Also read – “Levels of mind” (which includes more study of the subconscious and Intuition)
Lower from the conscious mind is the subconscious mind. The subconscious is a term that many people use and also psychologists, yet there are quite a lot of diverse meanings. It makes sense, though, to define the subconscious in the simplest way. It should simply refer to a realm of mind that is below consciousness, or in other words, referring to any dynamics of the mind that we are not conscious of. This does not mean, though, that the conscious mind has no access to this subconscious realm, nor that the subconscious stuff is permanently hidden from consciousness; rather, the subconscious is simply the part of mind that one is presently or even normally not conscious of.
The subconscious is the area of mind that holds memories and patterns of behavior. The subconscious is, fundamentally, a deposit-storage of our experiences and impressions, as well as thoughts and emotions from our conscious life and also from energies received from others around us. Then, all of this forms patterns, habits, and automatic reactions. All of this becomes the subjective background of self. The subjective reality we live in, or that which we call our self, is only portionally conscious; or in other words, we are conscious of just a small portion of our whole subjective self, the whole of our mental and emotional being. So, very much of our mental and emotional being is sub-conscious. And this content of our subconscious enters regularly into our conscious experience. The greater portion of our individual self is hidden from consciousness, like a submerged underground realm, and it rarely ever emerges to be consciously known, though whatever is subconscious is potentially accessible to consciousness.
An essential feature of the subconscious is memory. Memories of people, things, places, and events are held in the subconscious. We usually regard memory as just receptive and passive, a recorder of things. But in this hidden part of mind, the subconscious, memory is also dynamically active; moreover, it is re-active. So from the sub-conscious come memories and reactive patterns of thought, emotion and behavior. This is our data storage, plus the response programs already created that have become repetitive and automatic.
So, in addition to memories and stored impressions, patterns of behavior are in the subconscious, both as memories and as active programs. So because the patterns are active, these could well be called active patterns, activated from the subconscious and also subconsciously arising - meaning that one might not be conscious of an active pattern arising, nor why, but it arises into personal manifestation nonetheless. In fact, an active pattern of the subconscious will keep arising and manifesting, unless it becomes conscious (or conscious mind notices it) and then some change is made to this pattern/program from the conscious will or conscious decision.
Understand that sub-conscious means below-conscious, and it also means that one does not need to be conscious of these memories and patterns, in order for them to be effective or at least ready to be effective.
The subconscious accumulates memories from conscious life, or from sensitivity and the senses. It accumulates active patterns from our personal behaviors, our actions and reactions. Whenever actions or behaviors are repeated a number of times, this sets forth a pattern or a program. These could also be called habits; whether good/useful/functional habits or unuseful /dysfunctional habits. Thus, whatever we do is recorded in the subconscious memory, and if repeated enough this activity or behavior will become a pattern or habit in the subconscious, then it will sub-consciously arise, often without any conscious notice and without any conscious control.
Subconscious activity always has an automatic characteristic. It already has a definite and fixed pattern, which comes forth in basically the same way every time. This is an advantage for consistency and reliability, but only if the pattern is actually useful or ideal. For example, there is a great advantage in survival and in achievement because of our mental ability to subconsciously react automatically with a consistent, reliable, dependable, successful strategy or pattern of response. This could be a subconscious pattern of behavior, or a worded belief, or an instant idea-solution (as when someone says they have a cold and you instantly say ‘garlic’, or some other instant solution-advice we automatically give to others). However, it is problematic when the subconscious automata is not actually useful to our success. For it may be consistently reliable in what it delivers, yet a poor repeating failure.
The subconscious is basically a recording of what goes on in our conscious mind, and the subconscious plays this back when there is an associative stimuli, or else when the conscious mind wants to retrieve something. These subconscious contents (beliefs, patterns, reactions) will sometimes arise spontaneously, or so it will seem this way. Really though, if something arises from the subconscious there was a cause of this; which could be a need for it or it could just arise from an associative stimulus.
