|
The
following is a discussion about the 3 Levels of the personal Self
or Mind. Please
take the time to study and fully understand this model of the three levels
of the Self. Without
the proper foundation of understanding about these levels, I am convinced
that dream study, or any metaphysical study, can become destructive to
your life/ego balance through the enhanced powers of imagination which
are brought about by such study. Imagination with proper guidance
is what allows all creation to take place. But imagination given
free reign can be very destructive. So, proper understanding of
these levels, and how they interact, can be a key to open your conscious
awareness to the treasures of the Infinite and, I think, most definitely
should be sought.
INTRODUCTION
It
is my personal certainty that any attempt to understand dreams or what
is really going on in your life and mind, as well as in the lives and
minds of others, cannot fully succeed unless it takes into account the
structure of the 3 levels of the mind...the personal Trinity of Self.
Why trinity? In a 3-dimensional reality such as we have in the conscious
waking state, with its direct interaction with the material universe,
we would expect to be able to relate to the nature of this universe three
different ways...or with three distinct receptors. At the
current level of awareness in the psychological disciplines, the first
two are pretty well understood but the third has yet to make it fully
into the mainstream thought.
|
Actually it has been culturally "banned" from Western,
mainstream thought by the development of rationality...a linear,
masculine mode of reliance on the conscious mind's inherent powers
of deductive reasoning alone, to the exclusion of the more wholistic
powers of the subconscious with it's inductive reasoning ability. This
point is beautifully made by Dr. Leonard Shlain in his recent book,
The
Alphabet Versus the Goddess : The Conflict Between Word and Image.
In this excellent book he shows
how the switch from matriarchial to patriarchial societies throughout
history have always followed the development of alphabetic writing
as it replaced pictorial writing. Thus he shows that the way we
communicate is based on the portion of mind that we favor at any
one time. |
|
And since the conscious
mind is one step removed from the superconscious mind, with the subconscious
in between them, it is difficult for the conscious mind to "directly"
comprehend a part of mind which exists, of itself, extra-dimensionally
and without the presence of an environment of matter. But it can be
seen from the simplistic diagram that I've drawn below that in this
model the subconscious mind occupies a relative position of mediator
between the other two levels. Thus it has to serve as "translator"
of outer to the inner layer and vice versa. I think that the evidence
from dreams themselves show that the information flows from outer to
inner and then the feedback reverses this direction and flows from inner
to outer.
Diagram
of the Relative
Layers and Scope of Mind's Awareness
Another part of
the resistance to the understanding a tripartite system of mind, I believe,
is that the idea of this "other" part of mind impacts many
people with semantic "weapons" right in the vulnerable underbelly
of their religion. This has caused much resistance, especially when
one has to attribute "God-like" creative powers to each individual
entity.And the "religion" of materialist science, which has in many
cases replaced the other more traditional religions, also has been a
culprit to slow this understanding, not because there is anything wrong
with the scientific method, but because non-creative practicioners in
the field, which form the bulk of practicioners in any established field,
tend towards dogmatic beliefs which limit their scope of awareness and
stifle new knowledge. As such, they become the "front wall" of a current
paradigm and will often defend it, even to the death.
Along this line, I intend to later show evidence that the much talked
about "Beast" of Revelations is none other than materialism
itself....which represents 2/3 of the whole truth...thus the number
666 given to it. This will be covered in a section of DreamWorks where
I will write about the symbology of the Bible.
Karl Jung, Edgar Cayce and others have done a lot to illuminate this
third level but the information given by them, one from a scientific
framework and the other from a metaphysical framework, has simply not
had the proper gestation period to become mainstream "scientific" knowledge.
I am certain that it will be, and currently IS BECOMING so. (see
the DreamWorks Links page) Slowly, a way is being prepared for
a golden age of understanding on this earth, I think. This period of
time has been predicted by prophets from cultures as diverse as the
Jews and the native American Hopi . It has been called the Millennium,
the Thousand Years of Peace, the Fifth World, the Enlightened Age, the
New Age, the Aquarian Age (God's spirit [water pitcher] being poured
out on earth) and by many other names in different cultures.
