Apologies for the poor-quality photos; these are from the ‘90s and my scanner is not great. But what a lovely conscious coincidence that we are also talking health at the beginning of the new year! I hope these Native fitness leaders inspire you.
Will you refer this newsletter to a friend or colleague?
Do you feel a little better after reading these notes from me?If so, I would be most grateful if you would share it with your circle of friends! That way we have even more of us who want to feel better together. And that my friends, does indeed lift the vibe of humanity and make openings for unimagined joyful possibilities.I have conflicted feelings about social media and I choose to be anti-hype; there’s just too damn much of that these days. I share my posts and hope the energetic antenna is tuned to attract others looking for ideas and a community like this one.My birthday special offer on paid subscriptions is valid until January 7th. Thank you to Ann, Tracy, and Shane - the first three subscribers! And thanks to each of you for reading, from the top and the middle and the bottom of my heart! In other words, from my whole heart. I appreciate you.
Featured Photo Credit: ICM 4639 by Roxanne Darling, ©2015 Prints are available!