Consciousness is a word we use to refer to something. That something is the intangible, immaterial, unseen, metaphysical part that emerges from our brain and is fixed to a particular biological body.
Consciousness emerges from the biological. The biological emerges from matter. Matter is in existence.
Consciousness for most animals requires a brain and body to exist. Without a body, and without a brain or neurons, there is no demonstration of consciousness within a biological construct.
If you think consciousness exists without a brain or neurons in a biological construct, demonstrate this reality. You can't. Consciousness doesn't come first. The biological construct comes first.
If you think consciousness existed before existence, that's nonsensical. In order for something to exist, it presupposes the existence of existence itself.
It's incredible how so many people believe whatever they want eventhough it makes little sense when you think about it. It's amazing how much we fool ourselves because of wondrous fantasies that make us fee good about ourselves.
We just want to feel special and believe in magical fantasies that give us wonder and amazement because the alternative seem too "boring" to accept. Instead of learning how things really work and being in awe at the wonder of reality, we choose bullshit. Go figure!