What are the different spheres of the psyche?
To clear up some confusion about the different ‘levels’, or better, ‘spheres’ of the Psyche, consider the following useful distinctions. (Incidentally, psyche means ‘soul’ in Greek, so the two are really identical.) These are all aspects of the psyche, albeit difficult to describe, because in broader terms there is no real separation between the ‘ levels’ – unity reigns – but similar to the Astral Plane, they are instead like different ‘frequencies’ that interpenetrate and interrelate. As far as words are able to describe, here it goes.
The ‘Unconscious’ does not exist, as such. It is a contradiction in terms. Consciousness is always focused somewhere. The so-called ‘collective unconscious’ is quite conscious. As popular as the term is, it was first used as a description from a strictly physical perspective, but in that case ‘Not-Aware-Here’ would be more accurate! Perhaps its most appropriate use is a description of those mesmerized by a particular plane to the exclusion of all else (whether awake or dreaming!), but it’s still quite a misnomer.
“The true ‘unconscious’ is not unconscious. Instead, it is so deeply and blankly conscious that it overflows.”
– Seth, Seth Speaks p.225
Body Consciousness is the combined consciousness of your cells, including the atoms and molecules that make it up. There is much more activity on the part of the physical body level than is generally supposed. When you consider how many embedded systems we need to live and function, it’s almost unimaginable. However, our body awareness takes care of everything for us. Your breathing, your heartbeat, the coordination of your muscles, and all other bodily processes are automatic. For example, you don’t have to think about speech processes in order to speak. This topic is really too broad to cover here.
The Intellect is the outward-facing part of your mind that deals directly with all the necessary tasks of physical existence. If you like, it’s similar to a computer interface in that it’s the interface between you and the world around you. Great confusion occurs when this is taken as the extension of identity, because the intellect is only the ‘residence’ of the Outer Ego, the ‘tip of the iceberg’ that emerges into physical life. (Is it really a coincidence that we only use 10% of our brains and that 10% of an iceberg is above water?) The largest chunks of identity always lie beneath any exterior façade and provide the infinite potential and reserve from which the temporal ego feeds. as its source.
“Man’s ego causes him to interpret everything else in light of himself. He loses much in this way. The ego can be compared to the bark of a tree. The bark is supple, vibrant, and grows with the growth below. It is a tree’s contact with the outside world, the tree’s interpreter and, to a certain extent, the tree’s companion. This is how the ego of man should be… The purpose of the ego is protective. The ego is also a device that allows that the inner being inhabits the physical body.
– Seth, Seth, Dreams and Projections in Consciousness p.114
The Conscious Mind stands behind the intellect and links it to even deeper portions of the Psyche. This is the greater You that you identify with when you know that you are not ‘just a body’, a Core Ego, of all the thoughts, feelings and beliefs that you are aware of. It interfaces with the ‘inner self’ and the ‘outer self’ and, in that sense, tries both to translate inner inspirations and impulses into external actions, and to interpret external events as understandings for the benefit of the inner self and, therefore, therefore ultimately for the benefit of All.
The Subconscious deals directly with the automation of the mind and body and serves to link the two. If you like, it’s similar to a computer processor, but with much more capacity and memory. It also sets your beliefs in motion. Repeated belief patterns can form “grooves” of experience in the subconscious that take root and need to be “cleared” when they are no longer desirable. If left unattended, these behavioral and perceptual ‘addictions’ impede the free flow of new experiences through a kind of tunnel vision that prevents the acceptance of new information. On the other hand, being able to harness the power of the subconscious is a very valuable skill.
The Superconscious Mind is that part of your individuality that goes far beyond what you know consciously. You could say that this is truly your Soul, or Inner Ego. It is difficult to describe such an expansion in words, although many have tried. In certain terms, you could say that it is the combination of everything you ever knew and have been, with everything you will ever know and be, throughout all your lives: past, present, future and parallel. If you can begin to understand that, then you’re doing fine, because it can take a long time to fully realize it!
The Universal Soul or Spirit or Deity is the universal gestalt consciousness that contains and unifies all Psyches of all levels everywhere and at all times. In one of those classic theological and philosophical paradoxes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, as it is both the driving force and the ‘matter that is driven’ in an ever expanding and growing universe. This God Consciousness or Supreme Consciousness pervades all of existence. As another paradox, it is not possible to live without his presence, but it is possible to experience life as if he were not present.
As we can see, having some better distinctions available will allow us to use much more effective practical methods when it comes to Astral Projection and Lucid Dreaming. These are all ‘spheres’ of the Psyche in the sense that they interpenetrate, one within the other. However, depending on our perspective, we could consider either polarity to have the smaller or larger ‘sphere’.
If we look at it from the perspective of focus or identity, Intellect would be the narrowest central sphere gradually increasing to Divinity as the most expansive Consciousness. On the other hand, if we look at it from the perspective of form or exteriority, Divinity would be the central inner sphere as the United Source, gradually branching out to the infinite number of points in the outermost sphere.
There we leave the analogy, its use has been fulfilled, because in broader terms there are no such ‘divisions’! In other words, and also to end an earlier analogy, it’s still an iceberg! To summarize, we can see that our surface awareness deepens and widens as we go inward, and if we remember this, then perhaps we are better equipped to explore those exciting and welcoming depths.