Highlights from the IONS 2007 International Conference
As we come to the close of the IONS conference, Consciousness in Action, Aug 8-13, 2007, it is a good time to share that participants from around the world were witness to the swelling of a great ocean of conscious change. These short summaries of the plenary sessions listed below were what I took away from the Conference and shared with my IONS Community. They give a glimpse into the flood of knowledge that immersed us, not to mention the breakouts which swept us up in a wave. Many of us are beaming with gratitude for the blessing of IONS work in the world. We give great thanks for sharing it with us in such an intentional way that we all felt like a community aware of a great work we are participating in together. We were able to glimpse into the profound potential of this uncommon work becoming for the common good.
We heard from Lynn McTaggart on her book The Intention Experiment while IONS Scientist, Dean Radin, conducted a practical trial with the audience of approximately 1000. Later he revealed the interesting results which reliably demonstrated that we impacted the field.
We saw the science behind the heart's intelligence as Howard Martin described Heart Math and the 3 scientifically proven ways the heart is the body's natural healer. Following we participated in a group Heart Math exercise, facilitated by Howard, observing the results live on the screen as we collectively focused our love.
Human rights activist, Van Jones, described the meaning behind 3 powerful words: green, jobs, bill. He discussed how he is powerfully influencing congress to empower communities through a green, social movement based on the wisdom of the collective heart.
Robert Thurman, Buddhist scholar, gave a wise and witty speech on how to navigate the chaos of great change creatively as noetic sciences, eastern and western modalities, join to meet the challenges of the 21st century to offer the practical science of compassion.
IONS President James O'Dea described the role of authentic passion and its relation to reason as we shape the societal conditions for a world transforming through rising to higher ideals at the interface of science.
Author, Andrew Beath, imparted a concrete formula for Conscious Activism through the power of Beauty, Love, and Courage in a violent time.
Sufi leader Shaykh Yassir Chadly spoke about surfing the waves to the divine through passion and "twirled" us in a breakout session.
Shift Editor and IONS Communication Director, Matthew Gilbert, facilitated a powerful media presentation and panel featuring a wide range of presenters whose groundbreaking work in print, audio, and film is helping us change the world.
IONS Scientist, Tina Amorok, led us through an exercise on Mapping Transformation used in IONS Transformation Study.
Consciousness Pioneer, Charles Tart, gave some practical exercises for mindful living, while we were offered a road map for saving us from ourselves by astronaut, Edgar Mitchell, IONS founder, as he shared his own journey of mystical transformation.
Conscious Business catalyst, Hazel Henderson, web cast live from England, shared the historical evolution of the movement that joins consciousness to the economic and financial institutions of our time.
Swami Beyondananda, the great Cosmic Comic, had us in stitches and troubadour, James Twyman led us in soulful song.
Riane Eisler spoke on the Real Wealth of Nations to show us the importance of upholding values in a world transforming. And, after a blessing, His Holiness Swami Chidanand Saraswati spoke about the need to remove the words I want from our vocabulary if we want to attain true inner peace.
Global Activists, Lynne Twist and Hafsat Abiola, shared their experiential journeys to show us the power of the heart in navigating effectively through social change.
It was a time for community. IONS Community Group Leaders from around the world met several times. There have been conversations and meeting places hosted throughout the Conference. As the wave met the shore there was a continuing post conference on community building by Sharif Abdullah.
And it was a time to step into our own leadership. IONS has made it very clear that we are all on an evolutionary path of leadership as we collectively step forth into a world emerging based on vision, hope, and the skillful tools necessary for a world transforming.
IONS, Great Gratitude for a job well done!
