8 Stages of Consciousness: A Map for Growth
🌀 A model for navigating the evolution of consciousness.
When Spirituality Meets Science
Greetings to a topic I'm deeply passionate about: the intersection of scientific inquiry into consciousness, blending the realms of psychospiritual exploration with the precision of scientific methodology.
Frequently alluding to "levels of consciousness" in my discussions, I felt it was necessary to provide these levels with a tangible context.
There are numerous valid models existing in the study of consciousness, such as
Jean Gebser's 5-layer model (archaic, magic, mythic, rational, and integral),
Clare Graves' 9-layer model (instinctive, clannish, egocentric, purposeful, strategic, relativistic, systemic, holistic, unknown),
Ken Wilber's 4-layer model (egocentric, ethnocentric, world-centric, integral)
and all of them are valid and interesting.
The simplified model I present here has 8 stages and they are as follow:
I am a victim of my circumstances
I take control of the situation
I shift from a victim mentality to a creator mindset
I recognize the perfection in all things
I surrender to a greater intelligence
I create reality through being
I perceive infinite potential
I transcending physical reality
The simplified version aims to provide an accessible introduction to a profound and complex topic. The model is inspired by the work of Justin Faerman in his research paper, Mapping the Evolution of Consciousness: A Holistic Framework for Psychospiritual Development.
Important distinction:
"States" and "stages" of consciousness are interconnected yet distinct. You can experience high "states" momentarily, even stage 8 glimpses, without being stabilized in that stage. A state is a temporary opening; a stage is a lived, integrated reality. The difference between state and stage is integration.
And I have included a more detailed description of each stage.
Level 1: I am a victim of my circumstances
Life happens to me.
I perceive life as external and beyond control.
Fear and hopelessness dominate my existence.
I am a victim, I feel disempowered and adapt by conforming and complying with circumstances.
I am a victim. Life is something that happens to me.
Level 2: I take control of the situation
Life happens by me.
I realize I can control some aspects of my life.
I develop a control addiction to feel safe. I become a control freak.
I hoard resources (like money) for a sense of security.
Self improvement becomes compulsion. Spiritual bypassing appears
If I can control everything, I will finally be safe.
Level 3: I shift from a victim mentality to a creator mindset
Life happens in me.
I recognize my Beliefs shape my reality.
I take responsibility and feel empowered.
I begin emotional maturity and healing.
I am not at the mercy of life, I co-create it.
Level 4: I recognize the perfection in all things
Life happens for me .
Chaos reveals itself as intelligent order .
Gratitude replaces fear.
I embrace non-doing and trust timing.
I see the value of where I am, even in difficulty.
Everything is exactly as it should be.
Level 5: I surrender to a greater intelligence
Life happens through me.
I become an instrument of the Universe’s unfolding.
I live by alignment and not ambition.
Authenticity and vulnerability becomes strength.
Self-love leads to surrender.
I am a vessel for something greater.
Level 6: I create reality through being
Life is me.
Consciousness creates reality.
Inner reality precedes experience.
Manifestation becomes effortless through alignment.
As within, so without.
Level 7: I perceive infinite potential
I am infinite.
Matter is condensed consciousness.
I live in a quantum field of possibilities.
Imagination becomes a creative force.
I can help other manifest from this place.
Whatever the mind can conceive can exist.
Level 8: I transcending physical reality
I am energy.
Consciousness is non-local and quantum
I merge with life itself
There is no separation, only vibration, flow, and unity
I am life itself, manifesting as form.
Test your understanding!
1- What is the most common level of consciousness in today's world?
2- Where do you place yourself in this evaluation scale? (Write your answer on the chat and let’s have a conversation).
3 -What is the stage of consciousness we need to get us out of Co-Dependency and Victim Consciousness?
🌀 This post is part of the “Change Your Story Companion Workshop” — a 12-week journey to rewrite your inner narrative and transform your life.
PS: “Change Your Story, Change The World” is a storytelling endeavor that looks deeply into the psyche that creates the stories we live by—with the intention to help us shape better stories, both personally and collectively.
Because the stories we tell are not just stories—they are the reality we live.
Answers:
Answer to the first question is level 2, the majority of human organizations are based on creating fear (a level 1 consciousness strategy), in order to offer control, as a solution.
The answer to the third question is level 3.