Levels of Energy

A map of consciousness from 0 to 1000 — half of you will love it, half of you will hate it. That's kind of the point.

What's It About?

Here is something they didn't teach you in school. The premise of Levels of Energy is that there are clearly defined levels of consciousness. People experience reality differently — and act and think in certain ways — depending on their energy "level." Dodson lays out his whole spectral energy scale, from 0 to 1000, from the hellish to joy and bliss. And it's quite a ride.

A very simplified version of the scale:

Your energy level has a baseline, but it fluctuates due to events and actions. A weekend on the couch in front of the TV with accompanying snacks might temporarily bring someone in the 400s down into the 200s. That doesn't mean watching TV is "bad" — for someone at lower energy levels, TV is actually a way to increase their state. TV is great at creating Desire, which is a step up from the Shame, Apathy, and Guilt of those below 100.

Why This Book?

It's fascinating. I don't think it's possible to read through this book without discovering something new about yourself, or the people and environment around you. Throughout my life I have been through a lot of the different states Dodson talks about, and it's interesting to see how well my experience fits with his description of the energy levels — and how one ascends to the next level or descends.

"If you want to check whether you have been indoctrinated, notice how you react to disagreement with your world views. The stronger your emotional reaction to disagreement, the more likely it is that your views are a result of indoctrination rather than education."

What Stands Out

I love when I get my hands on a book like this that gives me a new lens through which to see the world. Every energy level gets its own detailed breakdown — and Dodson doesn't just give you abstract descriptions. He maps real behaviors, real situations, real people you'll recognize.

Assuming mask identities can drain a lot of energy. The best thing you can do to improve your state is to stop caring what others think about you. You can save an enormous amount of time and energy by releasing the need for approval.

Relax fully and work fully. Most people think about work when they're relaxing and about relaxing when working — turning life into a giant guilt trip. Master this.

Resistance draws towards us what we resist. Water naturally reaches its goal because it resists nothing. Resisting something will not solve it. It feeds it.

You experience the world, not as it is, but as you are. More energy for creativity is available at the higher levels. The lower your energy, the stronger your urge to "get" — there is a lot of power in releasing neediness.

"Moving only a few points up the scale can have enormous consequences on your experience of reality. It might render everything you held true and dear untrue and meaningless. It might provide a new lens through which to view things."

Moving Up the Scale

How long does it take to move up? It depends on whether a state is temporary or habitual. Many who start to focus on their spiritual development can see big changes fast — like moving 200 points up the scale. But big jumps like this are often temporary, and you easily slide back to your habitual level.

That doesn't mean it's a waste of time. Even if you temporarily spend time in a higher level, your base level will increase a bit. Temporarily raising from 200 to 400, you will most likely add 20 to your baseline from that experience. Moving up too fast is like jumping on a rapidly moving train — you're more likely to be hurt than enlightened. Move up step by step.

And there's a sticky factor: spending three weeks in a low state compared to your baseline makes it start to manifest around you. Your environment begins to match your energy.

The Disclaimer

The key to enjoying this book is to not expect to resonate with or believe everything it says. It talks about astral beings, demonic entities, and things that will push your skepticism to its limits. That's also what open-mindedness is for me — to be able to listen to arguments and ideas that go against your beliefs, then experiment with any new and seemingly useful information and see what works, and change views accordingly.

You don't have to believe the content and you still get huge benefits from reading it. Which is really cool.