The subconscious is the part of mind that records what goes on consciously or in our experience, and it also mechanically functions in a patterned way. So, the subconscious mind can be divided into a memory component and a mechanical component. What happens in the conscious mind or in conscious experience is thus recorded in the subconscious mind. Or another way to explain this is that conscious experience soon becomes sub-conscious. Conscious experience and thoughts seem to pass by, but this does not disappear completely. Rather, it goes subconscious.
We usually think that thoughts are only conscious thoughts, but we also have subconscious thoughts and also subconscious emotions, of which we are not conscious yet they nonetheless are in our mind. These are thoughts that once were conscious but have gone subconscious, stored for a later use.
Some subconscious thoughts are right on the verge of being conscious, but they are very soft, almost like whispers. These can be noticed if we increase our awareness of what's going on in our thoughts, but most often these are not conscious just because they are subtle and not so loud.
Then, some thoughts are much more deeply subconscious. They exist as thought-forms, thought-structures, sentences, or beliefs; but our conscious mind is aware of them. Yet they are already packaged and ready to come into consciousness. They come into consciousness as pre-packaged and quickly delivered. The same is true of beliefs. In fact, all our beliefs, opinions, and habitual thoughts are retained in our subconscious; they can arise into consciousness anytime if needed or if there an associative stimulus (as when someone brings up that belief in conversation).
We don't regularly ponder consciously on our beliefs; so most usually they remain intact in our subconscious storage, yet ready to repeat themselves for our listening conscious mind, like memorized stanzas of our favorite song. Our beliefs are rarely considered consciously or consciously reflected upon. Rather, they emerge repetitively into consciousness from the subconsciousness, when we wish to share them, or when needed to justify something, or when there is an association stimulus. Thus, they usually remain just as they are, prepackaged in our subconscious. Of course we can conscious know our beliefs, and even change them.
Mostly, we are repeating the same thoughts, beliefs, and emotions, as recorded in the subconscious and emerging from there, then reinforced further as an automatic pattern each time it is repeated. Emotions also linger in the subconscious, which are the emotional patterns recorded from our conscious life and still alive in us, though now below consciousness.
Yet all of these subconscious thoughts and beliefs, and also our subconscious patterns of response, were originally brought into the subconscious by way of the conscious mind; either received from the world through our subconscious or else created by the conscious mind. So whatever happens in the subconscious is founded upon the thoughts, ideas and emotions experienced in the conscious realm. What emerges from our subconscious (the thoughts or emotions that suddenly arise) are usually repeating playbacks of previous conscious thoughts, beliefs, or emotions. Thus, the subconscious is basically created by way of the conscious mind. It's like a repository, a filing cabinet, a storage, or closet.
Conscious thoughts go into our subconscious, then come back into our conscious mind from the subconscious, which then pass again back into subconsciousness. The subconscious will collect (record) conscious thoughts and experiences, and then it will give those back into conscious mind when future conscious thoughts seem to relate. And because the subconscious is composed of memories, or past thoughts and experiences; it follows that whatever comes from the subconscious are patterns from the past, and the functional activity of the subconscious is a patterning of behavior based on past patterns.
What we think, or the quality of our thoughts, gets recorded and repeated in the subconscious. This makes our present thoughts very important. Also significant is how the subconscious contents and patterns very often determine what goes on in our lives and around us. Its like karma in our own mind. Positive and correct thinking will be recorded into our subconscious; which will then result in positive and useful patterns of thought coming forth when we need it. Even the energies and circumstances around us will tend to manifest in a more positive and good working manner. Conversely though, negative and incorrect thinking will be recorded, which will result in negative and incorrect patterns of thought emerging from our subconscious, and the energies and circumstances around us will tend to manifest in a negative and incorrect manner.
We should also realize that some of the content going into our subconscious is from others and even from general humanity. A part of our self is continually sensing energies and picking up on stuff from others and all around. Luckily, most of this stuff from the world around us is filtered by a protective shield of our subconscious, which only lets in what is deemed acceptable, as decided consciously by us. Unfortunately though, many people are open to negative and even harmful energies, because they have not, with certainty, decided to ignore and disregard these negative energies. This is why it is obstructive to our spiritual path to open ourselves to everything. In this world we need some degree of discernment and protection. If we decide this consciously and intentionally, then our discernment will become regular and automatic in the subconscious, thus protecting our subconscious mind from negative energies and attack. This is a good example of how our subconscious can serve a useful purpose and be our friend.
