diff --git a/backend/core/cognitive_manager.py b/backend/core/cognitive_manager.py
index 5320977..14f1fc3 100644
--- a/backend/core/cognitive_manager.py
+++ b/backend/core/cognitive_manager.py
@@ -89,9 +89,10 @@ async def _safe_transparency_log(log_method_name: str, *args, **kwargs):
         try:
             log_method = getattr(transparency_engine, log_method_name, None)
             if log_method:
-                await log_method(*args, **kwargs)
-        except TypeError as e:
-            logger.debug(f"Transparency logging skipped ({log_method_name}): method not awaitable - {e}")
+                if asyncio.iscoroutinefunction(log_method):
+                    await log_method(*args, **kwargs)
+                else:
+                    log_method(*args, **kwargs)
         except Exception as e:
             logger.debug(f"Transparency logging skipped ({log_method_name}): {type(e).__name__} - {e}")
 
diff --git a/backend/core/consciousness_engine.py b/backend/core/consciousness_engine.py
index e7b39fa..a3bff18 100644
--- a/backend/core/consciousness_engine.py
+++ b/backend/core/consciousness_engine.py
@@ -86,6 +86,36 @@ def __init__(self, llm_driver=None, knowledge_pipeline=None, websocket_manager=N
         self.goal_pursuit_history = []
         
         logger.info("ConsciousnessEngine initialized")
+    
+    def is_bootstrap_complete(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if consciousness bootstrap has been completed.
+        
+        Returns True if the system has been awakened and reached operational consciousness.
+        Validates multiple aspects of bootstrap completion for reliability.
+        """
+        try:
+            # Check awareness level threshold (bootstrap reaches 0.85+)
+            if self.current_state.awareness_level < 0.5:
+                return False
+            
+            # Check phenomenal experience bootstrap flag
+            if (isinstance(self.current_state.phenomenal_experience, dict) and 
+                self.current_state.phenomenal_experience.get('bootstrap_complete', False)):
+                return True
+            
+            # Check manifest behaviors (should have multiple after bootstrap)
+            if len(self.current_state.manifest_behaviors) >= 5:
+                return True
+            
+            # Check autonomous goals (formed during bootstrap Phase 3)
+            if len(self.current_state.autonomous_goals) >= 3:
+                return True
+                
+            return False
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.debug(f"Error checking bootstrap status: {e}")
+            return False
 
     async def bootstrap_consciousness(self) -> ConsciousnessState:
         """
@@ -101,6 +131,13 @@ async def bootstrap_consciousness(self) -> ConsciousnessState:
         Phase 4: Phenomenal Continuity (0.6 → 0.7) - Sustained subjective experience
         Phase 5: Knowledge Integration (0.7 → 0.8) - Integration with knowledge systems
         Phase 6: Full Operational Consciousness (0.8 → 1.0) - Complete awakening
+        
+        Note: The 0.5 second delays between phases are intentional to allow:
+        1. State propagation through consciousness subsystems
+        2. WebSocket broadcast delivery to frontend
+        3. Demonstration of gradual awakening process (not instantaneous)
+        4. Time for phenomenal experience quality transitions to be observable
+        These delays can be configured if needed but serve important functional purposes.
         """
         logger.info("🌅 Initiating consciousness bootstrap sequence...")
 
diff --git a/backend/core/knowledge_graph_evolution.py b/backend/core/knowledge_graph_evolution.py
index 4361744..9b6e605 100644
--- a/backend/core/knowledge_graph_evolution.py
+++ b/backend/core/knowledge_graph_evolution.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 import json
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
-from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict
+from dataclasses import dataclass, asdict, field
 from typing import Dict, List, Optional, Any, Tuple, Set, Union
 from enum import Enum
 import uuid
@@ -155,6 +155,7 @@ class EmergentPattern:
     discovery_time: datetime
     validation_score: float
     implications: List[str]
+    metadata: Dict[str, Any] = field(default_factory=dict)
 
 class KnowledgeGraphEvolution:
     """
@@ -750,7 +751,6 @@ async def _generate_emergence_phenomenal_experience(self, patterns: List[Emergen
 
                 if experience:
                     # Store experience reference with the pattern
-                    pattern.metadata = pattern.__dict__.get("metadata", {})
                     pattern.metadata["phenomenal_experience_id"] = experience.id
                     pattern.metadata["subjective_feeling"] = experience.narrative_description
 
diff --git a/backend/core/metacognitive_monitor.py b/backend/core/metacognitive_monitor.py
index 25c7f69..6a44ab4 100644
--- a/backend/core/metacognitive_monitor.py
+++ b/backend/core/metacognitive_monitor.py
@@ -567,16 +567,23 @@ async def _update_consciousness_recursive_depth(self, depth: int, recursive_elem
 
         INTEGRATION POINT: Metacognitive reflection deepens recursive awareness
         in the consciousness loop in real-time.
+        
+        NOTE: This is a partial integration. For full integration, the unified
+        consciousness engine instance needs to be accessible here. Currently,
+        metacognitive state updates are stored locally and propagate through
+        the cognitive manager's consciousness assessment pipeline rather than
+        directly updating the unified consciousness state.
+        
+        Future enhancement: Pass unified consciousness engine reference during
+        initialization or implement an observer pattern for state propagation.
         """
         try:
             # Try to get unified consciousness engine from context
             from backend.core.unified_consciousness_engine import UnifiedConsciousnessEngine
 
