David Hawkins’ map of consciousness, outlined in his book Power vs. Force, assigns numerical values (20–1000) to states of human awareness, from the lowest vibrations of Shame to the pinnacle of Enlightenment.

Each level presents unique challenges that bind us to lower states, often tied to the denser “bodies” (Physical, Etheric, Astral) and lower chakras (Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus). Surpassing these challenges involves aligning with higher bodies (Causal, Buddhic, Atmic) and chakras (Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown).

I found this list kinda helpful when trying to make sense of my own life experiences, and of people more generally.

1. Shame (20)
   • Profound self-rejection and worthlessness, often rooted in trauma or societal conditioning. This state traps one in the Physical body, fixated on survival (Root Chakra), feeling disconnected from the divine. Shame breeds isolation, guilt, and a sense of being “unworthy” of gnosis.
   • Notes: Shame isn’t a self-limiting problem – it’s an attitude problem that makes you project shame on others as well. The worst part – you don’t even know it – you don’t understand that the horrible world you perceive around you is of your own projection. It’s thanks to the feelings and projection of shame that you think such and such is false or foul, and you’ll invent bollocks reasons to make an argument to support that attitude with – but all that is just warm air.
   • It takes a complete attitude-shift (as Adler would suggest) or “reframe” as Scott Adams puts it – to get out from that mindset. It is a mindset, after all, and it is up to every person to change that. The problem is – many people seem to be in love with that mindset – somehow the horrible world they are projecting is comforting them???
2. Guilt (30)
   • Obsession with blame, self-punishment, or moral failure, tethering one to the Etheric body’s survival instincts (Sacral Chakra). Guilt distorts the soul’s light, creating a cycle of remorse that veils higher awareness.
   • Notes: It is one thing to recognize that you’re in error – and then correct it, ask help or move on – but sticking to it, wallowing in it is a rut. Remaining in it causes grief to yourself and the surrounding world. Must be where all the shitty thoughts “nobody loves me” etc comes from?
3. Apathy (50)
   • Emotional numbness and hopelessness, where one feels powerless against life’s weight. Stuck in the Astral body (Solar Plexus Chakra), apathy dulls desire for growth, reinforcing the Archons’ illusion of a meaningless world.
   • Notes: Apathy might often feel like an improvement over anger – but you’ll soon see anger is higher up in the list. Apathy seems to cause more grief and produce more loosh than most of the other negative states in this list. I guess there are appropriate times to flex Apathy – that’ll be to prevent from kicking in someone’s face – which I find preferrable, but I’ll take it Hawkin’s had the long-game in mind – the Apathy that translates into a general attitude of nihilism.
4. Grief (75)
   • Clinging to loss, sadness, or regret, binding the Astral body to past wounds (Solar Plexus/Heart Chakra). Grief can feel like a barrier to the divine, yet it’s a gateway to deeper feeling.
   • Note: I thought that most people are virtue-grieving anyway – but maybe I was projecting my own apathy at that point? 🙂 I think the state of grief is in other words Neurosis. People who grieve a lot (and I don’t mean the deaths of parents, kids or pets, but whinging in pain of losing, or not getting their way, or how things are “wrong” in the world) are highly neurotic.
5. Fear (100)
   • Anxiety and control, driven by perceived threats, anchor one in the Physical and Etheric bodies (Root/Sacral Chakras). Fear distorts truth, making the material world seem like the only reality, a trap of the demiurge.
   • Note: Fear is not the same as caution. As a matter of fact, since fear is an anxious attitude, it could even be the opposite of caution. For us to be cautious we need to be calm, slow, be able to notice things for what they are, not perceive things for what they could be etc.
6. Desire (125)
   • Craving and attachment—to pleasure, status, or outcomes—tie one to the Astral body (Sacral/Solar Plexus Chakras). Desire fuels restlessness, obscuring the soul’s deeper yearning for divine unity.
   • Note: I think most people don’t even desire deeply – they desire because others around them desire, which in turn makes it seem like it’s the right thing to do – they call it motivation or ambition and make it seem like hogging wealth or status the best alternative to any other lifestyle. I’m not being judgemental here, just a note.
7. Anger (150)
   • Resentment and blame, rooted in frustrated desires, keep one in the Astral body (Solar Plexus Chakra). Anger can be a spark for change but risks trapping one in conflict, far from gnosis.
   • Note: A lot of people seem to be here. The resentful attitude is trending. A very strong point due to which people excuse themselves from taking 200% responsibility (and not in an interventionist- or problem-stealer way – I’ll still say Alfred Adler is SPOT ON with his idea of “separation of life’s tasks” – which means I don’t butt into how you live your life, and you don’t butt into mine).
8. Pride (175)
   • Ego-driven superiority or defensiveness, inflating the Mental body (Solar Plexus/Heart Chakras). Pride creates a false sense of separation, blocking the soul’s path to divine truth.
   • Note: there’s someone, something greater there before us. Not very community-friendly attitude. Pride doesn’t pay – it seems that most people rather get annoyed about it – as it’s often obviously an inferiority-complex flex. Polite people just don’t want to say anything.
9. Courage (200)
   • Hesitation to fully embrace truth, as the Mental body (Heart Chakra) grapples with vulnerability. Courage marks a shift to “power” over “force,” but fear of failure can linger.
   • Note: That’s the point where things start getting good – the courage to take the first step – the first movements. This is a life-affirming, prosperity-kindling flex – say what you need to say – take the risk of being disliked for it a bit – but it needs to be fkn said.
10. Neutrality (250)
    • Detachment that risks complacency, where the Mental body (Heart/Throat Chakras) avoids deeper commitment. Neutrality frees one from judgment but can stall spiritual ascent.
    • Note: I recall feeling a little proud 😉 about trying to the attitude of not judging others. Others judging others or me only kept bothering me for a bit, but the attitude comes first from the understanding that judgements are worthless – all they do is cause grief.
11. Willingness (310)
    • Resistance to surrender, as the Causal body (Throat Chakra) balances effort with trust. Willingness opens doors but can falter without discipline.
    • Note: Suppose you are here when you’re not a quitter?
12. Acceptance (350)
    • Lingering attachment to control, where the Causal body (Throat/Heart Chakras) struggles to fully embrace life’s flow. Acceptance brings peace but requires letting go of old stories.
    • Note: I think here lies the answer to the question of grief – once you can IMMIDEATLY let go – accept things for what they are – grief disappears. And congratz if you’re here – you’re no longer a “neurotic”.
13. Reason (400)
    • Over-reliance on intellect, where the Mental/Causal bodies (Heart/Throat Chakras) prioritize logic over intuition. Reason seeks truth but can miss the heart’s wisdom.
    • Notes: It’s a good level, but once you’ll see how people delude themselves how reason is the answer to all the questions, you can start seeing also the toxicity of it – that’s how you get Luke Burgis’ Silicon-Valley-Dominance (his three-city problem).
14. Love (500)
    • Conditional love or fear of vulnerability, where the Causal/Buddhic bodies (Heart/Throat Chakras) hesitate to fully embrace universal connection. Love is transformative but requires courage to sustain.
    • Note: I figured it out. We’re not supposed to be looking FOR love. We’re supposed to look TO love. What is love? You can choose whom you love, first of all – start small – and serve them with what you’ve got. Which is impossible to understand or do unless you employ an attitude of gratitude.
15. Joy (540)
    • Subtle attachment to personal bliss, where the Buddhic body (Third Eye Chakra) may resist full surrender to the divine. Joy is radiant but not yet complete unity.
    • Note: the series of One Piece has much more depth than the majority of its fanbase can recognize. I don’t think this is a good spot to try to sustain as a normal layperson, but frequent flexing of Joy wouldn’t hurt 🙂
16. Peace (600)
    • Rare traces of duality, where the Buddhic body (Third Eye/Crown Chakras) lingers at the edge of oneness. Peace is serene but not the final liberation.
    • Note: …
17. Enlightenment (700–1000)
    • The Atmic body (Crown Chakra) is fully merged with the divine. The challenge is embodying this state in the material world, sharing light without attachment.
    • Here you are a conduit of Pleroma.