2005 Conference Plenary: Marianne Williamson, Fred Alan Wolf, Van Jones, James O'Dea

2005 Conference Plenary: Marianne Williamson, Fred Alan Wolf, et al.

IONS | 04.23.06 |

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Part 1 begins with a playful talk by Fred Alan Wolf, the world renowned author and physicist who was featured in the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know?” He engages the audience with thought-provoking theories from quantum physics, leaving them to ponder the notion that nothing is made of matter, only “clouds of possibility” that are clearly impacted by thought.

Social change is then addressed by civil rights worker Van Jones. Nationally known for his success in finding effective alternatives to incarcerating troubled youth, Jones veers from the relative safety of this topic to share a very personal tale of “almost losing my soul” in his dealings with the World Economic Forum. He barely escapes the temptations of power and ego when included in a highly select group of young world leaders, but ultimately admits his political manipulations to his peers, wins their sincere support, and lays the groundwork for more “real” interaction as they grapple with global problems in the future. His cautionary tale is a moving testament to the need for humility and higher consciousness when wielding power.

Best-selling spiritual author Marianne Williamson kicks off the second part of this audio presentation with a rousing call to action: the higher consciousness community must “get out of our heads, into our hearts, and onto our feet!” She bemoans the fact that so many spiritually-oriented people spurn the worlds of politics, when this is where higher consciousness is needed most. She challenges the audience to dream big and to take political action, so that one day their “souls will tingle” with the magnitude of the social change they will have wrought.

The session concludes with a dialogue among the three speakers (moderated by IONS President James O’Dea) exploring how efforts in their respective fields can support each other.