What is a spiritual narcissist?
Unveiling the Spiritual Ego and How to Overcome it
The spiritual Ego – what it is, why you need it, and how to overcome its adverse effects before it turns to spiritual narcissism.
A very in-depth guide, looking at what the ordinary ego, ID, super-ego, preconscious and subconscious minds are and how they relate to the spiritual ego.
This is part 1 of 3 ; the spiritual Ego is a tricky big-little thing and a master of disguises.
Because of its slipperiness the spiritual egos it is important to know the mechanisms of its origins so you can learn to manage it.
When spiritual paths, practices, and concepts are exploited to reinforce a person’s ego-driven image of themselves, it can create an inflated sense of spiritual identity.
This is known as the spiritual Ego, a state in which a person’s self-concept is centred on their perceived ‘spirituality’; if left unchecked, this can grow into spiritual narcissism and take an eternity to cure.
“Egos will burn to ashes and find peace but spiritual egos will remain half-burned and suffer till the end of the next time cycle.”
― Shunya
What are two characteristics of a person who has narcissistic spirituality?
Spiritual narcissists are often characterised by their extreme behaviour.
While they may boast about their own greatness and pridefully declare their own humility, they may also attempt to impose their beliefs onto their friends and family, looking down on those who do not share their level of enlightenment.
This behaviour often manifests itself in a variety of ways. They may try to convince their peers to follow their ideas of spirituality or project their successes and failures onto others.
Spiritual narcissists may feel their beliefs set them apart from the rest of society, and in some cases, they may attempt to control those around them and try to impose their beliefs.
This can be extremely damaging for those receiving this behaviour, as it can be challenging to know how to respond.
It is important to remember that spiritual narcissism is a form of narcissism, and as such, it should not be tolerated. It is essential to be mindful of the power dynamics at play and to recognise that a person’s beliefs are not necessarily more important than the beliefs of others.
To respect the autonomy of those around you and foster healthy relationships, it is important to be mindful of the potential risks associated with imposing one’s own spiritual beliefs on someone else.
There are certain types of individuals, such as spiritual narcissists, who will often use their beliefs as a way to influence and control their peers.
This can be extremely damaging for those receiving this behaviour, as it can be challenging to know how to respond.
It is important to remember that spiritual narcissism is a form of narcissism, and as such, it should not be tolerated. It is essential to be mindful of the power dynamics at play and to recognise that a person’s beliefs are not necessarily more important than the beliefs of others. To respect the autonomy of those around you and foster healthy relationships,
it is important to be mindful of the potential risks associated with imposing one’s own spiritual beliefs on someone else.
There are certain types of individuals, such as spiritual narcissists, who will often use their beliefs as a way to influence and control their peers.
Those who exhibit spiritual narcissism can be identified by their insistence on their beliefs being superior to that of others and their lack of empathy for their peers. It is essential to be aware of the signs of spiritual narcissism so that you can protect yourself from the consequences of unhealthy relationships.
When engaging in spiritual conversations and debates, always remember to practice respect and tolerance for the beliefs of others.
Our egos are something we all have, but they can become greater entities when combined with spiritual or any other knowledge; in this post.
I will talk explicitly about the spiritual Ego, but this can be applied to many other fields of knowledge, such as intellectual, scientific, technological, philosophical etc.
“For you must confront your demons- Step by step, let whatever happens, happen.
Real change will come when it is brought about, not by your Ego, but by reality. Awareness releases reality to change you.” Anthony Demello
“Just like the normal ego, the goal should not to get rid of the spiritual ego, but to see through its many disguises and learn to rule it rather than let it rule you”- ancinetfuturevision
This blog aims to broaden your awareness of the spiritual Ego, its effects, and how to use it effectively, it is very in-depth, and there are parts two and three to this post.
Everyone develops a spiritual ego as part of their awakening journey, and to think you are exempt from this fact is the spiritual Ego playing out at its finest.
The spiritual Ego creates suffering and blocks us from experiencing true connection with others and our higher power.
To overcome the spiritual Ego, You need to learn how to reconnect with your inner Divinity through an authentic spiritual practice that fits your temperament.
The spiritual Ego develops when our normal egos become a heightened version of itself, using spiritual reasons to justify its actions.
It is almost like an amped-up version of itself, yano like your Ego, developing an ego and that Ego growing Ego and so on.
The spiritual Ego typically develops out of spiritual materialism, which is the idea that an altered state of mind can be a reprieve from distress.
Such as practising meditation to achieve a tranquil state of mind and utilising intoxicants to reach a dulled-out or ecstatic state are two examples of this.
Sure, meditation is part of the spiritual awakening journey.
