Psychedelic Science in the 21st Century
April 15–18, 2010
San Jose, California
with Stanislav Grof, Andrew Weil, Ralph Metzner, Charles Grob
An international conference offering continuing medical education (CME) credits. Open to physicians, healthcare professionals, and the general public. Featuring dozens of world-renowned presenters discussing ayahuasca, ibogaine, LSD, MDMA, psilocybin, and salvia divinorum. Plus a special banquet to honor the lifetime achievements of psychedelic luminaries Sasha and Ann Shulgin.

Toward a Science of Consciousness 2010
April 12–17, 2010
Tucson, Arizona
with Cassandra Vieten, IONS Director of Reseach and Education
Sponsored by the Center for Consciousness Studies, The University of Arizona

Expand your mind, open your heart, and activate your full potential.

March 19–21, 2010 – Green in Spirit: Healing through Permaculture and Biodynamic Gardening with Brenda Sanders

April 16–18, 2010 – Cells and the Sacred: Discovering the Cell as Messenger for the Marriage of Science and Spirituality with Sondra Barrett, PhD

April 16–18, 2010 – From Science to God: A Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness with Peter Russell, MA

April 23–25, 2010 – Learning Telekinesis:Your Gateway to Mind Over Matter and April 26, 2010 – Developing Subtle Energy Awareness and Telekinesis: One-Day Intensive, both with Natalia Shareyko, MD, PhD, of the Institute for Biosensory Psychology in St. Petersberg, Russia

May 21–23, 2010 – The Six Life-paths of the Human Soul and the Imprints of Conception with Ralph Metzner, part of the six-part Alchemical Divination Series

June 4–6, 2010 – Secrets of Sound Healing: Resonating with the Quantum Field with Steven Halpern

June 11–13, 2010 – Ready, Set, Transform!: Define your future and make it your new reality! with Jean Meeks and Azim Khamisa

June 18–20, 2010 – Be the Change: How Meditation Can Transform You and the World with Ed and Deb Shapiro, with guest speaker Edgar Mitchell

June 25–27, 2010 – Primordial Qigong: A Gem from the Treasure Chest of Taoist Mystical Qigong with Donald and Cheryl Lynne Rubbo

July 30–August 1, 2010 – Institute of Noetic Sciences Worldview Literacy Program—Training for Trainers with Marilyn Schlitz, PhD and Liz Miller

July 30–August 1, 2010 – The Power of Integral Transformative Practice with Pam Kramer and Barry Robbins

Register online, email workshops@noetic.org, or call 707-779-8224.

Located on 200 acres of beautiful rolling hills just 25 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, the center features meeting facilities, cuisine, and accommodations for up to 120 people. Our clients offer educational programs, workshops, and retreats, with a broad focus on health, personal growth, and transformation. We also welcome weekend workshops and retreats for small groups (less than 25). Many programs are open to the public.

For more information and an Events Schedule: www.noetic.org/retreat.cfm
events@noetic.org

"Translucent Being" by Toni Littlejohn

Subtle Energy: Medicine's Next Frontier

Long associated with yogic esotericism and Eastern healing practices such as acupuncture—and essentially ignored by Western science because of that—the phenomenon of subtle energies has been glacially making its way toward modern-day legitimacy. For thousands of years, certain doctrines and healing practices have maintained that there is a vital, animating force—an energy field—at the foundation of all sentient (and even nonsentient) life. That this may be true is beginning to have an impact on pioneering research in the fields of contemporary medicine, quantum physics, and mind-matter interactions.

In Western models of healing, subtle energies are finding their expression primarily in the emerging arenas of energy medicine and energy psychology. In his excellent paper "Energy Medicine in the United States: Historical Roots and the Current Status" (2009), Dr. Karl Maret of The Dove Health Alliance (an energy medicine advocacy foundation) notes that the term "energy medicine" originated in 1987 at a conference sponsored by the Fetzer Foundation in India. A number of the presentations made there were included in a book, Energy Medicine around the World, edited by T.M. Srinivasan. A few years later, Dr. Srinivasan, along with Drs. Carol Schneider and Elmer Green, founded the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM).

Green, a biofeedback pioneer who wrote the classic book Beyond Biofeedback in 1977, drew quite a bit of attention in the mid-90s for a research project he called "The Copper Wall." It explored possible electromagnetic correlates of the human energy field and their implications and jump-started a deeper exploration into how healing actually occurs. He discussed his research with medical writer Russell E. DiCarlo in an out-of-date book, Towards a New Worldview, but that interview is available here.

