We do know: you are what you eat. Seriously, you're asking if we're on a path of consciousness-raising. I don't know-- some believe they can raise their own consciousness via mental and physical exertions of various kinds. I suppose we must allow that someone who perceives a higher consciousness may have actually achieved it. My guess is that "higher consciousness", objectively speaking, should involve, in the introspective image space, a sense that consciousness does not belong to our identity but is shared among identities, in the emotional image space, a profound empathy for others, and in the behavioral image space, random acts of kindness and generosity. But that's just a guess.