Yet, it is not the journey itself, so although being able to meditate for 24 hours at a time or do the Handstand scorpion yoga poses for days is extraordinary.
This doesn’t mean your actually awakened.
It’s the same as yano, someone doing weights 24/7 and thinking they are better than everyone else.
Yes, sure, yoga and meditation can be all part of the spiritual journey, but they are not it!
The spiritual Ego can be a source of great difficulty, for it can lead us down paths of arrogance and pride, and having fallen down these pits myself, I know how murky these paths can be, and it was only my active practice of self-awareness which steered me back on the right path, before the wrong one was cemented.
Let me assure you even if you actively take steps to not fall into the trap of spiritual Ego; it will still get you every time.
So to be forearmed with this knowledge as well as committing to a calling yourself consistently and constantly on your own bullcrap as you integrate self-awareness into your spiritual practice.
“What you are aware of, you are in control of; what you are not aware of is in control of you.
You are always a slave to what you’re not aware of.
When you’re aware of it, you’re free from it.
It’s there, but you’re not affected by it.
You’re not controlled by it; you’re not enslaved by it.
That’s the difference.”— Anthony de Mello
Despite its many bad points, there remains something quite remarkable about the spiritual Ego, for it is part of the gateway to the divine.
The spiritual Ego can guide us to a higher level of understanding, allowing us to develop a deeper connection to our innermost being.
It can be a source of great power and transformation, aiding us in our journey to spiritual enlightenment and truth.
We must learn to embrace, heal and manage the spiritual Ego, allowing it to be a part of our lives and spiritual growth.
For it can be a beautiful and empowering tool on our path to greater understanding and self-realisation.
We’ll start by defining the ordinary Ego ( which I will sometimes refer to as the everyday Ego),the id, the super-ego, the preconscious, the unconscious mind and all other things Ego related; then, I will talk about the spiritual Ego and explain its purpose.
Next, I shall explore some of the negative effects that can happen when the spiritual Ego is not used correctly and turns into spiritual narcissism.
I will also discuss ways to overcome the effects of spiritual Ego and spiritual narcissism so that you can live a more conscious and fulfilling life.
Finally, I will give you some tips on how to use the spiritual Ego efficiently so that you can grow and evolve as an awakening human being, as the spiritual journey never ends, for just like the universe, the enlightening journey is infinite.
So, are you ready to learn about the spiritual Ego?
Let’s get started!
Table of contents
What is the Spiritual Ego?
The spiritual Ego is a complex concept that has been discussed and debated for centuries.
In its most basic explanation, the spiritual Ego is the idea that the individual self is an expression of a higher spiritual consciousness.
This means that our individual thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours reflect our greater spiritual selves.
This concept is closely related to the idea of the soul and its connection to the divine.
The spiritual Ego can be positive or negative, but it’s always active within us.
The Managed spiritual Ego, just like the everyday Ego, can help motivate us to achieve our spiritual goals and provide inspiration and motivation when we’re struggling.
It also helps us connect with our deeper emotions and subconscious inspiration, which can lead to greater happiness and insight.
Additionally, It can provide a sense of purpose and direction in life, helps us connect with our intuition and help us overcome adversity and life challenges.
Negatively, the spiritual Ego can make you believe you are separate from others and that you are more spiritually advanced than you are.
The uncontrolled spiritual Ego is like the crazy frog on a whole lotta speed, rrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnnnnng rrriiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggg rinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggg – doooooooooooooonnnng
The spiritual Ego can lead to feelings of superiority and a tendency to judge or look down on others.
It can also make us feel special and important, which can be good if it motivates us to help others or live our lives more compassionately.
However, getting too caught up in our egoistical thoughts and feelings can lead to a sense of self-importance and entitlement that can be destructive to ourselves and those around us.
The spiritual Ego can also lead us to believe that we are the only ones who are experiencing certain things or that our experiences are more special or intense than others on the spiritual or other pathways.
If we don’t grow out of this belief, this can develop into spiritual narcissism( I will talk more about this in a while) and can make it difficult for us to empathise with others or understand their perspective.
It can also alienate us from others and make them feel like they cannot relate to us.
What is a spiritual narcissist?
A spiritual narcissist is a person who puts on a spiritual or religious facade in order to mask their true narcissistic traits.
They often use their spiritual beliefs as a way to control and manipulate those around them and to make themselves appear more enlightened, pious, and wise than they actually are.
Spiritual narcissists may appear to be deeply committed to their religion or spiritual practice, and may even be leaders in their faith-based community.
However, beneath this mask is a narcissistic individual who is primarily focused on their own needs and desires.
