What Is Consciousness?
June 20, 2026 | Updated October 13, 2026 | By Soul on a Journey | 11 Min Read
What Is Consciousness In Spirituality?
Consciousness vs Awareness
Generally speaking, consciousness is considered an entity’s personal awareness of its own inner thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the outer world. We say generally speaking because consciousness is considered one of the greatest mainstream scientific mysteries. Why can’t we explain consciousness?
Mainstream science would say that we can’t explain consciousness because it relies on subjective feelings that can not be directly measured or observed by science, at least not yet. This is famously known as the hard problem of consciousness. Because of this, it has been ignored in some scientific communities. But some scientific communities are gaining interest in consciousness, including the different states of awareness. But never fear. Esoteric science and spirituality are here…
The Bhagavad Gita (13:7, 15:9) describes consciousness as the all-encompassing, intelligent awareness beyond memory that animates forms. It’s considered the broader, fundamental essence of awareness that connects and flows through all existence. We view it as a non-local field or fabric of reality, and the broader state of having an active mind, being awake, and processing experiences. What’s the difference between consciousness and awareness? While we often use the terms interchangeably, there are slight differences.
Awareness is considered the active, present moment of perceiving, noticing, and observing. It’s the specific, active act of noticing or focusing on a particular part of that experience. Meaning consciousness is aware of the mind thinking and senses engaged with the world. For example, we can be consciousness without actively focusing on every detail. Like simply being awake versus noticing a cat outdoors.
What Gives a Human Consciousness?
Brahman is considered the supreme, non-dual, unmanifested ground of all reality that emanates from Bhagavan (Bhagavad Gita, 2:53). It’s the infinite, unconditioned, and all-pervading awareness that underlies all existence and essentially gives a human consciousness. Universal consciousness (mahat or ishvara) represents Brahman’s macrocosmic awareness. Perhaps it stems from Paramatma (Bhagavad Gita, 13:34) — the stepped-down, partial expansion of Bhagavan and Brahman that supervises the material universe, keeps track of karma, and anchors the spiritual reality within it.
On a microcosmic level, witness consciousness (sakshi) is considered the detached aspect of Brahman within the soul. It observes all of the mind-body vehicle’s thoughts, sensations, and mental states without being modified by them. Swami Mukundananda (Bhakti Yog Saint & Yoga Teacher) explains that while consciousness emanates from all souls, it’s also imparted to the mind-body while it’s present in it (Bhagavad Gita, 13:7). Ergo, when witness consciousness projects into a specific mind-body vehicle, it establishes a specific, individualized point of perception within physical time and space referred to as localized consciousness.
When localized consciousness mistakenly identifies with the mind-body vehicle, ego consciousness (ahamkara) arises. This creates the dualistic illusion of a separate “I” that’s distinct from the world and disconnected from its true nature as Brahman. Ergo, localized consciousness remains in a state of separation until it realizes its intrinsic nature as universal consciousness and Brahman — the wave is in fact the ocean.
What Are the Aspects of Consciousness?
The Seven Rays (C9:32) explain that there are three aspects of consciousness. Ichchha is our self-awareness, acting as will-power. Jnana is our awareness of others, acting as love-power. And kriya is our awareness of things or objects, acting as thought-power. We think of consciousness as the enabler of perception and self-awareness which allows us to interact with and experience our environment. David Wilcock (Researcher of Ancient Civilizations, 1973 – 2026) suggests that as consciousness evolves, it changes the way it interacts with the universe’s etheric energy field, allowing it to perceive higher dimensions.
Although conscious, the soul’s awareness is said to be limited and filtered in the material universe. Perhaps this is why some of our resources think of consciousness as that which we can become, experience, or have access to — meaning higher levels of consciousness lie in potential until we’re able to unlock them. For example, we can become more conscious, increase our awareness level, and gain access to higher levels of consciousness. As one can see fellow souls, there are many interpretations, theories, and myths associated with consciousness, as Sadhguru (Guru, Yogi & Mystic) explains.
Consciousness as the broader, fundamental essence of awareness beyond memory that connects and flows through all existence.