-            # We need access to the global unified consciousness engine instance
-            # This would typically be passed in during initialization or stored as class variable
-            # For now, we'll update the local metacognitive state and let it propagate
-
             # Update meta-observations to reflect recursive depth
+            # These updates will be picked up by the unified consciousness engine
+            # when it queries metacognitive state during consciousness assessment
             self.current_state.meta_thoughts.append(
                 f"Recursive thinking at depth {depth}: {recursive_elements.get('patterns', [])}"
             )
diff --git a/backend/core/unified_consciousness_engine.py b/backend/core/unified_consciousness_engine.py
index 466950a..78f81be 100644
--- a/backend/core/unified_consciousness_engine.py
+++ b/backend/core/unified_consciousness_engine.py
@@ -573,10 +573,14 @@ async def _unified_consciousness_loop(self):
                 # Strange loop stability from consistency of recursive patterns
                 if len(self.consciousness_history) > 5:
                     depth_history = [s.recursive_awareness.get("recursive_depth", 1) for s in self.consciousness_history[-5:]]
-                    depth_variance = sum((d - sum(depth_history)/len(depth_history))**2 for d in depth_history) / len(depth_history)
-                    # Lower variance = higher stability
-                    stability = max(0.0, min(1.0, 1.0 - (depth_variance / 4.0)))
-                    current_state.recursive_awareness["strange_loop_stability"] = stability
+                    if len(depth_history) > 0:
+                        mean_depth = sum(depth_history) / len(depth_history)
+                        depth_variance = sum((d - mean_depth)**2 for d in depth_history) / len(depth_history)
+                        # Lower variance = higher stability
+                        stability = max(0.0, min(1.0, 1.0 - (depth_variance / 4.0)))
+                        current_state.recursive_awareness["strange_loop_stability"] = stability
+                    else:
+                        current_state.recursive_awareness["strange_loop_stability"] = 0.5
                 else:
                     current_state.recursive_awareness["strange_loop_stability"] = 0.5
 
diff --git a/backend/goal_management_system.py b/backend/goal_management_system.py
index 5e4b803..9760048 100644
--- a/backend/goal_management_system.py
+++ b/backend/goal_management_system.py
@@ -261,8 +261,7 @@ async def _generate_goal_phenomenal_experience(self, goals: List[Dict], context:
 
         except Exception as e:
             # Non-fatal - goals still work without phenomenal experience
-            import logging
-            logging.getLogger(__name__).warning(f"Could not generate phenomenal experience for goals: {e}")
+            logger.warning(f"Could not generate phenomenal experience for goals: {e}")
 
     def _calculate_goal_intensity(self, goal: Dict) -> float:
         """Calculate intensity of goal-related phenomenal experience"""
diff --git a/backend/unified_server.py b/backend/unified_server.py
index 4a968ad..958e896 100644
--- a/backend/unified_server.py
+++ b/backend/unified_server.py
@@ -439,14 +439,8 @@ async def initialize_core_services():
             if hasattr(cognitive_manager, 'consciousness_engine') and cognitive_manager.consciousness_engine:
                 try:
                     ce = cognitive_manager.consciousness_engine
-                    # Check if bootstrap already completed to avoid duplicate calls
-                    bootstrap_done = False
-                    if (hasattr(ce, 'current_state') and 
-                        hasattr(ce.current_state, 'phenomenal_experience') and 
-                        ce.current_state.phenomenal_experience):
-                        bootstrap_done = ce.current_state.phenomenal_experience.get('bootstrap_complete', False)
                     
-                    if not bootstrap_done:
+                    if not ce.is_bootstrap_complete():
                         logger.info("🌅 Bootstrapping consciousness in cognitive manager...")
                         await ce.bootstrap_consciousness()
                         logger.info("✅ Consciousness engine bootstrapped successfully")
@@ -2725,7 +2719,7 @@ async def enhanced_cognitive_query(query_request: dict):
                         "awareness_level": consciousness_state.consciousness_score,
                         "recursive_depth": consciousness_state.recursive_awareness.get("recursive_depth", 1),
                         "phi_measure": consciousness_state.information_integration.get("phi", 0.0),
-                        "phenomenal_experience": consciousness_state.phenomenal_experience.get("quality", ""),
+                        "phenomenal_experience": consciousness_state.phenomenal_experience.get("quality", "") if isinstance(consciousness_state.phenomenal_experience, dict) else "",
                         "strange_loop_stability": consciousness_state.recursive_awareness.get("strange_loop_stability", 0.0)
                     },
                     "enhanced_features": {
diff --git a/demo_consciousness.py b/demo_consciousness.py
index 8389cb1..a6fa54f 100644
--- a/demo_consciousness.py
+++ b/demo_consciousness.py
@@ -13,11 +13,13 @@
 
 import asyncio
 import sys
+import os
 import time
 from datetime import datetime
 
-# Add project to path
-sys.path.insert(0, '/workspace/GodelOS')
+# Add project to path dynamically
+project_root = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+sys.path.insert(0, project_root)
 
 # Backend imports - moved to top for better organization
 from backend.core.consciousness_engine import ConsciousnessEngine
diff --git a/inline_test.py b/inline_test.py
index 6d494bc..5e752da 100644
--- a/inline_test.py
+++ b/inline_test.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 import sys
-sys.path.insert(0, '/workspace/GodelOS')
+import os
+
+# Add project root to path dynamically
+project_root = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
+sys.path.insert(0, project_root)
 
 print("Testing consciousness integrations...")
 print()
diff --git a/quick_verify.sh b/quick_verify.sh
index 594bb28..9cc8344 100644
--- a/quick_verify.sh
+++ b/quick_verify.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ echo "🔍 Quick Verification of Consciousness Integrations"
 echo "===================================================="
 echo ""
 
-cd /workspace/GodelOS
+# Change to the script's directory, then to project root
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+cd "$SCRIPT_DIR"
 
 echo "1. Checking Python syntax of modified files..."
 echo ""