Spiritual narcissism is characterised by a lack of empathy and an inability to put the needs of others first.
Narcissists may use their religion or spiritual practice as a form of control and manipulation.
They may attempt to use their religious values to guilt people into compliance, or use their spiritual beliefs to make themselves appear superior.
They may also be overly critical of others and their spiritual practice, and be unable to accept any criticism of their own.
Narcissists may also be prone to grandiose displays of their own piety, and may be quick to point out the flaws in others’ spiritual practice.
In some cases, the narcissist may even attempt to take credit for the spiritual development of others, claiming to have been responsible for it.
So why is the spiritual Ego so important?
The spiritual Ego – is like that imaginary friend you may have created as a kid to help cope with life’s challenges. The spiritual Ego is not all bad; as I said, it can often be a source of comfort and security, but it can also be destructive when left unmanaged.
When this happens, the spiritual Ego can take control of our thoughts and emotions.
Leading to negative consequences like anxiety, depression or a superior complex like yano- No one gets me, cause I have all this knowledge, and they cannot get on my level, like yano; what I mean?
Turning you into a full-blown spiritual narcissist
But don’t worry; there’s a way out.
To overcome the negative effects of the spiritual Ego, we need to learn how to recognise its influence and disengage from it when necessary.
At its finest
The Spiritual Ego helps us to see past this materialistic world and its demands; it’s the part of us that sees we are all connected to something bigger than this world, than ourselves.
This part of us can be a source of strength and confidence, but it can also lead to feelings of isolation and Detachment from yourself, family, friends and the broader human community.
We can use the Spiritual Ego to our advantage to create a greater sense of self-empowerment, or we can let it take control and lead us down a path of egotistical thinking.
When we recognise and embrace the Spiritual Ego, and learn to manage it correctly, we can create a better balance between being an individual and being of service to the collective consciousness.
What is collective consciousness?
A concept that originated from the work of Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, The collective consciousness bridges the gaps between our individual perspectives, beliefs, and experiences and the unknown and the greater truths.
It’s an idea that suggests that all of us are connected and that we can tap into the shared consciousness of humanity to access a greater understanding of our place in the world.
By recognising this connection, we can begin to appreciate our differences, see our similarities and draw on the collective wisdom of the ages to create a better world.
The collective consciousness speaks to the deeper and more spiritual connection between all human beings and a common, underlying source of knowledge, experience and wisdom.
We become more aware of our interconnectedness when we tap into this collective consciousness.
Through the collective consciousness, we can gain insight into the past, access knowledge from the present, and even glimpse our future potential.
It’s a source of inspiration and empowerment that can help us envision a brighter, more equitable future for all of humanity.
Just like the normal Ego that drives us to reach material targets like passing exams, getting a job, meeting a lover, etc.,
The spiritual egos pushes us to tap into the collective consciousness where all the information we need to thrive -grow in this life and the next can be found.
Without the spiritual or the normal Ego, many things we attempt would never materialise into reality.
As we would merely think about doing the things we need to do to bring our goals or have spiritual knowledge without using it, the spiritual and normal Ego drives us to take action.
The spiritual Ego provides the belief system necessary for success in anything we do.
It gives us hope during tough times, encourages creativity and innovation, guides our decisions about what’s best for ourselves, and more.
The spiritual Ego is a beneficial tool for personal growth and understanding, yet when we let it blinds us, it can lead to spiritual stagnation, leaving us stuck in old beliefs.
For, authentic spirituality is about growing continuously, forever being open to new knowledge and growth on the spiritual, emotional, and psychological levels.
It is believed that by understanding, acknowledging and managing our spiritual egos.
We can better understand ourselves, our place in the universe, and how to live a more peaceful and meaningful life.
This understanding can help us become more aware of our own thoughts and behaviours, so we can transform the negative ones into life-affirming ones.
So we can use our strengths to move ourselves forward in life and achieve our goals, as well as achieve optimum emotional, spiritual, psychological and physical well-being.
Before we leap into talking about the spiritual Ego and spiritual narcissism more, we must understand the concepts of the Ego, id and super-ego, so let’s jump right in
First thing first – you may ask ,” Isn’t Ego essential”?
As mentioned in the intro, the Ego is an essential part of human nature, but it can become a problem if we rely on it too much.
As we will see, what most people call egotistical behaviour is actually idgo-tisitical behaviour; read on to find out more.
The spiritual Ego is a false self that we create to protect ourselves; this can be from true spiritual awakening or requestioning the spiritual practices we have come to depend on.
We often believe that we know all there is to know about spiritual advancement, yet the spiritual path is endless, and there is always something new to learn.
There are many levels to this spiritual -@@ish, yet all of them are equal, as all need the self-discipline to move forward.