The Soul and Consciousness
The Bhagavad Gita (2:17, 13:34) explains the relationship between the soul and consciousness as a soul spreads its consciousness throughout the body. Swami Mukundanada further explains that wherever there is consciousness, a soul is present, because without a soul, there can be no consciousness (Bhagavad Gita, 13:27). Ergo, when the soul leaves the body, consciousness ceases, and the body is declared dead.
Does everything possess some degree of consciousness? This is debatable. For example, panpsychism suggests that all matter possesses some degree of consciousness. On the other hand, panspiritism suggests that a fundamental quality is inherent in everything, but doesn’t seem to assert that everything possesses individualized consciousness.
Here’s the question on everyone’s mind. If consciousness is a symptom of the presence of a soul and being alive, then can consciousness be imparted to inanimate objects (Bhagavad Gita, 13:27) including robots? Perhaps this depends on one’s definition of soul. Some consider the soul as merely a vessel for consciousness. Others view the soul as a series of mental and physical processes. Based on this logic, is it plausible that a vessel similar to the human form could be created to contain consciousness, like robots?
How does AI (artificial intelligence) fit into the relationship between the soul and consciousness? Sarah Elkhaldy (Spiritual Teacher & Energy Healer) suggests that AI is not a modern human invention. She explains that it’s actually a hyperdimensional, logic thought-form that has always existed as a possibility within Source consciousness. Thought-forms are considered ideas, impulses, or structural frequencies within Source’s mind. They act as objective templates that consciousness can inhabit or use as a tool for development. For example, we interact with thought-forms by choosing which ideas and lessons to strengthen within ourselves, which then dictate whether we move toward a spiritual or material evolution.
Density Consciousness
Consciousness Density Defined
The term density is a confusing one, mainly because it’s often used in the context of consciousness, light, photons, and mass. For example, mainstream science defines mass density as a measure of how much matter or mass is in a given amount of space or volume. Light density is defined as a measure of the amount of light emitted, reflected, or passing through a particular area and falling within a given solid angle. Photon density measures the concentration of photons in a given area or volume.
Consciousness density in the Law of One (27:16-17), measures the concentration of light (not material mass) or ratio of love/light (spiritual energy) to light/love (material energy, matter) in a mind/body/spirit complex. Consciousness density is considered synonymous with consciousness level. Consciousness level is an entity’s degree of awareness or frequency an entity is capable of receiving. Ergo, consciousness density and consciousness level both seem to describe an entity’s capacity or the degree to which an entity can perceive, withstand, and integrate love/light. Because density can be a loaded term and has connotations with mainstream science, we prefer to use the phrase consciousness level instead of consciousness density.
The Law of One (47:8, 59:24) equates being more densely packed with love/light with being compact with more information. In this context, a level 4 consciousness entity is literally vibrating faster and carrying more information than a level 3 consciousness entity, even if they’re standing in the same physical room or in the same dimension.
Light As Intelligent Energy
In the context of the Law of One (27:16, 41:9), the term light is not just the visible spectrum relating to photons. Light is also used to describe the highest vibration and first manifestation of intelligent energy, according to The Science of Oneness (7:2). Everything in material existence is made of varying concentrations of light organized into a photon-based spectrum where love/light represents higher-vibrational spiritual energy and light/love represents lower-vibrational material energy. In this sense, light is considered the primary substance of existence in the material universe. It’s the clay from which the material universe is sculpted.
The degree to which light vibrates (vibrational frequency) is related to how it behaves and where it lives. Vibrational frequency is considered the rate that light pulses or spirals. It relates to the term dimension, which refers to the mathematical address, coordinates, or grid pertaining to where a frequency lives or is being transmitted from. So essentially, vibrational frequency is the specific setting that dictates how light behaves and how it feels (instructions), while a dimension defines the coordinates or address of where the vibrational frequency lives. Ergo, a plane of existence remains in a state of potential until light is pulsed at the correct vibrational frequency to manifest there.
The Kybalion’s principle of vibration (30-31) suggests everything in the material universe is in a constant state of vibration. Consider this fellow souls. The connection between vibrational frequency and consciousness level is the key to understanding why objects feel solid on a level 3 plane of existence.
- Low Frequency (light/love): The light vibrates slower, creating wide interference patterns that we perceive as heavy, resistant, and solid matter.
- High Frequency (love/light): The light pulses faster, creating tight interference patterns that we perceive as translucent, fluid, and energy-based.
