Why the old patterns in the consciousness persist for so long?

The rise of consciousness from the material and vital layers to the mental and spiritual is not a single step journey. There are a number of domains that seem to be spiritual but are only layers of the higher vital and the higher mental. The spiritual itself moves through number of layers with an increasing light, force, wideness, Ananda. Unless the consciousness is firmly established in these higher realms and the rest of our nature adapts and assimilates the forces of a higher order, there is obviously a rise and fall, a slip and leap like the waxing and waning of the moon. Naturally the higher we rise the fall is more precipitous. Yet this too serves a purpose of carrying the light into these nether parts. Finally all this spiral movement prepares the whole nature until it is ready to receive the Divine touch. Once this happens then these lower movements leave for good. Else they keep tormenting rising back from the subconscient parts where they hide. It is only the Divine Grace that effectuates their complete eradication.