What Does Higher/lower Consciousness Mean?

[Viking]

People say that when someone takes a psychedelic or meditates his consciousness "elevates", or when someone watches TV or drinks alcohol his consciousness lowers, what does that even mean? it's as though there are better and worse states of consciousness.

awareness is always there, so what does consciousness has to be aware of for it to be considered "elevated" or "lowered"?

I notice when I try to become conscious of nothing at all (and I notice that it's extremely hard, even for a second), it's as though I dont exist.

Is that higher consciousness is the ability to be aware, but of nothing in particular? (which in some sense could mean aware of the "present moment"?)

or could it be the ability to remove the lens of meaning from "experiences" in the awareness? (experiences is awareness itself some could say, but I know this only intellectually)

[Spiral]

Highly conscious people are aware of the things around them because they are not focused on their thoughts. So a highly conscious person makes less mistakes. Like forgetting their car keys and so on.

Low conscious people are lost in thought all the time and so can not appreciate the world around them and also make more mistakes.

imagine doing the dishes while in deep thoughts about your crush, the result will not be the best. 

It's more of a spectrum everyone isn't the lowest possible or enlightened.

It's not the most clear wording because both are equally conscious technically but the value of what the are conscious of is different.

Edited November 14, 2017 by Spiral