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Consciousness in Action:
We need to transform the world, not only ourselves

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There is raising your own consciousness—and then there is raising the consciousness of the world. The 12^th Annual International Conference of The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) focused on the latter. Consciousness in Action was the title of the conference held August 8–12 in Palm Springs, California.

     I was privileged to attend the conference, which was subtitled “The Science and Practice of Transformation.” There was plenty of information on individual transformation. However, the overall theme was about how the folks who have done all that individual transformation should get together and collectively make a difference in the world. The theme was emphasized during the opening plenary session by Andrew Harvey who spoke about “Sacred Activism: The Power of Love and Wisdom in Action.” Harvey’s basic message (this is not a direct quote) is that we need to get off our duffs and get into action. According to Harvey, the world is facing a crisis of tremendous proportions and we don’t have time to wait until we get ourselves totally spiritually—or any other way, for that matter—together.

     Harvey’s message came as no surprise to me. Andrew Harvey is a renowned and distinguished mystical scholar, Rumi translator and explicator, poet, novelist, spiritual teacher and writer, and architect of Sacred Activism. Through my own studies in mysticism, I know that Harvey came full circle from Christianity to eastern mystical traditions and back to Christianity through its mystical tradition that emphasizes action as well as introspection. You can get an in-depth view of Harvey’s concept of Sacred Activism at his website (www.andrewharvey.net).

     Throughout the conference, the Consciousness in Action theme was artfully woven by mistresses of ceremonies Lynne Twist and Hafsat Abiola. Their story is just that: Consciousness in Action. Lynne Twist is a global activist, fundraiser, author, and founder of the Soul of Money Institute. She has raised hundreds of millions of dollars and has trained thousands of fundraisers to be more effective in their work for organizations that focus on eradicating poverty, empowering women, nurturing children and youth, and preserving the environment. Hafsat Abiola, a native of Nigeria, founded KIND, an organization that works to unleash women’s wisdom and leadership in the service of creating a better world.

     The mission of Twist’s Soul of Money Institute is to inspire, educate and empower people to realign the acquisition and allocation of their financial resources with their most deeply held values. You can check out an excerpt from her book, Soul of Money, at the Institute’s website (www.soulofmoney.org).

     KIND stands for Kudirat Institute for Democracy. For more about Hafsat Abiola and how you can take action and get involved with KIND, go to their website, www.kind.org. In addition to money, this organization, which provides training opportunities and resources to women and youth activists within Nigeria, needs in-kind contributions. Needed resources include books and documentaries on democracy and leadership and computer hardware and software.

This column is far too short to give justice to all the particular plenary and breakout sessions at the IONS conference. I will instead, focus on one: Media and Consciousness: A Town Hall Panel. This panel was facilitated by IONS Director of Communications Matthew Gilbert, editor of Shift: At the Frontiers of Consciousness (see www.noetic.org). The folks at The Monthly Aspectarian have tolled for many years in the vineyard of delivering the truths about spiritual transformation. But how can we get mainstream, corporate America media to spread that word as well? That’s what this panel was about. Highlights include:

Mickey Olivanti from the Fetzer Institute: Olivanti spoke about Fetzer’s efforts to use the media to get out the message about the importance of love and forgiveness. In the past, Fetzer has been the behind-the-scenes funder of many research projects on spiritual transformation. Now, Fetzer, is also funding film projects that bring the transformation message to millions via PBS broadcasting. One of those films, Mystery of Love, explores love in marriage, family, community, science, forgiveness, the search for the divine, friendship, and even war. This film, one of three in Fetzer’s the Campaign for Love & Forgiveness program, was broadcast on PBS in December, 2006. A second film, The Power of Forgiveness, is under production and scheduled for broadcast in late 2007 or early 2008. This film examines the role that forgiveness can play in alleviating anger and grief, and the physical, mental, and spiritual benefits that come with forgiveness. For more information on these films, go to www.fetzer.org/LoveAndForgive/Films.html. You can also view love stories—or submit a love story of your own—at the film’s website, www.themysteryoflove.org.

John Raatz from The Visioneering Group: Raatz is one of the foremost representatives of the transformational film genre that targets the niche audience that has been dubbed “cultural creatives.” Raatz points out that films, like his film Peaceful Warrior that was re-released by Universal Pictures in April and Leonardo DiCaprio’s 11^th Hour, can attract an even larger audience of more mainstream-minded people who are yearning and searching for greater meaning in their lives. For more information, go to www.thevisioneeringgroup.com and http://11thhouraction.com.

Olivia Barham, writer/producer, The Science of Peace: Barham is producing a documentary hosted by LeVar Burton that seeks to introduce cutting-edge information and technology from leading scientists who are uncovering the real causes of conflict and the tools for peace. For more information and to see the trailer, go to www.scienceofpeace.com.

Belvie Rooks from Carrie Productions: Rooks was the writer and producer for Courage, a series hosted by Danny Glover that was selected in 2000 by TV Guide as one of the “Top Ten” inspirational shows on television. She is currently Vice President of Special Projects at Carrie Productions and in that capacity she is developing several projects for screen and television that explore the complex and diverse social identity of our world. She is also the host of the Shift in Action channel ConverZations That Matter (www.shiftinaction.com/conversations_that_matter).

Steven Vedro, author of Digital Dharma: The book, Digital Dharma: A User’s Guide to Expanding Consciousness in the Infosphere, focuses on the effects of what Vedro calls the Infosphere, an electronic web produced by our multiple telecommunications technologies, pulsating all around us. According to Vedro, these technologies, as many human inventions, can be viewed as a product of the creative collective mind and therefore encoded with core lessons of human evolution and transformation. Laptops, cell phones, PDAs, GPS locators, HDTV, and wireless Internet offer new ways, says Vedro, of communicating with our inner selves and with others. He states that putting this newfound wisdom into spiritual practice as a collective society is our Digital Dharma, our path toward greater self-awareness and enlightenment. Vedro will talk about his book at Transitions Bookplace, 1000 W. North Ave. in Chicago at 7 p.m. on November 7th, and at the Theosophical Society, 1926 North Main St. in Wheaton at 7 p.m. on November 8th. For more information, go to http://webpages.charter.net/vedro/ Chakras%20Home.htm or http://teleconsciousness.blogspot.com.

If you want a broader overview of the IONS conference, check out “Highlights from the IONS 2007 International Conference” at the Shift in Action website (www.shiftinaction.com/node/4902).

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Mary Montgomery is a certified web author and developer. Her company, Montgomery Media Enterprises (“Freelancing with Finesse!”), specializes in public relations, writing projects and web authoring, development and publicity, especially in the non-profit sector. Ms. Montgomery has a Master’s Degree in religious studies from Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) and is working on a Ph.D. with a focus on the new scholarship of Unlimited Love and the Other Regarding Virtues. She is also in the process of completing the Morris Pratt Institute Course on Modern Spiritualism. Contact her via e-mail at monty764@sbcglobal.net.

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