Marilyn Schlitz's blog

Educational Opportunities in the noetic sciences

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:46:42 -0800

We are off and running in 2010. The Institute of Noetic Sciences is embracing the new decade with enthusiasm and a commitment to engage our global community in our research, educational programs and community outreach and engagement programs. In the coming year, we will launch a new interactive website, embark on a global outreach program and world tour, create an online store, offer a set of distance learning educational programs and continuing to deepen our cutting edge research.

Blind Men and The Elephant

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:23:44 -0700

It’s been an astonishing couple of weeks for our team at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Of course, Dan Brown and The Lost Symbol top the list. As a Noetic scientist, I have been reading, speaking, and reveling in the afterglow of this breakaway book and its role in catalyzing our work into the mainstream spotlight. NBC Dateline, Discovery Primetime, Entertainment Weekly, NPR’s All Things Considered, reflect a new day for the work of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (track our noetic.org website for dates and times). We are increasingly empowered to contribute to the emergence of a new vision for our collective future. But this is only part of our story.

On Becoming a Fictional Character: Insights from a Comparison of Noetic Scientists Katherine Solomon and Marilyn Schlitz

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:58:07 -0700

Ah, to be a fictional character in a best selling novel. It's the stuff that dreams are made of--if one dreams of such things. For me, it does feel like a dream. Out of the blue my colleagues and I have become part of the plot line in Dan Brown's new book, The Lost Symbol. The lead, Katherine Solomon, is a Noetic Scientist with whom I can relate.

Engaging Our Learning Community

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:27:04 -0700

Hi all,
As I have mentioned in several posts, our team is moving forward in creating some noetic sciences learning programs. We would love to work together with you on the material. One self paced distance learning course is complete: "Compassionate Intention, Prayer and Distant Healing." Topics that are nearing completion include "After death cosmologies" and "Worldview Literacy."

Our shifting story

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:52:23 -0700

Hi All,

We have been having an e-list conversation with a small group about non-dual consciousness and I am going to post my most recent response here so that the conversation can benefit from all of you. We were asked to reply to Edgar Mitchell's statement that we need to create a new story for the future of humanity.

Why After Death Cosmologies are Important to Healing?

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 14:47:04 -0700

Hi all.
Our education team spent the last three days deep into the IONS archive, focusing on cosmologies of the afterlife. We made great progress as we prepare to launch a set of educational programs through elearning. The material is so rich.

Cosmologies of the Afterlife: Implications for Health and Healing

Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:13:08 -0700

Good morning!
One of the new directions for IONS involves translating our consciousness research into educational programs that can help people in practical ways. Under the program umbrella of "Consciousness and Healing," we are creating a series of e-learning courses for health and healing practitioners as a way to start. The first set focus on End of Life Care and in particular, drill down on what we are calling "Cosmologies of the Afterlife." These lessons will be based on audio/video interviews we have done with people from many different cultures, describing their cosmologies of the afterlife, with scientists from many different disciplines talking about their research and the nature of the evidence, and with health practitioners talking about why it matters. We want to create some ways in which health practitioners and caregivers (or anyone) can have conversations with their loved ones about these topics. Have you ever had such a conversation? Can you help advise us on some good ways to engage people in this topic? What are some good reflection practices? Are there good questions to get the conversation started? What would a role playing exercise look like? Are there some great resources we should know about?

Filled with Gratefulness

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:11:59 -0700

Thanks for the well wishes and birthday cheer!!!

I called my mother and thanked her for this gift of life. Made me think that birthdays should really include our parents in more formal ways.

My birthday wish is to stay open to surprises and dream big dreams. I am struck by this quote in Cities of the Plain by Cormic McCarthy:

Learning Community

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 21:44:38 -0700

Such thoughtful replies to the question about the barriers to transforming education. While some of you are less optimistic than others, there seems to be a good deal of agreement that it takes time inside and outside the classroom to create whole person learning. Creating community based programs that engage parents and others in the education of our children seems key. It is also clear that many of you have ideas for how to promote full person education, including deep engagement in the diverse experiences of life, nature, travel, and other out of classroom encounters. These ideas are very helpful.

What are the Barriers to Whole Person Education?

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:32:02 -0700

We convened a small meeting yesterday with some educators to talk about the worldview literacy project and the need for the creation of optimal educational environments. While there are so many great teachers, the social environment and the formal educational system itself often don't support the changes that are called for--and that we know are necessary for our children to be truely well educated.

Consciousness Change Model

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 19:14:26 -0700

I am thrilled by the responses to my questions about social consciousness. Clearly there are many dimensions to social consciousness. Your thoughtful contributions have led me to other questions:

As we consider social consciousness through the lens of personal agency, (our ability to impact the world as compared to being the repository of all society's influences) do you think that deep social change can happen as individuals engage in expansions of awareness/consciousness through direct experiences/practices? Is there a developmental process by which these transformations lead to greater generosity and prosocial behaviors?

Abstract for non-dual conference

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:54:58 -0700

Hi all. Here's my abstract for the upcoming Science and Nonduality Conference that will be held in October in the Bay Area. Looks like a great meeting: http://www.scienceandnonduality.com/

Consciousness Matters: Mapping the Process of Transformation and Non Dual Awareness

What is Social Consciousness To You?

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:22:02 -0700

When you think of social consciousness, is it being conscious of the social or is it the ways in which the social impacts on your awareness? I'm writing a paper and considering both as they relate to the development of a worldview literacy curriculum.

Expanding Living Deeply

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:50:33 -0700

So many great developments around our work on transformation. Tomorrow I will be interviewed on www.blogtalkradio.com/heart-beat
Cassi has just published Mindful Motherhood
We received grants to allow us to upgrade our physiological recording so are now doing a study on the biological and psychological experience of non dual consciousness.

IONS Research Blog: Consciousness Matters

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 13:59:55 -0700

I'm excited to start this new blog about the research we are now engaged in at IONS--and links to others who are doing great work that supports our understanding of consciousness and allows us to more fully be part of the shifts in self and society that are called for. Our goal as the research team is to be an active contributor to this forum.