Super Consciousness

1. The Quest for Super Consciousness: A DIY Manual

This book might be regarded as a kind of DIY manual of how to achieve it.

Personal Journey. Colin Wilson frames his book as a practical guide to achieving "power consciousness," drawing from his lifelong exploration of peak experiences and transcendent states. He aims to provide readers with actionable insights and techniques to tap into their own potential for heightened awareness and fulfillment.

Pascal's Fire. Wilson highlights Blaise Pascal's transformative vision as an example of power consciousness, emphasizing the sudden sense of vitality, certainty, and joy that can sweep over an individual. This experience, marked by a feeling of complete well-being, serves as a benchmark for the kind of consciousness the book seeks to unlock.

Maslow's Influence. Wilson credits Abraham Maslow's concept of the "peak experience" as a pivotal influence, noting Maslow's belief that human nature has been "sold short" by modern psychology. Maslow's optimism and conviction that individuals can regularly experience overwhelming happiness inspired Wilson to seek a method for achieving peak experiences at will.

2. Inner Freedom: Beyond the Everyday Self

The triviality of everyday life, with its problems and responsibilities, destroys our inner freedom.

Romanticism's Revelation. The Romantic era marked a shift towards recognizing the beauty of nature and the potential for inner freedom. Figures like Goethe and Wordsworth found in nature a reflection of their own inner power, intuiting that humans are far greater than they believe themselves to be.

Pamela's Impact. Samuel Richardson's novel Pamela played a crucial role in popularizing the idea of inner freedom, teaching readers to dream and use their imagination. This novel sparked a cultural shift, encouraging individuals to explore their inner worlds and recognize the distinction between their outer and inner selves.

Duo-Consciousness. Wilson introduces the concept of "duo-consciousness," the ability to be in two places at once, as essential for happiness and freedom. This state, exemplified by a child on Christmas Eve, involves being present in the moment while also transcending it, allowing for a richer and more fulfilling experience of life.

3. The Ecclesiastes Effect: Combating Boredom and Meaninglessness

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

The Trap of Boredom. The "Ecclesiastes effect" describes the state of boredom and depression that leads to a feeling that nothing is worth the effort. This condition, recognized by the prophet Ecclesiastes, saps energy and motivation, trapping individuals in a cycle of negativity.

William James's "Sick Soul." Wilson draws on William James's concept of "the sick soul" to illustrate the experience of those with a low pain threshold, who are easily plunged into despair by the suffering of life. This perspective highlights the importance of managing one's sensitivity and cultivating resilience in the face of adversity.

Attention as Antidote. The solution to the Ecclesiastes effect lies in seeking activities that absorb attention and halt the drain on vital energy. Drawing on examples from Hermann Hesse and Zen master Ikkyu, Wilson emphasizes the power of focus and engagement in combating boredom and restoring a sense of purpose.

4. The Sexual Explosion: Power, Imagination, and Social Revolution

Sex crime is not about sex – it’s about power.

Sex as Power. Roy Hazelwood's assertion that "sex crime is not about sex – it's about power" underscores the connection between sexuality and power consciousness. This perspective challenges purely physical interpretations of sex, highlighting its imaginative and psychological dimensions.

Romantic Impulse. Human beings find sex alluring because it is also basically a romantic impulse; it offers a glimpse of ‘the eternal longing’.

Rousseau's Revolution. Jean Jacques Rousseau's doctrine of sexual freedom, as expressed in La Nouvelle Heloise, sparked a social revolution by challenging traditional notions of virginity and marital property. This revolutionary spirit, linking sexual and social liberation, laid the groundwork for subsequent movements advocating for individual self-development.

5. Cosmic Consciousness: Expanding Relational Awareness

Mystical experience is not different in kind from ordinary consciousness, but is merely an extension of ordinary consciousness.

Bucke's Vision. Richard Maurice Bucke's concept of "cosmic consciousness" posits a higher form of awareness, far above self-consciousness, characterized by a sense of unity with the universe. Bucke's own mystical illumination, marked by feelings of exultation and intellectual clarity, exemplifies this transcendent state.

James's Suggestion. William James suggests that mystical experience is not fundamentally different from ordinary consciousness but rather an extension of it. His personal anecdotes illustrate how sudden reminders of past experiences can trigger a cascade of interconnected insights, expanding one's awareness of distant realities.

Relational Nature. Wilson emphasizes that consciousness is inherently relational, like a spider's web, with connections extending throughout the universe. Moments of happiness and excitement cause vibrations to spread down the web, creating a sense of connectedness with more distant realities and fostering a feeling of unity.

6. The Near and the Far: Reconciling Dreams with Reality

Nothing that we love over-much / Is ponderable to our touch.

The Eternal Longing. The "eternal longing," a theme explored in Vitezslav Novak's tone poem, captures the human desire for something beyond the mundane. This longing, often expressed through music and art, reflects a sense of isolation and a yearning for connection with something greater.

Romanticism's Rise and Fall. The Romantic movement, fueled by figures like Tieck, Wackenroder, and Jean Paul, ignited a passion for nature, art, and the inner world. However, the movement's emphasis on dreams and ideals often clashed with the realities of everyday life, leading to disillusionment and a sense of defeat.

Existential Stoicism. The 20th century saw the emergence of existentialism, a philosophy that acknowledged human freedom but often embraced a sense of meaninglessness. Figures like Camus and Hemingway advocated for a stoic acceptance of life's absurdity, emphasizing internal freedom in the face of external constraints.

7. The Paradoxes of Nihilism: Overcoming the Mechanisms of Despair

Everything is self-evidently meaningless.