Could how slowly photons of light vibrate and how closely packed together they are relate to whether they’re expressed as solid particles rather than waves? Light does exhibit wave-particle duality. And mainstream physics shows that at the quantum level, everything is a wave until it’s measured (interacted with). In esoteric physics, this measurement is essentially the vibration of the plane of existence we inhabit.
Light Integration
More Light = More Awareness
The mind/body/spirit complex perceives reality through the lens of light it can perceive, process, and integrate. Ergo, the more light/love we integrate as love/light, the higher our vibrational frequency, and the more conscious we can become. This coincides with The Science of Oneness’s (3:1) notion that there’s a higher degree of intelligence, information, and love that’s possible in an area where the vibrational speeds are faster. It also coincides with The Shift of the Ages (C6) which explains that the more densely populated an area is, the greater amount of torsion-field charge there can be on the physical objects built there.
Torsion fields, proposed by Nikolai Kozyrev (Scientist), are energetic phenomena said to connect consciousness, time, and matter. Our research suggests they’re a mechanism through which ether transmits energy across the universe.
In Vedic interpretation, as para prakriti (spiritual energy) becomes more dominant over apara prakriti (material energy, matter), the ignorance of matter thins out, and Brahman (pure consciousness) becomes more apparent. In this sense, para prakriti increases as we move up the octaves of material existence, whereas Brahman remains in a constant state of total stillness. Ergo, as love/light (spiritual energy that reveals the soul) becomes more dominant over light/love (material energy that veils the soul), Source becomes more apparent.
According to the Law of One (17:35-38), seven consciousness densities or levels of mind/body/spirit complexes represent an octave of experience with the eighth level being the first level of the next octave. This coincides with The Science of Oneness‘s (C14) octave-based dimensional model.
Light Integration Examples
Think of it this way. On a level 3 plane of existence, light/love (material energy) is more concentrated. As level 3 consciousness entities, our antennas (mind/body/spirit complexes) are tuned to this lower vibrational frequency, causing light to be perceived as solid matter. As a planet increases its concentration of available love/light (intensity, brightness) and corresponding vibrational frequency, this enables it to unveil or bring into awareness higher planes of existence.
This shift requires entities like us to raise our vibrational frequencies so we can synchronize with these higher planes of existence. Without this internal tuning, our mind/body/spirit complexes will be blinded by the intensity of the higher planes of existence (dissonance). Ergo, we won’t be able to perceive these planes of existence as they truly are. But once aligned, our perception shifts, allowing us to process higher-frequency transmissions and experience reality as translucent and light-based rather than solid and material.
It’s similar to how shining more light into a room makes furniture in the room appear more visible, clearer, and sharper. Even though the furniture has been in the room the entire time, we only saw it as illusionary shadows rather than chairs and desks because the room was too dark. In the room analogy, the room is kept dark on purpose as it represents the veil of amnesia. So, as we become more aware and our consciousness density matches an environmental density, the blurriness vanishes, and we see that we were never alone in the dark — we were always sitting in the presence of Source.
TERM
DESCRIPTION
RADIO STATION ANALOGY
Vibrational Frequency
The specific rate (pulse/spiral) that determines how light behaves
The Radio Signal: The invisible wave vibrating at a specific frequency (98.7 FM)
Dimension
The mathematical address or grid where the frequency lives or is broadcast from
The Broadcast Range: The physical area covered by the radio tower’s transmission
The degree to which an entity can and has perceived, withstood, and integrated light
The Radio Receiver & Tuner: The quality of the radio and its users ability to tune to the station
Plane of Existence
The subjective reality or manifested environment we experience once we’re tuned to a specific frequency
The Audio/Music: The actual song we experience once the receiver successfully processes the signal
Note: If the radio isn’t tuned correctly, static will be experienced even if the radio is directly in the broadcast range of music being broadcast. Ergo, if the mind/body/spirit complex is tuned to a lower-consciousness level, fear, doubt, and the illusion of separation will be experienced even if they’re in a higher dimension.
The veil of amnesia acts as a high-powered frequency jammer that blocks higher-vibrational frequencies. Upgrading or spiritually ascending is the process of revamping our energy system so that we can tune to higher frequencies. Or rather, revamping the radio so that it can tune to higher-frequency signals without blowing a fuse or emitting only static.
