By Dr. Katie Eastman & Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino The word consciousness  can sound complicated, but at its heart, it’s very simple. Consciousness is awareness —the ability to notice what’s happening in and around you, to reflect on it, and to choose how you want to respond. Some describe spiritual consciousness  as awareness that goes a step further—awareness that connects us to meaning, values, and something larger than ourselves (Mayer, Spirituality and Consciousness , 200