The Challenge of Nihilism. Nihilism, the belief that life is inherently meaningless, presents a formidable challenge to those seeking purpose and fulfillment. Its assertion that "everything is self-evidently meaningless" defies logic and can be difficult to refute.

The "What-is-Worth-the-Effort Level." Wilson introduces the concept of the "What-is-worth-the-effort level" (Whittle) to explain the fluctuations between optimism and pessimism. A low Whittle threshold leads to a feeling that nothing is worth doing, while a high Whittle threshold fosters interest and engagement with life.

The Robot Within. Wilson proposes that each individual has a "robot" within, an automatic mechanism that can either support or undermine their well-being. By understanding how this robot operates and learning to control its influence, individuals can break free from cycles of despair and cultivate a more positive outlook.

8. Absurd Good News: The Power of Optimism and Intentionality

It was as if a light had been turned on.

Greene's Revelation. Graham Greene's experience of playing Russian roulette illustrates the power of crisis to induce a sudden sense of joy and relief, revealing the inherent love of life that lies beneath the surface. This "absurd good news" highlights the potential for unexpected moments of clarity and affirmation.

Husserl's Intentionality. Edmund Husserl's concept of intentionality emphasizes that consciousness is not passive but active, requiring a deliberate focus of attention. This perspective challenges the notion that life is inherently meaningless, suggesting that meaning is created through intentional engagement with the world.

The "Secret Life." Wilson emphasizes the importance of acknowledging what Harley Granville-Barker calls "the secret life," the underlying potential for joy and fulfillment that exists even in the face of adversity. By recognizing and cultivating this inner resource, individuals can overcome the limitations of pessimism and embrace a more optimistic view of existence.

9. The Two Selves: Harmonizing the Inner Landscape

Eternal spirit of the chainless mind / Brightest in dungeons, liberty thou art!

Split-Brain Physiology. Modern "split-brain physiology" reveals that the two hemispheres of the brain have distinct functions, with the left brain associated with logic and reason and the right brain with creativity and intuition. Understanding this duality can help individuals harmonize their inner landscape and tap into their full potential.

Hudson's Theory. Thomson Jay Hudson's theory of the "two selves," the objective and subjective mind, anticipates modern split-brain research, suggesting that the subjective mind possesses extraordinary unrecognized powers. By learning to access and harness these powers, individuals can unlock new levels of creativity and insight.

Stan and Ollie. Wilson uses the analogy of Laurel and Hardy to illustrate the relationship between the two selves, with Ollie representing the objective mind and Stan the subjective mind. By fostering cooperation and mutual support between these two aspects of the self, individuals can overcome limitations and achieve greater well-being.

10. Faculty X and the Sexual Vision: Unlocking Hidden Potential

I passed, after the first few inhalations of the gas, directly into a state of consciousness already far more complete than the fullest degree of ordinary waking consciousness.

Faculty X Defined. Wilson defines "Faculty X" as the ability to grasp the reality of another time and place, a form of "duo-consciousness" that transcends the limitations of ordinary perception. This faculty, exemplified by Proust's moments bienheureux, allows individuals to experience a sense of unity with the past and a heightened awareness of the present.

Imagination as Key. Wilson suggests that Faculty X can be cultivated through the deliberate exercise of imagination, not as mere fantasy but as a means of conjuring up other realities. By engaging in this practice, individuals can prepare the ground for moments of transcendent insight and expanded awareness.

The Sexual Vision. Drawing on examples from William Blake and Count Zinzendorf, Wilson explores the "Sexual Vision" as a potent form of Faculty X, amplified by sexual excitement and imagination. This vision, characterized by intense focus and a sense of transcendence, can unlock hidden potential and provide access to deeper levels of understanding.

11. Philosophy: From Doubt to Active Creation

Every dream can be willed into reality by those who are strong enough to believe in it.

The Downward Spiral. Wilson critiques the trajectory of modern philosophy, arguing that it has often been characterized by a descent into doubt and skepticism. Figures like Descartes, Hume, and Kant, while influential, have contributed to a sense of alienation and a diminished view of human potential.

Fichte's Insight. Johann Gottlieb Fichte's recognition that philosophy should be active, not passive, marks a turning point, emphasizing the importance of will and engagement in shaping reality. This perspective challenges the armchair theorizing of previous philosophers, advocating for a more dynamic and transformative approach to knowledge.

Husserl's Phenomenology. Edmund Husserl's phenomenology offers a path towards reclaiming meaning and purpose by emphasizing the intentionality of consciousness. By recognizing that perception is an active, creative process, individuals can transcend the limitations of doubt and embrace a more empowered view of their role in the world.

12. Achieving Power Consciousness: A Synthesis of Effort and Insight

What is happiness? The feeling that power is growing, that resistance is overcome.

The Sheepwash Experience. Wilson recounts his transformative experience of driving through snow-covered roads, where the need for sustained attention led to a heightened state of awareness and optimism. This experience, marked by a "glow of warmth" in the skull, revealed the potential for achieving power consciousness through focused effort.

The Bhagavad Gita. Wilson's early exploration of the Bhagavad Gita provided him with a method for renewing his sense of direction and purpose through focused attention. This practice, centered on the identity of Atman with Brahman, offered a means of transcending boredom and cultivating a sense of control over his life.

The Synthesis. Wilson synthesizes effort and insight, arguing that power consciousness is achieved through a combination of focused attention, intentionality, and a recognition of the active nature of consciousness. By cultivating these qualities, individuals can unlock their hidden potential and create a more fulfilling and meaningful existence.

Last updated: April 14, 2025