Still, our subconscious can be vulnerable. For realize that this vulnerability and what it allows in is below our conscious knowing – it is happening subconsciously. Consider the child (and realize that everyone is still a child in some degree). Children are most vulnerable to receiving energies, thoughts and emotions from others, as this enters into their subconscious mind (and also into their sub-conscious emotional body). In psychology this is called introjection, which means that we take in, receive and accept various energies, thoughts or emotions from others. These may come directly from parents, but also indirectly from the group or culture that we are in.
A child cannot really change this tendency to take in the energies and emotions of others, especially those close in their family. Then their subconscious will automatically play back, imitate these patterns. This is generally called psychological conditioning and imitation. Children tend to practice normal behavior, and they learn what is “normal” from parents and teachers. The best solution to these potential problems is for children to have a diverse social environment, so that their “reality” is not merely confined to a narrow social pattern of behavior. The other solution is for parents and all people to realize a special responsibility in how they interact with children and be careful what influences they are open to. But as adults we need to protect ourselves as well, though as adults we can do this consciously and intentionally.
If we understand the positive purpose of the subconscious, then we will understand where it can go astray. It’s like a computer; it can be quite useful because of its automatic repetition based on instructions, but it can also be quite restricting to our progress because of the very same reasons – that it is repeating patterns automatically. In this subconscious realm are routine habitual patterns, strategies, beliefs, and thoughts, which are analogous to computer software micro-programs that are triggered into activity by corresponding stimuli. For example, program X is set off into activity whenever stimuli Y is present, and this stimuli might be an actual activity from others or it might be a conscious request we make.
The subconscious is like a power of repetition. It is like a software program that repeats itself. It is very consistent; it will do things the same every time. That is good, but only if the program works well. A repetition of successful performance is good, as we see in trained athletes, but poor behaviors and habits can also be repeated just as well by the subconscious. Imagine having a computer or robot that can be programmed to repeatedly perform in the same consistent way. This is great if we get it doing things in good ways, but not so good if the repetition is consistently makes problems.
So we want to get the subconscious working in a mechanical pattern that is helpful in our conscious lives; in other words, having helpful-good routines, patterns and behaviors, rather than negative, dysfunctional or un-adaptive habits. To make changes we have use the conscious mind to get the subconscious mind on a better track, repeating useful and helpful patterns. Thus, if we discover un-useful patterns being repeated, we need to make some efforts to change these, which we can do by the power of conscious decision, will, and concentrated thought, visualization and intention.
Because of the repeating patterns of our subconscious and its automatic behavior, the subconscious can often seem to be our main obstacle along the spiritual path of expanding consciousness and improving our self. In other words, our conscious mind might have the good intentions to improve our self behavior, actions and responses; but our subconscious keeps tripping on the same stones along the path, acting out old patterns of behavior, thoughts and emotions. So in many ways, the subconscious and conscious are antithesis to one another. In addition, most problems in oneself and in the world are due to old and outdated subconscious patterns repeating themselves and thus impeding progress and improvement. Moreover, most people aren't really conscious much at all; they're just subconscious.
However, these problems and oppositions do not have to be. Instead, the subconscious mind can be the tool and servant of the conscious mind; much like the value of computers and vehicles in our lives. But the conscious mind first has to see the subconscious in this positive way and treat the subconscious with this positive respect, though not letting the subconscious run one's life.
The conscious self needs to become master of the subconscious, rather than the subconscious dominating the conscious self. The conscious mind is meant to be the driver, while the subconscious is the car. If it's not working properly, then fix it. If the computer is not doing what you want, then re-program it. The subconscious automatically repeats the same program or patterns, unless these are consciously changed; which one can do by visualizing the new way and using conscious will to decisively do what is visualized or intended. Changes are made by consciously observing and thinking about what one is automatically doing or reacting to, and then consciously doing in a new way. This re-sets, re-programs the subconscious.