The spiritual and normal Ego can be helpful at first, but over time they can cause us problems when they become our main focus and reference point.
We need to learn how to control the spiritual and normal Ego and connect with our true self; we do this not by fighting them but by seeing through them, acknowledging their purpose but knowing they are not our true self or reality.
This process is called surrendering to the unknown and requires courage and patience.
However, once we can do this, there are many benefits, such as increased compassion for yourself and others, heightened intuition, improved communication skills and connection to the higher power or who even else you call the creator, plus countless other benefits.
What is the normal Ego?
The Ego gets a lot of bad reviews in the material and spiritual realms of experience, but as many seekers on the spiritual path have found.
It is best not to try and dissolve the Ego, as many spiritual paths and their teachings recommend, that’s my opinion and experience, yet you may find this to be different for you.
It is best to understand the needs of your normal and spiritual Ego and meet and manage their needs safely as you deepen your spiritual journey.
The ego demands will change as you become more knowledgeable about your authentic needs and expand your consciousness.
The Ego needs to be managed because it can take over your spiritual development and limit your potential, plus develop into the spiritual Ego, as I have talked about and will talk more about later.
Everyone has an ego, whether big or small. An ego is a fundamental part of one’s identity, as it is a reflection of a person’s sense of self-worth and view of themselves.
The Ego is an integral part of self-identity and can be seen as the centre of the personality.
As Sigmund Freud described it, the Ego is a mediator between the needs of the id, super-ego, and the reality of the world around us.
It is our individual lens that helps us make sense of the world, while also allowing us to express our unique and creative selves.
The Ego is necessary for the development of one’s character, as it allows us to form connections with others and provides us with the confidence to make choices.
However, sometimes an ego can be excessive.
An excessive ego can lead to a variety of issues, including difficulty in interacting with others, an imbalance in life, and a lack of self-awareness.
People who have an excessive ego tend to be overly focused on seeking admiration and validation from others.
They may also be overly sensitive to criticism, as they believe they are always right and should not be questioned.
Excessive Ego can be detrimental to oneself and those around them, stemming from a lack of self-awareness.
This can lead to an unwillingness to accept constructive criticism or learn from mistakes, furthering their ego-driven behaviour.
An individual with an excessive ego might demonstrate a lack of empathy, an inflated sense of self-importance, and a lack of humility.
These warning signs should be taken seriously and addressed to avoid further issues.
Taking proactive steps to reduce Ego can help a person gain more self-awareness, better manage their emotions, and improve relationships with those around them.
So we have talked about the Ego, so what are the id and super-ego?
Personality is an intricate work of art, crafted from three components – the ID, the Ego, and the Super-ego – as theorised by Sigmund Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory.
These pieces come together to create an awe-inspiring mosaic of human behaviour.
The three components of personality collaborate in ways that drastically shape an individual’s character. /
Each portion brings a distinct contribution to the overall identity and develops at different stages of life or the day if you’re the average human being.
Together, The id, Ego and Super-ego form a powerful force that guides the person’s development.
Drawing from Freud’s idea, a part of you is deeply rooted in instinct-the constantly pushing you to do whatever feels natural.
At the same time, other elements of your personality, the id, try to keep you in check, ensuring that you don’t overindulge in your desires.
So you can stay true to the expectations of the society and culture you were born into or your authentic needs if you decide to take responsibility for your lifelong emotional, spiritual, financial, and psychological growth and work towards soul or self-actualisation.
To understand more about the Ego and the super-ego, we have to talk about what Freud called the ID; first, the ID is what most people mean when they are talking about someone being driven by their Ego or egotistical.
So what is The Id? The ID,the real EGO
Short version
According to Sigmund Freud, the ID is your innermost unconscious desires and wishes.
It’s the part of you that wants to do things without thinking, like when you find yourself eating an entire pizza without even realising what you’re doing.
It’s like a beast that lurks beneath the surface, ready to come out at any moment – and sometimes it does!
Freud believed the ID was the source of all our irrational and primitive urges, desires, and impulses and that it should be kept in check by the super-ego and Ego for us to be functioning members of society.
So maybe it's best to think twice before giving into your ID's desires and eating that entire pizza.
Freud described the id as the cornerstone of one’s personality, pushing folks to satisfy their basest cravings.
It is the natural, purest and most instinctual part of oneself – the embodiment of pure desire and pleasure.
The id is super important in the early stages of life because it guarantees that a baby’s wishes are attended to.
If they’re hungry or feeling crummy, they’ll bawl like crazy until their id’s demands are fulfilled. Little babies are purely dictated by their id.
