"Consciousness" is one of the most popular yet most misunderstood words in the spiritual world. Everyone talks about it, but very few truly understand what it is. Describing consciousness is as difficult as describing God. People can speak about God endlessly, but no two descriptions are the same. Each person imagines God according to their own beliefs. In the same way, consciousness is experienced differently by different people. Consciousness is the screen in which the divine play happens. Everything in this universe emerges from consciousness. Many seekers often get confused between the concepts of consciousness and the soul. Spiritual evolution is directly related to the level of consciousness, therefore many seekers are very curious to know their own level. They often ask: "At what level am I? How much progress am I making?" In ancient times, seekers lived with their gurus in forests or secluded places. The guru guided them by directly observing their growth. But how can someone living a family life measure their own consciousness today? Is there any scale to measure it? One helpful method is the Map of Consciousness by David Hawkins. Although human consciousness cannot be measured mathematically, Hawkins created a model that assigns numerical values from 0 to 1000. According to this scale, the range from 0 to 200 reflects survival-based states. These are the lowest frequencies, where people experience shame, guilt, sadness, fear, desire, anger, and pride. In this zone, a person lives almost like an animal, driven mostly by fear, hunger, and basic needs. When consciousness rises above 200, courage appears. With courage, a person begins to see life clearly and develops reasoning. After crossing the 400 level, the mind rises beyond fear and becomes capable of experiencing love. This makes the Map of Consciousness a simple and effective way to understand the journey of consciousness. But the true spiritual journey begins much later. Spiritual growth is like a lotus that first rises from mud, then moves through water, and finally blooms in sunlight. Up to 200 is survival. From 200 to 400 is the cleansing stage. After that, the real spiritual ascent starts. One very useful guide for understanding higher spiritual states is the book "Wisdom of the Tarot" by Elizabeth Haich. It explains the journey of consciousness through symbolic Tarot cards. The first card is the Magician. At this stage, the seeker realizes who he truly is. He becomes aware that he is the magician who manifests and experiences this entire world. He understands both poles of duality, good and bad, positive and negative, as tools in his hands. On the table before him are three visible legs, while the fourth leg is invisible. This symbolizes the visible world and the invisible power behind it, which is consciousness. Around the 400 level of the Map of Consciousness, a seeker begins to sense this truth. This is the first real step of spiritual awakening. Through the Tarot wisdom, one can understand the experiences, transformations, and growth that unfold as consciousness evolves.
