The Path of Cosmic Consciousness: A Practical Guide to Higher Dimensions of Reality (The Mystical Philosophy of Jeff Carreira)

Really interesting read for someone like me who is really into looking at existence, reality, and consciousness in all kinds of ways. Author presents some interesting points and schools of thought, with valid criticisms and comparisons, while still keeping focus on the central theme of universal “oneness”.

My experience with the book is that reading the author's very relatable life experiences influenced some of my memories of similar experiences to resurface. I'm using the prompts at the end of each chapter to write in a journal, and I'm surprised at the fresh perspectives and realizations that have emerged by the process of writing. Each person's path to discovery is going to be different than anyone else's, so there's no step by step recipe for achieving cosmic consciousness. What's effective about this book is that Jeff Carreira is such a good guide, in that he points the reader in productive directions. He writes on page 38 that radical transformation is a path through a succession of spiritual openings that are expansions rather than a linear path, and I agree. Reading about Jeff's experiences helps me shift my perspective about similar experiences I've had. We can't truly be prepared for the transformation of cosmic consciousness, but if it happens, having glimpses of what other people have experienced, and what they articulate about how they made sense of their experiences, and how profoundly they were affected, can help us accept them rather than back off. We and the whole universe will be glad we took the plunge. He introduces us to Edward Carpenter and Richard Maurice Bucke, who described their awakenings. I'm glad Jeff doesn't underestimate the reader, and brings us along on his adventures with ideas, because philosophy is important and not a luxury. The ideas in the book seep into my mind and make me more likely to receive whatever interesting transmission from this very alive universe is next. Every page of the book is chock-full of quotable phrases. Part of the mystery of all this is wondering how our brushes with cosmic consciousness fit into a bigger picture, so we can't help but be interested to learn how Jeff and a couple of other people use the clues of their experiences to offer models for the evolution of consciousness. These experiences want to be known as much as we want to know them. Read the book, it'll enable you to be a more active participant in the adventure.

This is the kind of book that, if you do highlighting, the pages will fill up fast. The author has taught for about 20 years and has been writing for about 10 years, with several excellent books published. And this book is the concentrated product of all that time, but is easy to follow despite it's hard-to-verbalize subject. Carriera's book is a merger of the history, explanation, and exercises concerning Cosmic Consciousness. And that's what makes the book unique, the exercises and contemplations, so hopefully at the end of your reading you have more than just an intellectual understanding of the subject. And most of the contemplations are fun to play with because you don't always understand them intellectually, but in doing them you get a hook into what he is attempting to convey. Step by step you are led to a co-creating of Cosmic Consciousness. I had the life-resetting opportunity to spend a retreat with Jeff Carriera and I think this book is a great cohesion of his important teachings. For those of us who feel there is something more to this daily, tick-tock world, The Path of Cosmic Consciousness is highly recommended..

An interesting but ultimately disappointing work and my initial enthusiasm eventually faded the further I read. The author talked in grand circles alluding to the classic authors on the subject like Bucke, James, and Ouspensky. Perhaps the most valuable section for the seeker wishing for information on the subject of Cosmic Consciousness would be the Bibliography.In Chapter Seven, after going in circles, the author finally gets to the heart of the matter by saying, "I wouldn't blame you if you were a bit skeptical of my claims that this would be a practical guide to cosmic consciousness." And further," This isn't a recipe book and I can't give you a blueprint. You won't find eight steps to cosmic awareness here, because there are no steps that can be described and followed to where this book is pointing"(p109)While the subject of Cosmic Consciousness may seem abstract or ethereal there are practical ways and methods to bring about a state of personal awareness whereby one may experience the state the author is describing. As he prattles on about his experiences and authors he has read, there are, in fact, groups who can offer clear methods for the attainment that he points to. One such group, the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), offers, along with a basic education in the esoteric, graded steps for the development and eventual goal of the experience of Cosmic Consciousness.After reading this “Practical Guide to Higher Dimensions” it is hoped the reader would find a group (or consult the bibliography) for genuine guidance in the attainment of the same.

I enjoyed the book. It challenged me to think in a different way, to expand my imagination. It was intriguing. I recommend this book.

It falls short of being a practical guide. Author gets side tracked and it seems to be more about his experience writing the book, the research he did, other books he has written, etc... Some good points sprinkled throughout the book but over all not a great guide.

The author promises a practical guide, but he fails to deliver and derails into the abstract. The book has good moments but it seems more like a personal journal rather than a practical down-to-earth guide for spiritual seekers. Disappointing

"This book is an exquisite spiritual blueprint for Cosmic Consciousness realisation!"C. Sweeney