We artists do like to get our hands dirty, don't we?

Thanks for taking the time to compose such a thoughtful answer. We are homo sapien sapiens, the ones who are supposedly aware of our awareness. Are we the only ones though? Is it not possible that all mammals are aware of their awareness to some degree?
I have often thought that all mammals, perhaps even all creatures perceive God as being one of their own kind.

Who are we really? Are we of the flesh? Or are we of the mind? Or are we both?