The Seven Levels of Awareness: A Journey to Self-Discovery

“Difficulty is what wakes up the genius.” ~Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Level 1: The Sleeper (The Robot)

“Everything good is costly, and the development of the personality is one of the most costly of all things. It will cost you your innocence, your illusions, your certainty.” ~Carl Jung

Sleepers dwell in a world of illusions. They are blissfully unaware, afraid of the unknown, and cling tightly to their comfort zones. Picture them as passengers in a car, asleep at the wheel while life zooms by. They bounce off authorities like a pinball, never truly engaging.

These individuals are so attached to their beliefs that they become all Ego and no Self. Rigid and unyielding, they armor their hearts, making it impossible for their Souls to breathe. Their wishful thinking is so potent that it clouds their ability to think critically.

Sleepers don’t even realize their ignorance. They cannot see that true freedom lies in questioning. Yet, they fear that if they start to question, their entire world will crumble. They worry that the glass house they inhabit will shatter under the weight of inquiry.

To ascend to the next level, the Imitator, they must awaken to the value of knowledge.

Level 2: The Imitator (The Peacock)

“From the outside, you seem mature with a philosopher’s mind. But inside, you are just a child lost in sweet delusion.” ~Fyodor Dostoevsky

Imitators have awakened to knowledge but find themselves drowning in it. They mimic, quote, and tweet, showcasing their high ignorance. Instead of understanding, they regurgitate information, using it as bricks to reinforce their comfort zones.

They don’t grasp the depth of what they know. Fearful of exposure, they fortify their comfort zones with hollow “bricks” of knowledge. They batten down the hatches, using cognitive fallacies to escape the truth. Their mimicry becomes a mask, hiding their ignorance behind dramatic displays of pseudo-wisdom.

As Jung proposed, “Persona is the most subtle obstacle against true individuation.” To progress to the level of the Schemer, the Imitator must shed their concern for others' opinions.

Level 3: The Schemer (The Fox)

“Any knowledge that doesn't lead to new questions quickly dies out: it fails to maintain the temperature required for sustaining life.” ~Wisława Szymborska

Schemers navigate the realm of culture. They wield their knowledge with confidence, but their ego often traps them in a game of one-upmanship. They observe reality as it is, but their desire to win blinds them to the truth.

The schemer is a Fox—cunning and calculating. They play the finite game, yet they remain unaware of how the game manipulates them. Their loneliness stems from their inability to take responsibility for their actions.

To evolve into the Commander, the Schemer must cultivate courage and accountability.

Level 4: The Commander (The Lion)

“This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” ~George Bernard Shaw

Commanders inhabit the battlefield. They are dynamic forces of nature, capable of profound courage. They stretch their comfort zones and adapt to challenges. Commanders question authority, but their pride can become a trap.

A Commander is a lion. They embrace risk, thriving in conflict. While others fear making waves, lions understand that sometimes you must rock the boat to keep it afloat.

Life is too short to be a bystander. Commanders take a stand, drawing lines in the sand. They show their claws and crush ultimatums through moral autonomy. They lead and command, but with power comes vulnerability.

To rise to the level of the Manipulator, a Commander must learn the art of subtlety and psychology.

Level 5: The Manipulator (The Puppeteer)

“You must grow strong enough to love the world, yet empty enough to sit down at the same table with its worst horrors.” ~Andrew Boyd

Manipulators thrive in the shadows. They are master chameleons, pulling strings behind the scenes. They whisper into the ears of those in power, steering Commanders to execute their grand strategies.

Manipulators understand that the Self is a hall of mirrors, each reflection a mask. They realize that true power lies in manipulating these masks while exploiting the personas that arise. They see how everyone is a pawn in the finite game.

Yet, Manipulators are victims of their own cold dissociation. They remain trapped in the finite game, even as they orchestrate it. They fail to recognize that true power lies in creating the game itself.

To evolve into the Worldbuilder, the Manipulator must embrace systems thinking and patience.

Level 6: The Worldbuilder (The Overman)

“Realize that everything connects to everything else.” ~Leonardo da Vinci

Worldbuilders exist in the realm of creation. They are not mere players; they are the architects of finite games. They create systems, ideologies, and narratives, transforming chaos into catharsis.

They are the spearheads for a new way of being human. Worldbuilders can turn wounds into wisdom and pain into purpose. They embody the “genius” that Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of Thomas: “If you bring forth the genius within you, it will free you.”

An Overman transcends the human condition, achieving a state of perpetual self-overcoming. They rise above the battlefield, navigating the complexities of existence with grace.

However, even the Worldbuilder is not the pinnacle of awareness. They still cling to legacy, which can hinder their growth.

To ascend to the level of the Sovereign, the Worldbuilder must let go of everything, including their legacy.

Level 7: The Sovereign (The Phoenix)

“He who jumps into the void owes no explanation to those who stand and watch.” ~Jean-Luc Godard

The Sovereign dwells in the Void. Here, they experience the interconnectedness of all things, where shadow and light, anima and animus, become one. Sovereigns play the Infinite Game, while others remain distracted by the finite game.

They have transcended the maze of chasing legacy. Instead, they embody the unwritten laws of the universe: impermanence, interdependence, and the eternal flux of creation. Sovereigns don’t chase finish lines; they embody the continuation of the Infinite Game.

They own nothing but possess everything. Fearless, they have nothing to lose. They dissolve power through humor, gaining emotional and psychological detachment from the world. They reflect the world like a mirror, receiving but not clinging, learning but not dwelling.

The Sovereign is a Phoenix, caught in the cycle of rebirth. They personify transformation, practicing resurrection, and embodying the hottest fire in the universe: profound, humorous nonattachment. They turn everything into gold.

As Marcus Aurelius said, “A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.”

Conclusion

Understanding these seven levels of awareness is a journey. Each level offers insights into our own growth and evolution. Embrace the process, question your beliefs, and strive for deeper understanding. The path to self-discovery is not easy, but it is undeniably rewarding.

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@Babs69420

About the Author:

Gary Z McGee, a former Navy Intelligence Specialist turned philosopher, is the author of Birthday Suit of God and The Looking Glass Man. His works are inspired by the great philosophers of the ages and his wide-awake view of the modern world.

This article (The Seven Levels of Awareness) was originally created and published by Self-inflicted Philosophy and is printed here under a Creative Commons license with attribution to Gary Z McGee and self-inflictedphilosophy.org. It may be reposted freely with proper attribution, author bio, and this statement of copyright.