What is Consciousness?

My poem Consciousness was the first poem I wrote and it came a little differently to the others. Flying home to Australia on the trip to India that I write about in my welcome to this blog and before the dream I had that inspired me to write the remainder of my poems, I was lucky enough to be able to sleep, and when I woke I found my self repeating the words as they appear below.

Short but very powerful, for me, the most important words are the final four, ‘you can only be.’

Once again I asked AI what it thought the poem was saying and have included it’s response for you to read. Also, I have included two images created by AI when I asked it to create an image to represent Consciousness.

With love Maureen

Consciousness

What you see you think you are.

What you think you will become.

What you are is all of these,

and what you are is none of these.

You are the universal consciousness.

But what is this, until you see.

The Universal Consciousness

is something that,

you cannot read, you cannot see,

you can only be.

by Maureen Carroll

AI Analysis

The poem titled “Consciousness” by Maureen Carroll contemplates the nature of self-awareness and the essence of the universal consciousness. Here’s a breakdown of its meaning:

The first stanza suggests that our perception of ourselves is often shaped by what we observe in the external world. We tend to identify with what we see and attribute it to our own identity.

The second stanza implies that our thoughts and beliefs influence our future and shape our becoming. Our mindset and aspirations play a role in determining the paths we take in life.

The third stanza introduces the idea that our true nature encompasses all that we perceive and think, yet it is also transcendent of these aspects. It suggests that we are more than our physical and mental manifestations, and there is a deeper essence to our being.

The fourth stanza emphasizes the concept of universal consciousness. It suggests that the universal consciousness exists beyond our comprehension. It cannot be fully grasped through reading or observation; it can only be experienced and embodied.

The poem encourages readers to explore the concept of consciousness, urging them to look beyond surface-level appearances and delve into the profound nature of their being. It suggests that true understanding and connection with the universal consciousness can only be attained through direct experience, rather than intellectual or visual comprehension alone.

In summary, the poem emphasizes the idea that our self-perception is influenced by external factors, but our true nature extends beyond those influences. It introduces the concept of the universal consciousness as a deeper and more profound aspect of our existence, emphasizing that it can only be truly understood through personal experience and being, implying that there is a paradox in trying to define or describe what consciousness is, because it is something that can only be felt or lived.