Stage 1: Programmed Consciousness (PC)

In this world we are born into a container. First it’s the womb, where, similar to an egg, we have all the genetic information necessary for our development. At point of birth we leave this container and enter the world, however we are still born into a container, our culture. We internalise this culture and live it out. But what if the culture is sick? What if the culture contains self-limiting beliefs about human abilities, consciousness and growth. Then we remain in this self-contained invisible container, programmed by these messages, living out their commands unwittingly, forever.

I call this “Programmed Consciousness” or “PC” for short. It’s fitting that PC also stands for politically correct, a statement that keeps us locked in Programmed Consciousness. Most of the population, around 90% remain stuck in PC, slaves to their cultural belief structure until they die.

This is the egg stage of the butterfly. It’s estimated that only 10% of butterfly eggs successfully develop into caterpillars. Parasites, predators, and disease affect the other 90% from hatching. The collective consciousness we are born into can be parasitic and predatory by nature and it is this disease that stops us from entering the next stage of consciousness.

The body is associated with this stage. The wise mind is offline.

Stage 2: Expanded Consciousness (EC)

This process is driven by an expansion of the mind primarily. This is where we begin to think for ourselves, we begin to consume more and more information and/or gain access to wisdom that makes us outgrow our skin. This can feel scary and traumatic without a guide, reference or rights of passage, this is sometimes called a “spiritual awakening” and there are several potential trajectories from here a person might take, depending on that person and the support and regulation they have available. A positive EC trajectory consists of integrating the new information you’ve consumed and growing without judging others still in PC. A negative EC trajectory is to go mad and become hospitalized or go bad and judge others who are not yet “awake”. This is because the ego expands with consciousness and those with unresolved issues and a lack of support in life are more likely to “go mad or go bad.”

This is the caterpillar stage of the butterfly. Just as the caterpillar consumes nourishing food to fuel its transformation into a butterfly, our minds consume information to expand our consciousness. Like the caterpillar, if we feed our minds with healthy, nourishing knowledge, we can grow and evolve into more expansive beings. However, if we ingest toxic or unhealthy information, akin to consuming tainted food, our mental health may suffer, leading to confusion, distortion, and even madness. Like the caterpillar, if we successfully digest and assimilate the information we encounter, we can emerge with expanded awareness and understanding. However, if we overload ourselves with excessive or harmful information, like a caterpillar gorging on toxic leaves, we risk overwhelming our minds and losing our sense of clarity and coherence. It’s estimated that around 50% of caterpillars successfully make it to the chrysalis stage. Making it only 5% from the egg stage. Interestingly 95% of people are estimated to be in a state of mass hypnosis and disconnected from higher consciousness, making this metaphor fit nicely.

The body and the mind are associated with this stage. The soul’s voice has not yet been integrated.

Stage 3: Creative Consciousness (CC)

The stage of conscious evolution involves an ego death. We become aware that we can no longer continue being who we once were and so begin the shedding of old identities and limiting beliefs. This might involve confronting some of our deepest fears that might be holding us back, this might initially involve periods of darkness where our shadow self-reveals more aspects of the psyche that need to be integrated. Only then will we become energised at the vast expanse of possibility in front of us. CC involves tapping into your innate creativity to generate new ideas and solutions. It involves accessing deeper layers of the mind to envision innovative and infinite possibilities to life’s problems. You become aware that you are the creator, and you use this powerful realisation to step into your life’s purpose.

This is the chrysalis stage of the butterfly where the caterpillar undergoes a remarkable process known as metamorphosis. This transformation involves profound changes at the cellular and molecular levels. The caterpillar must have consumed adequate nutrients during the previous stage to support the energy-intensive process of metamorphosis, similarly we must also have undergone a detoxification process from poisons and toxins to successfully complete this stage. It’s estimated that roughly 50% of caterpillars successfully complete metamorphosis and emerge from the chrysalis as healthy adult butterflies.

The body, the mind and the soul are becoming integrated as one at this stage.

Stage 4: Universal Consciousness (UC)

Very few people on the planet reach this stage of conscious evolution. The type of human operating at this level is endangered as the “civilised” world is no longer set up to support this natural progress of growth. This is the highest state of consciousness achievable in a human body. It is signified by characteristics such as compassion, acceptance, and peace as the innate understanding that we are interconnected infinite beings of divine energy becomes overt. When we think about the awakened sages, mystics, shamans, guru’s, yogi’s, saints and so forth we think about UC, however many of these revered figures actually operate in Past Programming, indoctrinated by their predecessors, with only a small number achieving this autonomous stage. Here we will experience a sense of liberation from egoic limitations and worldly attachments.

This is the adult stage of the Butterfly. Emerging from the chrysalis and experiencing freedom as it takes flight. The butterfly displays vibrant colours and beauty, radiating light and energy, metaphorically similar to those people that reach Universal Consciousness. Their presence uplifts others and illuminates the path towards development and expanded awareness. Many butterflies are also at risk of various threats that endanger their populations including the degrading of habitat loss that’s needed to support their development to this stage. This concept is no different for human beings. Butterflies held symbolic significance in ancient cultures worldwide, representing themes of transformation, rebirth, and the soul’s journey.

The body, the mind, the soul and spirit are operating as one at this stage.

The aim of conscious psychotherapy is to facilitate a complete metamorphosis of the psyche. First we start with clearing the root of trauma, then we break free from our cultural conditioning, allowing us to embrace our transformative potential as we step into our creative power, our chrysalis.