What color is consciousness? Does it have a texture? Is it something that you can see, touch, hold, or even describe? When it comes to something as ineffable as consciousness, is it possible to even put our finger on it?

One might say that some people are born with a higher level of it, but that would be to assume that we aren’t all born with the same spark, which is a dangerous assumption, indeed.

Consciousness is amorphous in many ways. It can expand and overlap far beyond the individual. Families, romantic partnerships, businesses, groups, and organizations can all find themselves functioning along a shared baseline of consciousness.

One might say that consciousness rubs off on us in a way. If we are to assume that we enter this world as tabula rasa, then consciousness is shaped as we mature.

We are influenced at every moment by our environment in our formative years, for better or worse. From the family unit to national customs, we learn how the world works from our own point of view and how it is we will engage with it.

It’s not some thing that can be easily measured in the traditional sense. David Hawkins became famous for his handy scale which can help you understand the levels of consciousness, and how they build upon one another.

Before the age of easy travel, and more recently, the Internet, things like geography and language served to keep the various cultures and customs distinct from one another. As those lines dissolve it’s worth questioning the consciousness of our pan-cultural communications for the betterment of humanity.

Personally, I believe that there is one basic assumption about consciousness that seems to hold true. You can spiral up, you can spiral down, or you can be content with where you are and keep going around in circles.

Since a downward spiral leads to rock-bottom, (and believe me, it’s no fun), and going around in circles tends to get old, I’d say the wise approach to consciousness is to always strive to keep raising it. Kindness, acceptance, and love are ours to give in abundance.

We are given a handful of decades to journey through life on earth, so let’s make the most of the dance while we are here and do our best to elevate the souls who are around us. It’s fun to rub folks the right way!

Au revoir à Lundi prochain!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine