Again short on time so just a quick thought...

conscious mind...

there is the collective unconscious, unconscious and conscious mind

I strongly think that the conscious mind is influenced by the unconscious mind to the degree that we see what we already believe...

look up the study on upside down glasses..

If a person experienced some strange light that sort of had a shape...

the Christian may see a demon/angel
a Thai might see a spirit
someone might see an alien
etc etc

All of them will validate their belief in whatever their interpretation was through their experience...

Seeing is believing is backwards I think... believing is seeing...


So the conscious mind, as I see it, gives us feed back to our belief systems through our experiences...

If we don't like our experiences then it makes sense to me too seek out subconscious programming and consider reprogramming the mind in a way that offers us the experiences we choose... that is moving towards freedom of choice also i think...

Now what degree is the conscious mind influenced by the collective unconscious???

When you look at mythologies and religions etc the same, themes, archetypes, stories etc show up and to the degree that we are sensitive so to be aware they show up in each and every one of us I believe.

I guess the conscious mind, as in my limited view, can be used yet is best used when you know what you are working with and look into your unconscious and into the collective unconscious...

I guess to put it as simply as possible... cause and affect.

If you don't like something or what to change something then one must see what one can change in order to act, live, experience differently.

The brain, in all its amazing splendor, pales in the face of consciousness I think.