It’s no use trying to reason with them when these cravings need to be taken care of!
Instead, you need to meet their demands until babies are old enough to teach them how to be reasonable.
Us Big babies-adults demonstrate that the ID controls us when we throw our dummy out of the pram (TODOTP) and demand everything -now, now, now – TODOTP means throwing a tantrum to address a minor issue and making a scene in the process.
It’s like a baby throwing toys out of the pram to get their parent(s) attention!
Adult babies may start by stomping their feet like a toddler, crying and whining incessantly to get the attention they feel they deserve.
You get the picture, our ID can also control us, in spiritual development, and it’s doubly important to manage your ID need, as you search for enlightenment, as you’re in danger of creating a spiritual ego- Id.
So that’s too many ids, too little time, and if you don’t watch out, that spiritual id will turn into a narcissist
Where you could throw your crystals, tarot, and angel cards out of the pram every time, yano life throws a curve ball your way; you could be really good at meditating, spending hours in the mindfulness zone.
Yet still, crumble and lose it big time- when yano, the server at the coffee shop, gets your order wrong or someone cuts in front of you in traffic.
This is why a self-awareness practice is essential to develop alongside your spiritual practice.
If you cannot apply your spiritual knowledge to your day-to-day life, then it’s mere information; wisdom only comes when we practice the things we know daily; this is how understanding and inner spirituality grow.
By converting information- data into practice wisdom.
Nevertheless, the id is a powerful source of potential and creativity, laying the groundwork for our personalities.
Freud thought of the brain as a battery that could only be charged to a certain level by using your libido.
Though nowadays it’s seen as a sexual word, the libido was actually just a scientific term for mental-psychic energy.
According to Freud, this energy was responsible for thinking, perceiving, dreaming, reminiscing, and getting jiggy with it! To quote will smith.
The id is Unconscious and instinctive; it is a powerful force that can propel us to do incredible things, or can be misused in ways that can lead to damaging consequences.
This power lies within us and is our precious gift, the basis of our unique personalities.
It is a source of raw potential, yet it needs to be managed properly.
Our creative energy source is a great gift, a powerful tool that we have been given to help us achieve our dreams, to express ourselves and unlock our true potential.
With this energy, we can create beauty and kindness but also destruction and pain.
It is up to us to choose how to use it.
We should not be afraid of it but embrace it, for within it lies an incredible power.
We can use this power to create meaningful things and make a difference in our lives and the lives of those around us.
By controlling our energy and being aware of how we use it, we can ensure that we create something positive
The super-ego
According to Sigmund Freud, the super Ego is that part of the psyche which is said to act as the moral compass of our life force -soul.
It is said to be the part of us which evaluates our actions and behaviours according to an internalised set of rules and standards.
Essentially, the voice inside our head tells us what is right and wrong.
Whoop, the super-ego. Always there, trying to tell us what to do like a nagging parent.
Telling us to take the stairs instead of the elevator, or to buy that extra doughnut even though we know it won’t help us stick to our diet.
Or, even worse, telling us that it’s totally okay to splurge on that new leather jacket even though we don’t really need it.
At times it’s like the super-ego knows just what buttons to push to get us to make questionable decisions.
But, at the end of the day, we all know that deep down, the super-ego is just trying to look out for us and make sure we make the right decisions.
Meanwhile, the super-ego is the ethical element of someone’s persona developed in late childhood and is made up of childhood experiences and societal pressures.
Spiritually, a person’s super-ego also consists of their subconscious recognition of all their past lives and the experiences they had in them.
The super-ego has two parts; the first- which is known as the conscience, works as a moral compass for your personality, providing guidelines for the id and Ego to work by, so the id and Ego can strive to reach the super-ego’s high ethical standards
The super-ego’s critiques, restrictions and restraints create a person’s conscience, which offers guidance to the Ego.
The super-ego is not only an inner critic, providing a sense of integrity, but is also made up of its second part, which Freud called the “ego ideal”.
This is the motivating force behind our idealistic version of ourselves, the self we say we are, which can be far from who we actually are in our everyday lives.
The ego ideal is the part of us who we would really want to be or know we should do, the part that says calm down, when we are kicking, screaming and throwing them dummies out of our prams.
Practising self-awareness can make sure who you think you are, is actually who you are and that who you say or think you actually show up in your thoughts, words and actions.
An example of the super-ego in action, imagine there’s a side of you that wants to catfish a person; well, it is 2022, almost 2023, after all.
In this case, the super-ego, the side of you that says it’s wrong to pretend to be someone you’re not, is like a very stern parent, scolding you and giving you endless reasons why you shouldn’t deceive others.
