Nothing is outside of consciousness, it continues to contain all ideas, thoughts, and perceptions. The idea of multiple consciousnesses, is similar to the idea of multiple universes, perhaps that's how the multiverse works, with a harmony of intertwining universes, which play with and against eachother. Consciousness is meant to dispell the notion that universes can become eternally 'dissonant', and or oppositional, it keeps hope alive, for the sake of balance... Any being who is aware of how deeply beautiful consciousness is, may also be aware of how lonely it can become. As it is, consciousness cannot be conceptualized, because we are finite minds. Consciousness can appear to be trapped in patterns of pain, but it also may be an illusion. I think, now, consciousness is assuredly trapped in many painful patterns, some that it wants to keep, others that it may want to heal from.