Why I Went Into the Wilderness to Make a Film About Consciousness

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What even is this?

This experience of being alive… of thinking, feeling, reacting, hoping, suffering, remembering?

How is it that we’re conscious at all?

That question has followed me for years. Through meditation retreats, conversations with spiritual teachers, and long walks in the forest. But I still couldn’t shake the sense that something deeper was waiting to be understood.

So I did something a bit extreme.

I disappeared into the Scottish wilderness for 30 days. Alone, off-grid, no distractions. Just me, a camera, and the question:
What is consciousness—really?

The Mystery That Lives Inside Us All

We live in a world that treats consciousness as a given. But the truth is, no one actually knows where it comes from. Materialist science tells us it’s a byproduct of the brain. Spiritual traditions say it’s something bigger—perhaps the source of everything.

But when you sit quietly long enough… something shifts. You begin to see that consciousness isn’t just rational thought. It’s the texture of life itself. Sensations, emotions, intuition, even that subtle presence when all thought falls away.

• In the film, I explore questions like:
• Are trees conscious? What about AI?
• Did the brain create consciousness, or is it the other way around?
• What did the Buddha discover sitting under that tree?
• And… what happens when the voice in your head goes silent?

The Film: What Is Consciousness?

After months of filming, reflecting, and editing with my incredible team at Balance is Possible, I’m so excited to share the result:

🎥 Watch the full film now on YouTube — it’s completely free.

It’s part science, part nature documentary, part spiritual journey.
No PhDs required—just curiosity and an open heart.

Companion Guide (Free PDF)

If you’d like to go deeper, I created a free companion guide to help you reflect on the themes and questions in the film.
Get the Film Companion Guide

In the guide you’ll find:

• Simple practices to expand your awareness
• Quotes from the film
• Big questions to sit with or journal on
• Resources for further exploration

Why This Matters

Understanding consciousness isn’t just a philosophical exercise.

It changes how we relate to ourselves, each other, and the planet.

It reveals that we’re not isolated minds but expressions of something vast and interconnected. And in a world driven by disconnection, that insight might be more important than ever.

Thanks for reading—and for being part of this journey. I’d love to hear what the film sparks for you. Feel free to share it with friends, bring it into conversation, or just sit with the mystery for a while.

Because as we explore consciousness… we just might awaken to who we really are.

→ Watch the film
→ Download the guide

With awe and curiosity,
George Thompson