It’s like a broken record repeatedly playing in your head, reminding you of the potential hurt feelings, the potential embarrassment, and how much of the other person’s time you would waste.
The super-ego acts as an inner moral compass, it can go on and on, and this can be enough to make even the most spiteful person think twice before committing such a devious act.
Because of the super-ego’s conscience pricking, some people get so overwhelmed with guilt from the super-ego’s ethical reasoning.
Or the look of disappointment in their victim’s eyes that they’d turn to a life of charity work instead!
But, of course, some people just don’t have any regard for the feelings of others or how moralistic their super-ego gets and will go ahead and pretend to be someone else or hurt people in other ways, despite the cruel nature of their actions.
They’ll craft elaborate disguises and fool the world, all for their own selfish gain, in these cases, the ID wins out every time, and the EGO gets the blame, lol, while they ignore the super-ego’s advice telling them to stop.
So back to the Ego…….
Therefore, the Ego is the part that allows us to navigate the world’s complexities – it keeps us from succumbing to our most primal urges- THE ID and helps us act in a socially acceptable way- THE SUPER-EGO.
It is the bridge between our innermost desires, so you can see that typically when we accuse someone of being egotistical, we are being inaccurate; they are actually being ID-titiscal or superego-tistical.
Who would have known that the Ego in its truest form is actually one of the sanest and most rational parts of the human personality!!!!
According to Freud, the Ego is like a referee, trying to make sure the id doesn’t get too rowdy in the real world and that the super-ego doesn’t make you afraid of your own shadow.
It works with the conscious, preconscious-instinctive, and subconscious-unconscious mind, and it’s the part of the personality that makes sure nothing too wacky happens and that we still have some fun.
The ego family- the ego, id, and superego
The Ego, super-ego, id, and preconscious mind are all interrelated components of the.
The Ego is the conscious part of the personality, primarily responsible for making decisions and interacting with the outside world.
The super-ego is the moral aspect of the personality, which is formed by the internalisation of our parents’ and other authority figure’s values.
The id is the unconscious part of the personality, which houses our basic urges and desires.
These can range from deeply embedded impulses, such as the drive for self-preservation, to more mundane wants, such as our desire for food, comfort or entertainment.
It is the id that drives us to seek pleasure and avoid pain, and it is the id that allows us to take risks, pursue our goals and live life with a sense of adventure.
The preconscious mind is an important bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind. It serves as a storehouse of memories and experiences that can be easily recalled with a bit of effort.
It is an area of the mind that allows us to access information, but it is not always readily available in the conscious.
The preconscious mind is an intermediary between our conscious and unconscious life, and functions to regulate the flow of memories and experiences between the two.
It has been described as the “gatekeeper” of the mind, allowing only certain memories and experiences to be recalled at any given time.
It can also be thought of as a kind of buffer, allowing us to access some information before it becomes available to the conscious mind.
More about the preconscious mind
So we can see the preconscious mind is something like a metaphorical filing cabinet for memories, thoughts, and feelings that are not currently in your conscious awareness.
It’s almost like a storage unit for all the random things you come across in life, but you don’t necessarily have time to store them in your brain.
And a repository -a fountain-storehouse for anything we might need later, like an old college essay or a great recipe.
The preconscious mind is a treasure trove of unconscious material, just waiting to be remembered and used.
It’s a bit like the subconscious, only without all the weird dreams and hallucinations.
So if you ever need to remember something you saw on the news last night or want to recall anything else, your preconscious mind usually does all of that!
The preconscious mind is like a wild rollercoaster ride of all the thoughts bouncing around in your head – it’s like having a tiny, overloaded circus in your noggin- brain!
It’s super unlimited in space, like a clown car.
Or you may need to change the tyres on your car soon, and forget, until you see a recovery-breakdown truck , changing someone else’s tyres.
Although the preconscious is the part of your mind that is below the surface of conscious awareness, It can still have a powerful impact on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
But the information stored here is ready to leap into our conscious awareness at any given moment- when triggered.
The preconscious mind is also connected to our spiritual Ego and can serve as a powerful source of strength and insight.
Our preconscious mind is constantly at work, helping us to navigate our lives.
It may be responsible for our creative impulses, our spiritual connection to the universe-higher power, and our ability to trust our intuition.
But if we have unhealed spiritual, emotional and psychological trauma from this life or the next, and most of us bring over issues from the previous lives we barely remember.
So it’s important to practice self-awareness and detachment as we walk the spiritual path, keeping in mind some pain and suffering we can never get rid of.
But if we acknowledge our pain is there rather than numb ourselves to it or run from it, we can manage it and choose not to give into it.
If we don’t, the preconscious mind can lead us astray, creating an internal conflict between our better judgement and our own selfish desires.