What I am referring to has been the knowledge of initiates, priests,
shamans, holy men, prophets and enlightened ones throughout the ages
but they did not then possess the necessary technical terms (language)
to explain their concepts to a mostly illiterate public except through
symbolic narratives, myths, and parables. But these teachers knew that
they could bypass the conscious language problem and talk directly to
the subconscious minds. They knew that this "symbolic language" would
find a natural resonance with the universal dream symbols which are
imprinted in the superconscious minds, and made available to the subconscious
minds, of everyone. And they knew by this that the message would be
delivered to the subconscious even if the conscious mind did not fully
understand it, UNTIL it learned to translate the symbology properly.
Humanity has been bickering and killing each other for thousands of
years over these semantics -- all because the language had not yet been
invented suitable to describe to the conscious, rational mind what's
really going on. We now have enough of that language to at least get
a pretty good idea. We have the language of science, computer technology
and psychology to constrast and compare with the language of myth and
religion. And, as literacy has increased in the world, many of us have
been able to cross reference some of the knowledge contained in these
disciplines and relate them to patterns of conscious awareness which
cut across all lines.
I know that it all makes sense to me after my years of searching for
understanding in these unusual areas. It has taken me over 25 years
of study, the reading of countless books, the somewhat destructive experience
of my life during that period, the study of my own dreams and the unending
search for "process patterns" in all of this. I hope to be able to make
it easier on you.
All you need do is to grasp the basic knowledge of the 3 part integrated
structure of mind, if you aren't already aware of it, and to apply it
in the study of your own personal lives and dreams. If you do this you
will see, as I have, that our "teacher" inside has been trying to show
us these things since the beginning of time. It is, and always has been,
a natural function of human consciousness. I sincerely hope that you
will at least peruse this information and test drive it in your life.
Knock your own holes in it, patch them with whatever you have and see
if that works. Test, test, test. It is only through this personal process
(no one can just "give" you understanding) that you will "own" the knowledge
and make it a part of your being. Unless you own it, as the Moody Blues
tell it, you are only a "survivor". Yet I think that everyone knows,
on some level, that they are more than that.
What follows is a brief synopsis of what I've learned and I sincerely
hope that it is understandable and usable to everyone. I could make
dozens of analogies, draw different diagrams and say it in totally different
ways but then we're right back into the parables and symbols again.
If anyone has a real problem with understanding the structure of any
of this model, or exactly what I meant to say, PLEASE ask me
about it. It would be greatly appreciated since my purpose is to express
clearly and not to confuse. Perhaps you could help me do better next
time.
Good luck to everyone in learning your second language -- the "native
language of the Soul".
The Conscious Mind
The conscious mind relates to the masculine, analytical, yang of the
orient, animus of Karl Jung, positive of electromagnetism or active
principle of the Self. It could be called the "thinking mind". It thinks
in a linear fashion... sort of like lining ducks up all in a row. The
conscious mind uses "deductive reasoning" -- starting with "factual"
input from the "real" world of the five senses. It then makes theories
& judgements based on these facts which it inputs to the subconscious
for permanent storage and for later use whenever the subject comes up.
It also has to contend with the IDEAS with which we have previously
input to the Subconscious mind and information relating to IDEALS which
come from the deeper [or higher] levels of the mind, the Superconscious.
Much research has associated the conscious mind with left brain functioning
and often it will appear as a dream symbol in relation to something
to the left...or something male. Its power is the power of judgement
and "will". It is your only point of power in the waking world. Choice!
The conscious mind is right here and now in the present. Time and space
are its prison. It exists nowhere else. All of us are pretty familiar
with its operation since it is "out in the open" most of the time. So,
it probably does not need any more explanation than this.
The Subconscious Mind
The subconscious
mind is associated with the feminine, emotional, yin of the orient,
anima of Jung, negative of electromagnetism or passive principle of
the Self. It could be called the "feeling mind." This part of our mind
seems like nothing more than a non-thinking, insensitive, machine-like
brute but is really an incredibly capable computer which never forgets.
It does not seem to care how much you hurt, if you do. In fact, the
subconscious mind seems to view all emotion simply as its operating
"facts" just associated items in its database of information.