We need to remember that the conscious mind ought to be in charge; it ought to be making the decisions, and it needs to take this responsibility, because the subconscious is just mechanical and can do nothing more than loyally repeat patterns or thoughts which the conscious mind created or which was conditioned by social experiences. So the subconscious can be a great power for a successful life, if it is directed and programmed well, which is done by deliberate conscious positive thought. Remember that you, the conscious part of self, are responsible for training and programming your own subconscious, so that its repetitive patterns will work well to manifest your decided goals.
The subconscious is also involved with filtering and interpreting information gathered from the senses. Filtering is a process allowing some energies in but not others. There is a huge amount of energies going on all around us in our daily lives. Some of this is positive but some is negative, some is useful for knowing but some is not. If not for our filtering faculty, we would be overwhelmed with too much sensory information for our recording faculty and response faculty. Our filtering ability keeps the amount of dealt-with information to a useful minimum. Our daily conscious mind can receive and deal with just some of what the world is sending us, but our subconscious can handle more. Yet of course, the subconscious needs rules to apply in this filtering process. This means that each filtering system has its particular rules for determining what kinds of energies to regard as significant or not. These rules are set in place by our beliefs, intentions, and patterns of reaction that have become subconsciously routine.
Interpreting the information is related to filtering. Interpretation is the mental process of forming a belief about the meaning of outer events, words, or emotional energies. Interpretation is the making of meaning (or finding of meaning) from what is received. But interpretation is not an exact science; it is somewhere between fact and opinion, and interpretations can be quite incorrect at times, even delusionary. But each person has to just do their best in this. For example, one can only do one’s best in interpreting the meaning of what people are really trying to communicate or the intention of someone. It is not often clear and without ambiguity. So, each mind has its own patterns and rules for interpretation; such that X means this, but Y means that. These patterns and rules for interpretation are subconscious, just as beliefs. However, consciousness has the power to introspectively see such things.
Sensing is an important function of our subconscious. We usually think of sensing as a conscious function, which it can be, but a lot of sensing happens sub-consciously – below our consciousness. Our sensing abilities, and even the processing of this sensing into practical information, happens a lot subconsciously (below normal consciousness). This is of course understood by ordinary science. Much of our sense-experience is conscious; for example, what we see and hear and smell when we are conscious in the world. Yet there is also a lot of sensing and processing that goes subconsciously, without our conscious awareness and conscious knowledge. So we are receiving and processing sensory information, to some extent, even without being aware of this.
Our senses, our sense instruments, then inform our subconscious, which then accumulates into what can be called subconscious knowledge. Making this possible is an intelligence within our subconscious: our subconscious intelligence. So, our subconscious mind (or subconscious intelligence) is learning from our senses, even if this process is not conscious, and this learning tends to build a subconscious understanding of our personal world, which can be discovered in dreams; and note that dreams (from our subconscious) can tell us knowledge (about our own self and our world) that we have not yet realized consciously.
Some of this subconscious sensing and processed sense-information can become useful practical knowledge, if we can gain access to it. In other words, our subconscious sensing, which is then processed into an accumulation of information, could be helpful to us. This practical information, produced from subconscious sensing and stored in subconscious memory, could be called 'subconscious information' or 'subconscious knowledge'. This form of knowing is actually quite normal for many cultures. It is also accepted in ordinary folk western culture; for example, it is not at all odd for people to say that they 'just know something', or 'have a feeling' about something, or that something is either true or false. The knowing just comes. This is because practical information can arise from our subconscious, but only if we are receptive to this. Though it can also be intentionally evoked.
This can also be called our subconscious intuition, which is a practical intuition, informing us about practical and everyday concerns. But this subconscious intuition needs to be worked with intentionally and also trusted; otherwise, it will lay in atrophy and never have a chance to be acknowledged in the conscious mind. Although, our subconscious intuition will sometimes cause a subtle emotional disturbance when an important practical message is being neglected. So pay attention to this, and pay heed to it.
