This is something I wrote a while back when having a discussion with a friend. I must premise this by saying while I believe what I am about to say, I cannot pretend it is concrete and proven. There is no undeniable proof. I am speaking in theory and possibility. Enjoy. Any and all criticisms and ideas are welcome.

Matter did not create consciousness. It would not naturally occur. Why would it? Consciousness does not aid in anything. It is a burden if anything. Why would natural selection lead to the current conditions? Why would evolution propagate consciousness? Would not an animal without consciousness be better suited for survival? No desires, no will, no ideas, nothing but fuel intake and waste removal all day everyday with no bullshit in between. That would be the result of matter being entirely responsible for the universe.

Single cell organisms that fuel by photosynthesis are immeasurably better at survival than any other organism in existence (at least on Earth) and such organisms were most definitely present in the primordial stew that spawned life. Why would natural selection move past that perfect lifeform to create a being that requres more space, more fuel, produces more waste, etc? To me that is evidence that something had to push things in a desired direction. There's absolutely no reason why life would evolve past the most basic photosynthesis powered organisms. I get it. Things gravitate towards one another. Life is going to happen given enough time and the right elemental soup. But past that? I truly feel there was outside influence. Why would evolution cause the development of eyes and ears? The obvious answer is the one relating to survival. Find food and observe surroundings to prevent self destruction. But what if eyes and ears were not only developed for those purposes but for the purpose of experiencing things that would be otherwise impossible to experience? The desire of The One Consciousness to experience things differently. That desire could have fueled the evolution of life from a perfect and self sustaining form to the current model and on up from here, eventually filtering back to the Source and then back out again as the cycle continues. And to be clear, I am not claiming that humans are the only conscious beings involved in this. Far from it. All consciousness is a manifestation of the One.

Now remove the idea that matter and consciousness originated at different time. Remove the idea of time altogether as best you can. It is impossible to forget time entirely due to us being humans but do your best. No beginning, no ending. Maybe matter and consciousness simply use one another. Consciousness (God if you choose that word) desired a way to manifest itself. Matter provided a means to do so. I have yet to formulate an idea as to what matter gets out of the relationship but since matter isn't conscious then it really doesn't have to get anything in return. Consciousness influenced matter into providing a way to manifest itself. Sentient life. The One Consciousness manifest throughout the cosmos using matter. The One Consciousness experiencing everything there is to experience simultaneously. This is the cause for the phenomena known as ego death/unity/oneness that many experience through meditation, entheogenic substances, spiritual practices, etc. The idea of "becoming one" and "returning to the Source" and other similar ideas have been discussed and taught by pretty much every religion ever.

There could have been innumerable consciousnesses in the past. As they evolved and became one the desire to be manifested resurfaced and the cycle starts again. No beginning. No ending.

Now, of course, the most important part of this theory is whether or not it is grounded in science. While none of this can be tested and we lack the technology to measure and record consciousness, it is rooted in science. For those of you not familiar with "dark matter" it is basically the force that fills the space between the matter that we can actualy measure and record. It is between every atom, every molecule, every particle, and thus it is connected throughout the entire universe. Everything is connected by "dark matter". From this point on I will use the words "dark matter" and "consciousness" interchangeably. Since the beginning science has tried to define and measure the properties of matter and the laws that govern it. We have all but neglected the study of consciousness and what exactly it is that holds matter together. I believe that the missing key is consciousness. It is interconnected throughout the entire universe. It holds the very fabric of a star together and then manifests itself through you and I. It connects the human with the being several thousand light years away. It connects plants to rocks, Jupiter to Andromeda, lobsters to black holes. It is the force that makes this universe possible. We are all made one by this force. We are all connected.

I find truth in this. It FEELS like it is true. I cannot verify or explain why I believe this to be true. I have always been one to try and remain grounded in proven science but our science is inadequate when it comes to these topics. There is no way to be sure one way or another. This came to me and it will not leave my side.

I totally agree with that.

The rest remains to be seen... thanks for sharing an interesting point of view!

I would suggest you to check Max Tegmark (MIT cosmologian)'s hypothesis about consciousness being a state of matter, it's pretty interesting and I believe you could find it quite compatible with your beliefs.
That guy has also theorized mathematical laws have material form!
It's all, by the way, not confirmed, but at least it seems to work in the theoretical field.

I hope to get one day the mathematical skill to understand such ideas deeply.

Who is to say that the plants are not conscious? Have you ever been a plant? It is not a given that they are not conscious.

Plants are by no means exempt from my belief system. I believe that plants are very conscious. I have communicated with them dozens of times both using ayahuasca and vaporized DMT. Have you ever read Visionary Plant Consciousness? Great read and I highly recommend it. Probably my favorite short little book besides The Doors of Perception.

Thank you for recommending. I will surely check it out.