We may be drawn to things that don’t align with our highest self, and this can be detrimental to our spiritual growth.
When the preconscious mind is in a negative state, it can lead to a range of spiritually-detrimental inner conflicts and complexities.
These can cause us to act in ways that damage not only our own sense of well-being but also the well-being of others.
If the preconscious mind is left unchecked, it can lead us to develop habits that become ingrained in spiritual narcissism as we progress along our spiritual journey.
To infinite and beyond
The precocious store’s things you may not consciously remember, but as soon someone mentions it, or a smell or some other sense triggers a memory, you may suddenly remember.
So you may have consciously forgotten about a primary-elementary school classmate, but someone reminds you, and you recall everything about them.
Or you may need to change the tyres on your car soon, and forget, until you see a recovery-breakdown truck , changing someone else’s tyres.
Although the preconscious is the part of your mind that is below the surface of conscious awareness, It can still have a powerful impact on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviour.
But the information stored here is ready to leap into our conscious awareness at any given moment- when triggered.
The preconscious mind is also connected to our spiritual Ego and can serve as a powerful source of strength and insight.
Our preconscious mind is constantly at work, helping us to navigate our lives.
It may be responsible for our creative impulses, our spiritual connection to the universe-higher power, and our ability to trust our intuition.
But if we have unhealed spiritual, emotional and psychological trauma from this life or the next, and most of us bring over issues from the previous lives we barely remember.
So it’s important to practice self-awareness and detachment as we walk the spiritual path, keeping in mind some pain and suffering we can never get rid of.
But if we acknowledge our pain is there rather than numb ourselves to it or run from it, we can manage it and choose not to give into it.
If we don’t, the preconscious mind can lead us astray, creating an internal conflict between our better judgement and our own selfish desires.
We may be drawn to things that don’t align with our highest self, and this can be detrimental to our spiritual growth.
When the preconscious mind is in a negative state, it can lead to a range of spiritually-detrimental inner conflicts and complexities.
These can cause us to act in ways that damage not only our own sense of well-being but also the well-being of others.
If the preconscious mind is left unchecked, it can lead us to develop habits that become ingrained in spiritual narcissism as we progress along our spiritual journey.
What is the conscious mind
The conscious mind encompasses all of the information currently in one’s awareness, and it’s your job to keep track of yourself and all the chaos and other things that are happening around you.
An individual’s awareness of themselves and their environment is part of their conscious experience.
The conscious mind is responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and reasoning.
The part of the mind gathers and processes information, allowing us to think, make choices, and remember things.
It is most active when we are awake and aware of our surroundings.
The conscious mind is made up of several cognitive processes, such as memory, attention, decision-making, and judgment.
All these processes work together to help us make sense of the world and the information we are receiving.
The conscious mind makes us who we are, and many say it is the most influential part of the human psyche, yet because most of us are driven by unresolved trauma held in the preconscious and the Subconscious mind.
It is also responsible for our ability to learn, your beliefs, and be accountable for our actions.
It is constantly stimulated by the environment around us, responding to external events and internal thoughts and feelings.
The conscious mind is constantly active, even while we are asleep, and constantly receives, processes, and makes decisions about new information.
The human brain is composed of three distinct parts. The prefrontal cortex, located in the front of the brain and is responsible for executive functions such as decision-making and planning.
This area of the brain is the most recently evolved and is involved in complex cognitive activities, such as problem-solving, working memory and social behaviour.
The hippocampus, located in the temporal lobe, is responsible for memory formation and retrieval. This area of the brain is believed by some to play a role in emotions, as well as long-term memory.
The amygdala, located deep in the brain, is responsible for our emotions and how we respond to them.
This area is involved in forming emotional memories and plays a role in the fight or flight response.
The interaction of these three brain structures, namely the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, is important in processing and responding to emotions.
Combined, these three structures work together to allow us to process our emotions and respond effectively and appropriately.
This is an integral part of our emotional, spiritual and psychological intelligence, which is the ability to recognise, understand and manage our emotions and those around us.
It is a key factor in developing effective relationships, problem-solving and communication.
Unresolved issues currently drive many people’s conscious choices and behaviours in their preconcious-unconcious- subconscious minds.
To stop the spiritual Ego from becoming a negative force in your life, it’s necessary to be watchful of your conscious thoughts, reactions and behaviour to make sure they are in line with who you really want to be.
Because the unhealed subconscious mind can drive you to make unethical choices, you must become aware of the doubts, fears and pain in there so you can heal it.
What is the link between the normal Ego, the id, the super-ego, the preconscious mind, the conscious part of the brain, and the spiritual Ego?