Therefore, this subconscious intuition is a very positive, practical, and helpful ability of the subconscious. Yet in order for it to actually work in practical life, our conscious mind has to make a positive conversation with our subconscious intuition. The first key is to be consciously and intentionally receptive to subconscious intuitions. The second key is to practice trust in this intuition. Now it must be stated that mistakes can still be made. Our subconscious intuition might be wrong at times. Nothing is absolutely perfect or infallible. But most of the time, our subconscious intuition is right, as long as we have cleared our psyche of aberrant deceptions. Our subconscious may not always be right; but nonetheless we must learn to trust it, because without trust, this relationship between conscious mind and subconscious intuition will simply fail.
Another helpful principle is learning how to intentionally evoke our subconscious intuition. This can be done by consciously going straight to a particular communication portal, or connection line. For example, one might find that a feeling in one's gut is their communication link to intuition, or maybe it's a feeling in the heart, or perhaps it's a scratch in the elbow, or whatever. Each person has to find something in them that they can learn to trust as the sign of practical intuition.
The subconscious can use many possible portals or pathways to conscious recognition. Dowsing is a classic example, or any oracle reading, or diving leaves or whatever. All of these are just different ways to access one's subconscious intuition – which is the practical information acquired from subconscious sensing. Our subconscious intuition, however, is different from our logical thinking mind. But both are useful in life. Each complements the other. However, sometimes we have to let go of our logical thinking mind, as well as our worrying mind, and then just trust our practical intuitional sense.
Dowsing, for example, is a technique that requires one to suspend conscious desires, logic and thinking; in order to access our subconscious information database and intuitional output. Our conscious thinking mind is what so often gets in the way of direct intuition. The thinking mind thinks of so many reasons why this or that cannot be right or cannot be true; so this part of mind has to be suspended for a time, in order to allow the subconscious part of mind to show itself, which it does through any number of dowsing methods. But all dowsing methods are based on a trust of some part of the body or hands or sight to immediately know an answer to the practical concern. The dowser allows his hands to move the dowsing tool in a way that shows the answer, or he allows the tool to move his hands in the right intuitive direction. The dowser must allow, and he must trust.
The subconscious is primarily a repetition of memories and patterns already in it. However, creativity can emerge from our subconscious. This is because creativity is an intrinsic quality of our human psyche.
Painters, musicians and writers all experience new creativity emerging from their subconscious; however, whatever emerges is based only on what has been planted there from past thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Predominately, this creativity of the subconscious is a shifting around of what is already there, like moving around parts of a picture until something better happens to appear. Of course though, this is not a bad thing at all; for most creativity or creative art is simply a re-arranging of previous patterns.
Yet of course it is the conscious mind that has to make a decisive discernment about the usefulness or value of whatever emerges from the subconscious. Whatever emerges is not necessarily gold, as it were, just as every dream conjured from the subconscious is not necessarily a wisdom solution to anything. Mostly, dreams reveal our repetitious belief and reactive patterns; that is, they reveal pictures about how we presently are mentally and emotionally. Though some dreams do reveal actual creative solutions.
Most usually, our subconscious ability to be creative is a kind of unrestrained artistic re-arrangement of patterns already existing in memory. Thus, in this experimental method of creativity, there are bound to be many silly or unusable pieces thrown to us from the subconscious, yet at the same time, some great solutions and great creative beauty can emerge from this. Like searching in a thesaurus for a possible different word to use, our subconscious mind sends forth a bunch of possibilities. Then our conscious reasoning mind must decide what out of all of this is useful.
Conscious mind is meant to be The Superconscious is the realm of spiritual intuitions and realizations. It reveals to us greater principles, values, and purposes in life, and it provides wisdom and guidance. Yet this has to enter into consciousness; that is, it has to become conscious in us. Then, through the medium of conscious mind, these Superconscious realizations can enter into the subconscious, thus positively changing wrong or dysfunctional beliefs and patterns, and generally evolving the whole person. So, one of our goals in being a whole person is for the subconscious and Superconscious to be connected, related and aligned - by way of conscious mind.
