From: rick_s on
The galaxies are like neurons and the universal spiderweb of galaxies is
a huge neural net.

What makes it conscious is it's ability to respond to random events like
a computer that can act on imput. For example a computer program that
monitors the weather and reports the fiondings including it's
interpretation of the data. Random weather and with it's set of rules it
has determined behaviors that have been placed there from one
consciousness ( a programmer) to another, this extension of his
consciousness, the weather program he wrote.

This ability to respond to random events transfers the randomness to the
host endowing it with what appears to be free will. The ability to decide
how to respond to any event.

The rest all trickles down as mind is shared amongst sentient beings
(ram memory) and memories are stored in the planets and stars and
background radiation like memory banks, and brain cells, of the giant
brain, itself..