THE COLLECTIVE CONSCIOUSNESS

The collective consciousness is a real thing, even if it is not a tangible thing, like a rubber ball that you can kick around. But it is the combination of all ideas and beliefs that most people in a society believe in. And boy oh boy, can it vary from one country to another, and one time in history to another.

If you don’t believe me, just think about what the collective consciousness was in Nazi Germany. The prevailing view in that country at that time included government departments whose sole mission was to determine the amount of Jewish or Aryan blood in the population!  And everyone went along for the ride, because it was the dominant view, and it was commonly accepted by the human population.

Look at our country right now: there are definite points of view and belief systems that are commonly accepted here, which would be abhorrent to other countries. For instance, the American belief in optimism and ever rising living standards, is a very particular belief system, based in large part on our history of expansion westward into seemingly unlimited lands. A country like Finland would not share that belief, because the history and physical mass were so different.

This is just a small example of how the collective consciousness can vary so much today. So what is a conscious person in any society to do when faced with the collective consciousness?

1. Don’t accept any part of it as true just because it exists. As mentioned above, the collective consciousness can vary from one country to another, and one time in history to another. It all can’t be true, but (and here’s the rub), it can definitely seem to be true because so many people accept it.

2. Make your personal choices on what feels right to you, not what people tell you everyone else believes, or would do. It’s easy to fall into the trap of succumbing to the collective consciousness, because it’s all around! But if you use your inner guide as a basis for your actions, you can avoid this trap.

3. Cherry pick parts of the collective consciousness that you like. Just because everyone believes it, it doesn’t make it right – but it doesn’t make it wrong either. If there is a part of the collective consciousness that resonates with you, embrace it fully.

4. Contribute actively to the collective consciousness. You are a part of it, just like everyone else, and you impact the collective consciousness to the extent that you participate in it. Take a stand and have it felt by others.

5. Understand its fluidity. The collective consciousness shifts on a moment to moment basis, just like your life. Take that into account when you think a situation in your life is impacted by it, or is so fixed.