However, the Superconscious and the subconscious can be disconnected, unrelated, and remain divided. This is possible. It happens when subconscious elements remain disconnected and even resistant to higher spiritual intuition. An example would be dysfunctional or poor habits developed in the subconscious, either in this life or continued from past lives; or harmful reactive emotions or delusional beliefs. Any of this is of course possible and even prevalent throughout history. For until there is sufficient conscious reflection made upon these subconscious elements, and until there is enough consciousness in the higher conscience and intuition of the Superconscious, the subconscious might remain automatic and unaffected by Superconscious energies. This is why bad habits and evils in the world are so difficult to transform – because they become so cutoff from higher spiritual conscience and wisdom.
Superconscious needs to pattern itself into our subconscious, to bring Heaven on Earth, yet this requires the intermediating work and presence of conscious mind. Superconscious is the Higher, Greater Intelligence; which conscious mind has capacity to access and realize, or to actually enter into. Again, this is the Universal, Greater Intelligence, which for us is often understood as spiritual intuition or spiritual guidance.
The key though, in building connections between the divinely inspired Superconscious and the automaton subconscious, is the middle level between them – the conscious mind. For conscious mind is the bridge, and it is also the key to transformation. But the conscious mind is part of a larger struggle; for our conscious mind can either fall easily into subconscious patterns or it can possibly raise its sights towards the Superconscious levels of mind, upwards towards the Divine.
The Superconscious can also gain from our conscious reflection upon subconscious elements, if some understanding is gained. We can learn from our subconscious, if we observe it objectively, without getting sucked into it. We can learn from studying our own psychological dynamics, just as we can learn from any experience in the world. We learn from studying our inner world and the outer world all around us. And when we really learn something, meaning that we understand something, then this adds to the wisdom petals of our soul. Wisdom of the soul is gained by conscious learning and understanding from life experiences. This is how the soul expands its wisdom and knowingness: from conscious life experiences. This is why life incarnation is so significant for every spiritual soul. And each expansion of wisdom gained from life experience is what brings a soul towards realizing the whole Wisdom of God.
We can learn from and gain wisdom each present moment of life, but we can also learn and gain wisdom from the past and the subconscious. The past and the subconscious are actually quite related. Since the subconscious is an accumulation of the past, we can learn from the past from what is continuing on in our subconscious. In other words, our subconscious is a reflection of the past. In esoteric symbolism the subconscious is the moon -- reflecting memories and patterns from the past. So until we actually succeed at transforming negative or un-useful patterns of the subconscious, as carried on from the past, we might as well learn from all of this and gain wisdom from this understanding. Of course, we can learn from anything and from any experience, and if we can truly learn and understand something, then this makes petals of wisdom in our soul, which will then be carried onward into the future.
An interesting connection between the world subconscious and the Superconscious is in how the deepest layer of the subconscious also contains Universal Wisdom. In other words, a Universal Subconscious is at the very deepest level of the whole subconscious realm of Mind. Though it is not at the usually accessible level of our subconscious; for it is much deeper and seldom accessed. This means that the Superconscious Wisdom, the Universal Wisdom, is also found in the deepest level the world subconscious and even in the deepest level of everyone's subconscious. And because of this, the Universal/Divine Wisdom influences the natural evolution of nature, including humanity. Thus, in esoteric metaphor, there is some Divine Light in the moon of subconsciousness, which periodically waxes and wanes.
So how does this happen? In the most Cosmic beginnings and from then on, the Divine Archetypes of our Universal Being, God, pervaded into every space of the whole universe and thus became the essence of each part of the universe, of each part of nature. Therefore, God is within all things, in the deepest essence of each -- in the sub-conscious nature of each. Thus, the most fundamental pattern underlying any living being (and even any physical thing) is a reflection from the Universal Divine Pattern; and thus, the Divine Archetypes pervade and sub-exist in the sub-conscious of every being in nature, including every human being. Therefore, it can truly be said that all Divine Wisdom exists within us and within all of nature. For remember that we all came from the Divine. We all came from God, and all of nature came from God; therefore God is within us and all of nature. But then as human souls, we are returning to God consciously.
The subconscious mind can be distinguished into three sub-levels. Though these could also be re-worded as three layers of the subconscious. Layers is a better understanding in some ways, rather than levels, because they are layered together and inter-permeating, rather than being separated levels.