It is only doing its job...constantly serving up what has been programmed
into it. It doesn't care about grey areas. Everything to the subconscious
is cut and dried, black and white, and it will always give the same
emotionally charged (plus or minus) answer to the same association until
its programming or input is changed. That's because it uses "inductive
reasoning" -- giving you a picture of reality based on what has been
programmed into it. It is not locked in time but has one window open
to the present time and place and another window open to the infinity
of all time and all space. In other words, it is the filter between
the conscious mind and the superconscious mind or between the finite
and the infinite. It's position of being between the Conscious and Superconscious
levels also give it the unique capability to function as translator
between the two. As such it seems to live in a sort of "spatial" time
as opposed to the "linear" time of the conscious mind. This means that
time, to the subconcious, seems to be irrelevant and therefore expandable
or shrinkable according to its needs.
The subconscious is also the seat of "habit" and it is as trainable
as any puppy. It protects itself from change, though, with emotional
responses - not analytical ones. This is why whenever a person suddenly
gets angry or emotional, like you've hit a nerve or pulled their chain,
you can then know where their "religion" lies. The "religion" I'm talking
about can be anything from a scientific theory of evolution, to God's
"true" name, or even something as simple as the best way to peel an
apple. It is deeply ingrained, and any force applied to it simply meets
an equally forceful emotional response. The lack of understanding on
this point causes "wars" in marriage, the office, the neighborhood,
families and countries. It is not often logical but it is very, very
powerful. Associated by research with the right brain half, it often
shows up in dream symbols associated with something to the right...or
something female.
The subconscious has no ability to reprogram itself. It must rely on
the "will" of the analytical conscious mind. This is why you can never
change another person or make them "see the light", as you do --except
through certain drastic techniques commonly called "brainwashing". They
must do the reprogramming, in their own way, of their own free will.
They can only be shown alternatives by anyone else and will change only
when they deem it necessary or advantageous. It is usually much less
destructive if the "advantageous" route is taken than if it goes the
"necessary" route. But this is the pattern of how we "grow". This is
why studying your Self is so important.
You might learn that it would be "advantageous" to change and make the
necessary changes with relative ease. But if you don't study the Self
your life can become destructive to itself and make it necessary to
implement change. This is Nature's way and the "why" of all pain of
any nature. Pain is Nature's spotlight on the deficiency of your understanding
your own Self. And it is all because we haven't been taught to seek
in ourselves but have been taught to accept a cultural view of the way
things work. Consequently, we tend to seek someone or something outside
of our Self to blame for any lack of harmony in our world. This lack
of harmony equates to dis-ease...which
can eventually become disease
on first, a superconscious level, then a subconscious (emotional) level
and finally a conscious, or physical, level.
The subconscious mind is always receiving a variety of inputs to sort
out and it must come up with a response to any situation. It gets advice
on ideals and universal or "spiritual" laws from the superconscious
window on one side and from the conscious evaluations and judgements
on the other. In addition, we have to get a bit esoteric here and say
that it has to contend with telepathic intrusion by other minds attuning
to it. It is also broadcasting telepathically to any minds that it is
"attuned" to. It is the nozzle of ESP and psychic phenomena. Clairvoyant
information flows through it from the superconscious mind, or spiritual
Self, which does not exist in "time/space" as we know it. It gets personal
"vibes" and impressions from other subconscious minds. It is the mechanism
which, like a spigot, allows "life force" to be controlled and directed.
Healing energy and killing energy broadcast equally as well through
the "mechanism" of this amazing machine called the subconscious. It
is analogous to a telephone modem which can connect two or more computers
across the world and let them exchange information. This is why "prayer",
or "intention", in whatever form, often works better than reason or
argument when attempting to aid another person who is resistant to change.
But even this method of attempted aid will still meet the same subconscious
resistance if the subject of the prayer is simply a personal desire
of the sender and not a universal one following spiritual laws. The
spiritual ideals find natural resonance in all people's subconscious
minds through the window-like connection to the superconscious layer.
We all have the same pattern of truths imprinted on our superconscious
levels waiting to be awakened by the action of "will", say the Cayce
readings. The subconscious does not resist the superconscious input
but, rather, listens to it patiently before saying "that does or does
not agree with my individual ego's programming". When they do not agree,
it then has the complex problem of reconciling the "opposites" that
have been input to its "memory banks" from the conscious mind, on the
one hand, and the superconscious mind, on the other. These objectify
in the life as problems which start as "emotional disharmony" and end
up, through our ignorance and neglect, getting "pushed" into objective
"disharmonies" in the outer, conscious, life.
Only by using the conscious will to make the subconscious fit the superconscious
pattern of ideals and universal laws will harmony, peace and joy come
into the outer life. These 3 levels of the Self must agree or it is
an eternal "food fight" between them.
Healing techniques such as hypnosis, self hypnosis, affirmation, positive
thinking, psycho-cybernetics, prayer for the self from the self and
others, subliminal programming, suggestion and a host of others on the
market are all valid ways of inputting new programming into the subconscious.
From what I've seen, though, your programming had better be based on
ideals from the superconscious
pattern and not on ideas
already programmed by your experiences and judgements into the subconscious.
If it isn't, only more, and possibly greater, disharmony will result
in the emotional life and then "crystallize" in the outer life.
How can we do this reprogramming simply? By never attempting to lie
to ourselves, I think. By following this path we are being true
to the God within. To thine own self be true. Each of us "knows"
when we are violating our own ideals. Ideals are the highest forms that
we each can imagine...even if everyone's ideals are slightly different
based on their mode of understanding and developmental level of awareness.
But to each individual they represent the God-like quality within the
self and are the most sacred things that exist. And the subconscious
mind of a person who is growing in awareness is one that is becoming
programmed to a new reality that is closer and closer to its own higher
ideals.
The Superconscious Mind
Also
called the Unconscious Mind or the Personal Spirit
This
part of the Self does not reason inductively or deductively. In fact,
I don't believe that it reasons at all. I think it just IS. By that statement
I infer that the Superconscious mind represents "direct perception" of
infinite truth/knowledge/awareness. It is not associated with any section
of the brain or body at all, [at least not any recognized by the current
level of scienctific knowledge] but it is associated, by metaphysics,
with the Kundalini (coiled serpent) force or energy lying at the base
of the spine. When awakened by an act of will (imagination) it rises and
activates 7 energy centers associated with the endocrine glands. These
are called chakras, an Eastern term. I know of no known Western terms
for them since they have not been officially "discovered" by Western science
yet. When activated they are said to put an individual in personal contact
with the Infinite.
I feel certain that the electromagnetic signature of this will be understood
as more and more people in the Western world experience the phenomena
associated with this energy. But I believe that it's effects have already
been described by Reichenbach, Mesmer, Wilhelm Reich, Pat Flanagan and
many other scientists over the past two hundred years. It has been called
biocosmic energy, orgone energy, Odic force, animal magnetism, pyramid
energy, chi and Prana to name a few. I can tell you that it is more real
than anything else you've ever experienced, since I had an personal experience
of direct contact with it, in the classic way, long before I had any book
knowledge of it. And much of my subsequent work has come about as a direct
result of that experience.
The superconscious seems to exercise no power to effect the conscious
or subconscious except as a beacon of light or example, normally. (However,
the use of conscious, free will choices which "allow" the connection
to be made and the information to flow between them seems to be the
real subject and teaching of most religions.) It constantly mirrors
the infinite reality, and what we call spiritual "Truth", to the subconscious
and the subconscious shows this to us in dream visions as symbols.
The subconscious is always trying to reconcile what it got from conscious,
real world input with what it gets from the beacon of the superconscious
mind and it presents the internal harmony or disharmony to us in little
symbolic movies or parables many times as we sleep. These can be thought
of as barometers of the whole past, present and future self. They show
us what IS, inside of us. And, as such, dreams can be seen as
"real time" readouts on the internal state of either harmony or disharmony
between the 3 levels of the individual Self. I suppose that dreams
could also be called the truly "local", up-to-the-minute news of the
internal state of the individual.
The superconscious
mind has been called many, things in history but mostly it is associated
with the Light. Light is
a universal symbol for awareness. It is usually symbolized by
the cave, the cavern, the hole in the ground or the underground dark
place and the sky. The underground associations relate to "hidden" aspects
of its reality and the above the ground [sky] associations relate to
aspects of its reality which have been "freed" from the "hidden". Its
shape is the circle or sphere. Its color is usually white, denoting
full spectrum of awareness. In
Christianity the superconscious is aptly symbolized as the Father
of our reality. And it is aware of all that you ever were, all
that you are, and all that you ever will be, because it "lives" in an
omni-dimensional reality which we can only conceive of as notime/nospace,
or alltime/allspace.
DreamWorks
Main Page 
(if
you came in by the back door and don't have the navigation bar at the
top)
|