It almost goes without saying that consciousness is the core of the self since it is the locus of lived experience, but this ignores the evidence that consciousness is without any distinguishing character and that it comes and goes as it serves. It is more to do with the nature of the world as experienced, without belonging to the world- defining rather what such belonging can mean in each instance. It is an ancillary function, an enabler, but not that for which anything takes place. With its vivid and colourful, bird-like (animula vagula ... ) nature it serves also to deflect attention away from what is foundational.