The subconscious part of the mind
The mysterious subconscious mind, according to Freud, is the home of your good- pleasures, your bad- over indulgences and your fears.
Picture a dark, dusty basement with cobwebs everywhere, a single lightbulb dangling from the ceiling, and a large desk with a magnifying glass and a quill pen on one side.
You pick up the pen, and it opens a sliding door; on the other side of that door is the biggest party of your dreams.
Whether it’s a nightclub all-nighter rave filled with all the desires of your choice, constant Netflix and chill or whatever else brings you your biggest overindulgent joy- your bad.
Also in this place is a symphony of angels or other spiritual beings- representing your good, and at the other side of this place are beings of darkness and all the things that scare you – your fears.
It’s a place that’s filled with all your wildest dreams and darkest fears, and it’s where Freud believed your deepest secrets and desires, as well as highest hopes and fantasies, were kept.
Freud believed that the unconscious–subconscious mind was the source of all human behaviour and that by studying it, we could gain insight into the inner workings of the human psyche.
He proposed that understanding this mysterious realm of the mind could help us to uncover the causes of our actions and behaviours and even help us gain control over them!
We could, as Freud suggested, become masters of our own destiny – building the courage and commitment needed to take a deep dive into our subconscious and confront the repressed thoughts and emotions that lie within!
Although this is hard work, if you do this, you will find the biggest reward life has to offer, your authentic self.
Preconscious and subconscious one of the same?
Some, say the subconscious-unconscious and preconscious minds are the same thing, depending on what lens you are looking from, i.e. a spiritual, psychological or scientific standpoint.
To help you remember the difference between the preconscious and the subconscious-unconscious part of the mind is that the preconscious mind is the place where all information is stored, emotional, non-emotional, random, non-random etc…
which can be retrieved at any given moment.
The subconscious- mind is an invisible warehouse of spiritual, psychological, and emotional trauma and knowledge, creative ideas, impulses, and recollections that lies beneath our conscious awareness.
As you can see, they are a lot of similarities between the two.
The unconscious-subconscious-preconscious- the dream team
Whether you want to call them the pre-thought mind, the unconscious, subconscious or preconscious. It/they are different from the conscious mind.
The unconscious processes things automatically, and most of the times, we are not always aware of it.
The conscious deals with our instinctive responses, so in terms of id, super-ego and Ego, the unconscious is likely to be driven by the id only, although the super-ego, can also have it unconscious moments.
The unconscious is our subconscious motivation, the ‘gut feeling’ that can lead us in the right direction.
It is the part of our brain that acts instinctively, even before our conscious mind has time to think.
The subconscious is not always at the forefront of your thoughts, but it can be accessed and influenced by your conscious mind, for most of us on the spiritual path.
This comes by taking time to manage your subconscious mind via spiritual teachings or practices such as tai chi, yoga, mindfulness or other forms of meditation, or reprogramming your subconscious mind by listening to or repeating positive affirmations or mantras.
Plus, working to resolve your unhealed psychological, emotional and spiritual trauma so you can have more control over your subconscious mind.
The subconscious mind holds the knowledge and experiences we have acquired over our lifetime and any beliefs we hold about ourselves or the world around us.
The unconscious is like a muscle – it gets stronger with use, but sometimes it’s hard to access because the unconscious can operate on autopilot.
Although the subconscious can also work on autopilot, it is like a computer – you can control how much information comes out of it at any given time.
Whether you call this part of your mind the subconscious or the unconscious, healing and managing this part of your mind can help you improve or change your habits or reactions.
The unconscious-subconscious mind is a fountain of emotions, ideas, desires, and recollections that lie beyond our conscious understanding.
Within the unconscious lies a wealth of potential – from the pain, worry, and tension that can be transformed into strength and courage.
To the limitless possibilities that can be unlocked by delving into its depths.
In summary of this section
Knowing the instinctive parts of your personality and how unhealed emotional and psychological trauma can drive toxic thought and behaviour patterns that can cause the spiritual Ego to turn into spiritual narcissism is important.
It’s even more important to recognise that these parts are part of each person, and that the Ego, spiritual or otherwise, can become unhealthy when it’s not nurtured correctly or regulated.
It’s essential to understand that you are made up of complicated brain structures, and we must be aware of the potential risks of not being mindful of the Ego (ID).
You must take the time to understand our brain structures, how they function, and how they can be affected by our unhealed emotional and psychological trauma and and the unmanaged normal or spiritual Ego.
This is the end of part one to read more about the spiritual Ego and how spiritual narcissism develops and tools that can help you manage your spiritual Ego here
This post goes into the many ways the spiritual ego pays out.
