Ouspenky saw people in the street as unconscious. Kurt Vonnegut described  worlds populated by machines that did not realise they were machines. Mainstream  biology considers consciousness to be a function of brain activity and thus implicitly considers all organic beings to be machines. I  suspect very few biologists tell their partners they are mrely machines however.  Modern advertising and political spin doctoring considers people as predictably manipulatable machines  with buttons. Religious controllers of all religions, including Christian Televangelists know how to work a crowd to keep the money and offers of sex rolling in.

It is convenient for many to consider   and treat humans as machines. But  here I ask whether we are just automata  and whether we can be more than machines

Jung used Alchemical language to describe the process of integration as awakening from Unconsciousness,  and a number of magical systems that are also effective forms of therapy  facilitating integration.
 
I recall reading that  Ouspenky used methods bordering on brutality to awaken his students, and pain is indeed a  road to enlightenment but not one many would wish to take. Many of the Eastern martial arts, and some non-traditional martial arts involve a form of spiritual training that leaves the student  in a new state of consciousness, though this is generally reserved for students training  at the highest levels.  In  my youth I read the tale of Jesus before Pilate and decided that in that Myth Jesus was the only one who was free: Those round him were trapped in habit and culture and had no  real choice what to do next.

Ever since then I have been aware of the traps of culture and habit,  and wanted, like Coyote,  to take the bait and spring the trap on empty air, like Tricksters everywhere I wanted  to take the worm off the hook and attach the hook to an old boot. I still do. But it has been a long hard struggle and I am not there yet. Fortunately being exposed to many cultures and subcultures and that has helped.

A few practices have helped me. Questioning what I agree with helps. Comparing different cultures helps: in the UK  drinking wine still connotes prosperity and breeding. In France it is just a drink that connotes being French.  Reading papers I disagree with helps, and some of the exercises in Robert Anton Wilson' book “Prometheus Rising” are valuable, as are those in Wayne Dyer's “The power of intention”.

By “ being Unconscious” I mean trapped  by culture and habit,  by chains not of your choosing where you fail to realise the key to the lock is in your hand.  By Conscious I mean something akin to Zen enlightenment, a state where you choose your chains and hold the key firmly in your hand

I recall the tale of the two doctors in an asylum wondering why people surrendered freedom so easily. A nearby patient intervened “Elementary my Dear Doctor, Freedom is dangerous”. When the Doctor said that was a profound remark from a patient the reply was “I'm crazy not stupid”.

What I am groping for , whether crazy or stupid, is how to achieve a state of freedom.

One way to reach this state is to ask a Trickster like Loki or Eshu to help you. If you like rollercoasters try this . Expect anything. Enjoy. Remember to tell them you want to be alive and better off at the end of the process. You have been warned.

A more sedate way, but perhaps equally painful and dangerous is the three fold alchemical/Jungian path of Awakening, Uniting mind and body and then uniting with the Universal Mind. I am new to the study of this path so any experts on it feel free to correct me.
Awakening involves self knowledge gained through dream work, guided visualisations and work on integrating the Shadow, parts of the personality discarded or suppressed as the child becomes socialised. Union of mind and body can be accomplished by Active Imagination or meditation. The third stage will happen when it happens. I have seen no guides for getting there and consider I have not even completed the first stage

Or you could take the shamanic route. Here the danger is becoming lost, seduced by conversations with your power animals and delightful nymphs like the one I am convinced walked invisibly by my side for half a mile along a mountain road in Anacapri. There are other dangers, for not all the shaman' world is inside us and not all its inhabitants are friendly. But life is full of risks.

Whichever path you take keep the goal in mind and, like a good Trickster, try  not to have your way, but take anyone's way. Always question. When I hear slogans repeated “Jesus saves”, “Power to the people”, “The rich are immoral”  I try to remember that these people are unconscious and ask myself what trap is holding me now. I don't always get it right

And once you have achieved the state of freedom don't feel superior to those still trapped. That is another trap. If you get the chance help them get free. But don't let that become a trap too.