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Not all our thoughts belong to us nor come from us. Please stop and re-read that sentence. In spirituality, there is a big discovery when we realize that the observer of the thought is not the same as the thinker of the thought. Today, we will examine the collective consciousness and why it matters for us all.

First off, what is consciousness? In the past, science thought consciousness was a derivative of the brain, that it was the effect of neurotransmitters. The advent of quantum science has disproven that theory and found that consciousness orders the material world. Word becomes flesh as I like to say it.

“I regard consciousness as fundamental. I regard matter as derivative from consciousness. We cannot get behind consciousness.”– Max Planck, Theoretical Physicist credited with quantum theory

If you’ve ever been to a concert or large gathering, then you have experienced the power of a collective consciousness. The collective is a shared set of ideals, experiences, and beliefs among a group of people. In this sense, every tribe or group shares a certain set of thoughts that govern or bind individuals together forming a group or organization. I think we all get this, but let’s go further. What is beyond the larger flow of consciousness which carries us along?

This idea of a collective consciousness is understood in all frameworks. Like the air all around us, we rarely pay attention to it. Ephesians 2:2 calls it the “power of the air” or in Greek, “supernatural powers in space.” Some reduce it down to Group Think. Star Trek fans call it the Hive Mind, Hindi’s see it as the Atman–Brahman relationship, Jewish people know it as Covenantal Nomism. In Islam, its visible in the Haaj and Christians know it as the Body of Christ. In our post-Judaeo-Christian West, empiricism and science have become the dominant feed for steering our collective thoughts. The collective says: “What does the data or the science say?”

Can we agree there is something bigger beyond our thoughts? We are not as unique as we think.

Flow is when the collective and the individual mind are in sync. When fans gather at a concert, or the faithful gather in corporate worship, the byproduct of shared unity is palpable. At a big game or competition, the competing collective disrupts the larger flow and create an equally palpable friction which ignite a competing set of thoughts, emotions, and experiences. This can even become diabolical. Have you ever done something in a group that you would never have done alone?

The Flow of thought appears osmotic, it equalizes concentration gradually and without notice. This means that the bit of consciousness that we possess is the microcosm of the macrocosm beyond our purview. However, the macrocosm becomes visible within the collective, if we step back and watch the thought process unfold.

I believe this is happening at an accelerated rate right now. There are many in the “course of this world” that are manipulating the collective mind and splitting the field. Lately, have you felt like something doesn’t feel right, or that something seems “off” but you can’t put your finger on it? That is the collective pressing in on us. When we perceive this, we are transducing the hive mind but within our soul we are experiencing dissonance. This dissonance causes us anxiety, fear, anger, offense, uncertainty, to which we react. This reaction reverberates back into the collective stream and influences others who in turn reverberate their dissonance in like manner. The result is great disruption and confusion. It’s subtle but if you perceive it, then you are waking up.

We are the semi-permeable membrane. That’s the good news.

Now that we notice it, what can we do? We can learn to calm the hive mind by first calming our mind. Learn to be with “What is.” Once we learn to see the thoughts in our own mind that don’t belong to us, we begin to recognize their signature ethos within the larger collective. Here’s an example:

We all see our political duality. Both parties disagree and are forever trying to rally troops and get in each others way. But have you ever stopped to consider that the reason everyone hates the opposing team is because the hive mind has programmed us to partial bits of truth. Why can’t we see the injustice and suffering imposed on both sides? The larger collective is oppressing all of us under captivity which distracts us and then plunders our calories, time and dollars. So long as we pick a team, we believe the oppression comes from the other side, when in fact its much more pernicious. Both sides are played by the puppet master. It’s a big, evil, diabolical reality. No wonder some call it Satan.

If we wake up, we can change all that. Liberate and thrive. We’re semi-permeable. A greater concentration can seep through.

While its an oversimplification to say there are essentially two streams of consciousness, the gist of what I’m offering is that we must gain wisdom to discern what or who is behind the collective which drives our thinking.

The invitation is to create sacred space and stillness so we can separate from the anesthesia of thought and learn to just be with BEING. Upon that foundation, we can join the greatest collective mind of True Consciousness itself. Christianity calls this, The Father. We must lift our sleepy eyes to see the real battle. It can be seen beyond the health crisis, beyond the economy and beyond a vaccine. It’s a battle for our very life and self and soul. May these words remind us that our house/ life can be secure so long as we know to which stream of consciousness we are to drink. There is a river of life, and it exists for the healing of the Nations (Revelations 22:2).

Navigating our world right now requires sobriety if we are to avoid being carried along in a hive mind that ultimately leads to our ruin. This is why our unconscious state is called darkness. Seeing it is step number one. This is a time that calls for wisdom (Revelations 13:18) and if any of us feel like we lack wisdom, the invitation is to ask for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)

I can’t give it to you. Otherwise I would. I can’t take you there. I serve as one small voice trying to wake you up. We are each asked to do our part. Pay attention now more than ever. If we do, we need not fear. Please consider these words and your power of semi-permeability. Not all everything need flow through you out to others. Conscious sifting may just save the world.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27)