“Maps of consciousness” is a phrase that is being thrown around all over the New Age community these days. Aside from this phrase being used as a way to sound wordier than thou, what exactly does it mean?
A map of consciousness is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a map, first and foremost. Maps prevent us from going around in circles, getting lost in the proverbial woods, and banging into trees. Unless you’re using GPS, in which case you better make sure you download the latest map or you may find yourself in the middle of a swamp scratching your head.
Maps of consciousness are those things offered by belief systems, esoterica, mystical teachings, schools of psychological thought, lifestyle concepts, and oracle tools such as astrology, numerology, runes, Tarot, bones, I Ching, and others. These maps are not static and they change depending on the time and culture in which they are used. They should change, in case you were wondering. They should reflect and support the society that uses them.
The primary map of consciousness that I share here is numerology. Once the basic energies of numbers are learned and internalized, it becomes easy to see their vibrations at play in our lives. These maps give us information about our strengths and weaknesses. They don’t exactly lay out the path for us, but they help guide us with useful signposts along the way.
Your attitude shapes your journey more than anything else. The qualities of numbers, like the planets in astrology, operate on a spectrum from super fabulous to downright shitty. If you find that your Life Path number makes no sense to you at all, or that you can only relate to the negative parts, bear in mind that your Life Path shows you who you can become as a result of your journey. You can become a supercharged artist that changes the way people think about the world through your work in, say, film, or you can become an indecisive self-hating pain in the arse who never leaves the coffee shop because he is afraid of rejection. It’s totally up to you – the entire energy spectrum is there for you to draw from.
Your journey in life may also take you down a well-worn path, experienced by many others. Don’t beat yourself up or be disappointed if this occurs. Many people in the spiritual community start using maps of consciousness to fulfill some very physical, ego-based desires, becoming frustrated when they don’t become rich and famous and they’re still not happy with anything in front of them. We can’t all be icons in every lifetime. The trick is to remember that no one will experience life the same way because no one will bring the same energy to the table. We all have our place in the Universe and not one of us is more valuable than the other.