The first layer of the subconscious is our personal subconscious. This is the layer of our subconscious that we personally created by our repetitious behavior and reactions, as well as being created by social conditioning. Here are the accumulated memories and patterns of our present lifetime. Much of our subconscious content are learned automatic patterns, and these could be physical, emotional, or mental patterns. Some of these are useful and helpful. But some are not, because sometimes we learn to do things in a less-than best way. So our physical body accumulates patterns, some very useful and some perhaps not. The same is true of our emotional body; some patterns being useful and worthy, but other patterns perhaps not. And the same goes for our mental body, in its accumulated patterns of thinking and belief.
Many of these patterns of reaction and desire, and patterns of belief, are introjected from our parents, education, culture or media. Introjected means that impressions, emotions and ideas from our social world are swallowed up and stored in our subconscious. In effect, this is social conditioning. It is the power of social persuasion and the resulting conditioning of who we become. But mostly this all happens subconsciously (i.e. without conscious recognition and decision). Much of all this happens early on in a life, but it can also continue on into adulthood; again, based on the power of social persuasion and one's subconscious introjection of those motivators and ideas given to us by our social world.
The next layer is from our past lives. Each of us are souls traveling through lifetimes, incarnating into lifetimes. So in this layer are the memories of past lives, and also the patterns carried on from past lives. Memories are not so much accessible, but pieces of wisdom can come from these past experiences, and it is possible to recollect some of these wisdoms from our past life subconscious. Yet mostly we must deal with our past life patterns, also known as karmas, as these are carried through incarnations until transformed at some time. These patterns could be positive and very useful, just as they could be negative and very dysfunctional. Patterns can be either, so don't think of all patterns as bad or as something needed to be rid of; because we will want to keep the good patterns that are connected to useful wisdoms and skills. Lastly to mention, in case it is not obviously inferred, is that this past life subconscious can be influential in our present life.
The third layer of our subconscious is the world subconscious. This is the subconscious of the whole human world, the subconsciousness of all humanity. It is the accumulated emotional and mental realm of humanity –the emotional and mental patterns of all humanity, including reactions, desires and beliefs. All of which continue on through many generations of history, until transformed in some way, or until resolved and evolved. This layer will also include cultural mind beliefs and patterns. And at its deepest part, it will include the most fundamental emotions and beliefs of all humanity. Again to mention, in case it is not obviously inferred, is that this world subconscious can be influential in our present personal life. In fact, all persons are, in some degree, influenced by the totality of everyone. We are much more related in mind, than most people would imagine. Sure, many of us have differing beliefs and we often fight over these, but what is most unrecognized is that we share so many underlying beliefs and mind-patterns.
Now this world mind may seem to be just a deeper or more general process of introjection, as mentioned in explaining the personal layer. This is true. However, this layer of world mind, or mind of humanity, does not need to be communicated through any physical means or through people closest to us. Instead, this influence comes from the humanity's mental field, and this communication of world beliefs and emotions occurs through a causal field physics, not a kinetic physics of causal relations requiring the ordinary senses.
Similar to the subconscious mind of each person is the greater Subconscious Mind of Nature. This is comprised of the forces at work in nature, which is synonymous with what are called the laws of nature. The actual physical forces of nature do not need to be discussed here, because any good science book will do this. Rather our unique interest here is in regards to metaphysical forces or laws having to do with mind affecting manifestation. For example, what we think, or the patterns of our usual thought, becomes part of the great Subconscious Mind whereby the forces of that Mind begin to manifest that thought. People have called this the power of thought, and this power of thought is not merely confined to our self but involves a greater field of manifestation as well.
In other words, our thoughts begin to take shape in the world. Our thoughts do not necessary complete themselves in the world, but they at least begin to take shape and they certainly have an effect. Of course, not all thoughts can actually manifest, since other people tend to have their own thoughts that happen to counteract ours. False teachers have said that every thought will manifest in the world; so to make something happen all one needs to do is to think it. This is partly true in the sense that all thoughts have some effect, but it is ultimately misleading because the thoughts of one person may be counteracted by opposite thoughts of others, and the great Subconscious Mind does not play favorites. In order to really manifest something we need to get more and more people believing in and agreeing to our thought.