What if your thoughts could shape reality?
It’s a question that has fascinated humanity for centuries – and one that the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) has been exploring through rigorous research and deep curiosity for more than 50 years. From studying the subtle effects of consciousness on physical systems to examining how intention and belief interact with the material world, IONS’ work continues to bridge ancient wisdom and modern science in surprising, beautiful ways.
Our Chief Scientist, Dean Radin, has been at the forefront of this inquiry for decades. In his newest book, The Science of Magic: How the Mind Weaves the Fabric of Reality, released on October 21st, he explores what many traditions have long intuited: that consciousness is not just a passive observer of the world, but an active participant in its unfolding. Drawing from research conducted at IONS and other scientific institutions, Dean shows that the “magical” experiences described throughout history – intuition, synchronicity, manifestation – may, in fact, reveal fundamental truths about how our minds and the universe interact.
This brings us to a simple yet profound practice: the creation of sigils.
Symbols with Purpose
You might think of a sigil as a kind of visual spell – a symbol infused with personal meaning and intention. But beneath that poetic language lies something deeply noetic: the idea that when we focus our attention and energy on a clear goal, we engage both the conscious and subconscious layers of the mind, aligning them toward a shared outcome.
A sigil is a symbol you create from a specific intention – something you’d like to invite into your life or the world. It could be related to growth, healing, creativity, or connection. The process of creating one is both reflective and empowering: you distill a heartfelt desire into a simple image, one that bypasses the analytical mind and speaks directly to your deeper knowing.
At IONS, our research suggests that intention, when coupled with focused awareness, can influence outcomes in measurable ways. Experiments exploring mind–matter interactions, remote perception, and energy healing all point toward a shared conclusion: consciousness has reach. What we think, feel, and imagine may ripple outward into the physical world in ways that science is only beginning to understand.
A Bridge Between Worlds
The Science of Magic invites us to expand our understanding of what’s possible. Sigils offer a way to embody that exploration – to make consciousness tangible. Whether you see sigils as a psychological focusing tool or a conduit for conscious creation, the practice reminds us of something essential: we are not separate from the creative intelligence of the universe. We are expressions of it.
The Practice of Creation
Creating a sigil begins with setting a clear, authentic intention – something meaningful yet attainable. You write it down, allowing your words to crystallize your desire. Then, through creativity and play, you transform those words into a unique symbol—a shape or pattern that feels personal and alive.
This process isn’t about artistic perfection. It’s about letting your Noetic Signature – your unique energetic imprint – flow into something material: a symbol. When you draw, curve, and shape your sigil, you’re giving form to an inner frequency, translating thought into symbol and symbol into potential. As you focus on it, you’re activating the deeper layers of your awareness – the same layers that, as IONS research suggests, may be interwoven with the fabric of reality itself.
Activation and Trust
Once your sigil is complete, you can choose how to “activate” it. Some people meditate on it, others burn it as a symbolic release, and some simply tuck it away, trusting the subconscious mind to carry it forward. The power of the sigil doesn’t come from the symbol itself – it comes from you: from your focus, your openness, and your willingness to engage with the mystery of consciousness.
This is where science and spirituality meet. Dean’s research has shown that intention, emotion, and attention are not just internal experiences—they may have real, external effects. And when you engage in practices like this, you’re participating in that grand experiment: testing, feeling, and co-creating the subtle dance between mind and matter.
So, as you craft your sigil and breathe life into your intention, remember – you are both scientist and mystic, observer and creator. You’re participating in the ongoing experiment of consciousness itself, one symbol, one breath, one intention at a time.