Energy psychology, a more recent development within the field of energy medicine, is described by David Feinstein as "...a set of physical and cognitive procedures designed to bring about therapeutic shifts in targeted emotions, cognitions, and behaviors...Specifically, energy psychology postulates that mental disorders and other health conditions are related to disturbances in the body's electrical energies and energy fields." (See "Energy Psychology: A Review of the Preliminary Evidence.")

IONS has a long history investigating the mechanisms of healing and the role of subtle energies. In 2001, for example, the Institute cosponsored a first-of-its-kind Science and Spirituality of Healing conference, summarized in "Subtle Realms of Healing." Numerous research projects over the years have explored reiki, the placebo effect, and potential links between qigong and gene expression, among other energy phenomenon. The 2005 Shift magazine article "Exploring the Biofield Hypothesis" by biophysicist Beverly Rubik summarized research into bioelectromagnetics and the human energy field. IONS also helped to develop guidelines for the study of subtle energies and distant healing for both the National Institutes of Health and the Samueli Institute.

Current Institute studies include whether focused intentions can influence quantum-level photon interference patterns in a double-slit optical apparatus, and the impacts of distant compassionate intention on the healing of surgical wounds. Analysis of these data is underway, and results are being submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Some of the current challenges facing the future of energy medicine will be addressed by Scott Anderson in the next issue of The Noetic Post, our semi-annual membership bulletin, mailing this April. Scott is chair of the Program Committee for the 2010 ISSSEEM Conference (see below), and provided some of the background material for this month's iShift cover story.

Resources

The Subtle Body: An Encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy by Cyndi Dale. This substantive (500 pages), beautifully illustrated, thoroughly researched sourcebook covers everything from human cells and magnetic fields to the five Chinese elements, sound healing, and quantum physics.

The Living Matrix: The Science of Healing. If you haven't seen it yet, this informative documentary explores "energetic, information-based medicine" with more than a dozen scientists, psychologists, bioenergetic researchers, and holistic practitioners, including IONS' Edgar Mitchell, Marilyn Mandala Schlitz, and Dean Radin. Available on DVD.

Upcoming Conferences

ISSSEEM's 20th annual conference will take place June 25–29 in Westminster, Colorado. The theme is "Evidence-Based Spirituality for the 20th Century," and features Larry Dossey, Beverly Rubik, and Charles Tart, among many others. Go here for information. See also Tart's YouTube video describing subtle energies and promoting the conference.

The 12th International Energy Psychology Conference, sponsored by the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP), will take place June 3–6 in San Diego. The theme is "Evolving Tools for Healing Mind, Body, and Spirit." Among the keynote speakers are David Feinstein and IONS' Dean Radin. Conference organizers are currently soliciting poster presentations on current or proposed research studies, reviews of current research, presentation of new techniques, and/or discussions of theoretical issues. For details, poster specifications, and to submit an application, email John Freedom, Chair of the ACEP Research Committee.

Carol Nicholson

My life changed from victim to co-creator in the early 1970s when I read Seth Speaks by Jane Roberts, about how our thoughts create reality. More recently as a student of "Abraham" and the Law of Attraction, I've see my life getting more abundant as I focus my intentions. And since I was a child, I had a "knowing" that death was not the end of life. So when I came upon IONS more than twenty years ago, I joined immediately. Because my particular areas of interest have been the mind-body connection and life after death, I have appreciated the Institute's research and the many articles it has written on those subjects.

Several years ago, I "thought" myself back into wellness from a painful muscle condition. Some of what helped was using imagery to imagine myself well, and focusing my attention and appreciation on moments when I felt good. I was so inspired by this experience that I became a Certified Guided Imagery practitioner. In my work as a hospice RN, I've used it often to help my patients feel better and gain a sense of control over their symptoms.

In order to reach out to more people who might benefit from these tools, I've written and recorded seven guided imageries. Four of them specifically address common symptoms, two promote healing and overall wellness, and one assists in a peaceful physical death. The first track on the CD is an introduction explaining how and why imagery is so effective. If you'd like to contact me regarding this CD, my e-mail is cnandca@gmail.com.

To learn more about IONS' Circle membership, contact Deborah Breitbach at 707.779.8216 / dbreitbach@noetic.org.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research and educational organization located in Northern California that conducts and sponsors leading-edge research into the potentials and powers of consciousness—including perceptions, beliefs, attention, intention, and intuition. The Institute explores phenomena that do not necessarily fit conventional scientific models, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor.

We depend on and gratefully accept your financial support.