The Vision
The vision for creating The Institute of Noetic
Sciences came in 1971 to astronaut Edgar Mitchell.
As a naval air captain, he was a pragmatic young test
pilot, engineer and scientist. A mission to the moon on
Apollo 14 was his “dream come true.” Space exploration
symbolized for Mitchell what it did for his nation as a
whole - technological triumph of historic proportions,
unprecedented mastery of the world in which we live,
and unlimited potentials for new discoveries.
It was the trip home, after walking on the moon that
Mitchell recalls most. Sitting in the cramped cabin of
the space capsule, he saw the planet Earth floating
freely in the vastness of space. He was engulfed by the
profound sense of universal connectedness - an
epiphany. In Mitchell’s own words: “The presence of
divinity became almost palpable, and I knew that life in
the universe was not just an accident based on random
processes . . . The knowledge came to me directly.”
Mitchell faced a critical challenge. As a physical
scientist he had grown accustomed to directing his
attention to the world “out there.” But the experience
that came to him in space led him to a startling
hypothesis: Perhaps reality is more complex, subtle and
inexorably mysterious than conventional science had led
him to believe. Perhaps a deeper understanding of
consciousness (inner space) could lead to a new and
expanded view of reality in which objective and
subjective, outer and inner, are understood as co-equal
aspects of the miracle and mystery of being.
After his safe return home, Mitchell sought out others
who likewise felt the need for an expanded, more
inclusive view of reality. These noetic scientists resolved
to explore the inner world of human experiences with the
same rigor and critical thinking that made it possible for
Apollo 14 to journey to the moon and back.
About Us
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What Are Noetic Sciences?
Noetic sciences are explorations
into the nature and potentials of
consciousness using multiple
ways of knowing - including
intuition, feeling, reason, and the
senses. Noetic Sciences explore
the “inner cosmos” of the mind
(consciousness, soul, spirit) and
how it relates to the “outer
cosmos” of the world.
IONS values multiple ways of
knowing and explores three
perspectives of consciousness.
First-person perspective
Supporting individuals exploring
and developing their own
subjective consciousness (e.g.
meditation and other spiritual
practices). Emphasis on inner
knowing and personal
transformation.
Second-person perspective
Exploring transformative
relationships and inter-subjective
consciousness (e.g. com-
passionate dialogue, community
building, a global wisdom society).
Emphasis on transformative
learning and collective wisdom.
Third-person perspective
Gathering data about objective
physiological correlates of
consciousness (e.g., research
using scientific protocols,
experiments in psi, mind-body
healing, subtle energies).
Emphasis on scientific under-
standing.
