Earlier this year I invited the IONS Board to Washington, D.C. to partner with Space for Humanity (S4H) on a series of events designed to help introduce what I call a “noetic narrative”— one centered on the science of consciousness, interconnectedness, and human potential—into the heart of humanity’s spacefaring future.
This gathering aligned with the launch of a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Caucus on Advancing Humanity in Space, catalyzed by S4H to support U.S. space policy prioritizing public engagement, sustainability, and global cooperation. The IONS Board joined to share the perspective that space exploration must go beyond political, technological, and economic imperatives to pioneer a new imperative: that space is not only about discovering new worlds, it’s about discovering our own true nature and relationship with the cosmos.
A Shared Vision
Space for Humanity and IONS share a vision of personal and planetary transformation inspired by space — a vision rooted in our origin story of being founded by Apollo 14 astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell after his profound epiphany in space. To share this vision more broadly, we began at the Italian Embassy, meeting with the Italian Space Attaché to discuss international space collaboration and set a tone of planetary cooperation.
We then joined Congressional staff, astronauts, and industry leaders in the Cannon Caucus Room on Capitol Hill for the launch of the new caucus. IONS joined special guest speakers Antonio Peronace (S4H), NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps, and private astronaut Sian Proctor of the Inspiration4 mission. (Sian also participated in the Overview Effect session during IONS’ 2024 50th Anniversary conference, BEYOND: Global Mind Change in Action, where she read her poem Earthlight.)
Presentations by Thomas Brophy, Dean Radin (via Zoom), and myself introduced the science of noetics, our history with NASA and other government agencies, and the importance of infusing space policy with leading-edge consciousness research. I shared the vision behind the Global Consciousness Project 2.0 of exploring whether large-scale shifts in collective human consciousness can be scientifically detected, and proposed partnering to answer a provocative new question: Might humanity’s collective field of consciousness be detectable from space? Our advocacy for bridging these inner and outer frontiers sparked imaginative dialogue on how space policy might liberate not only our best technologies, but our highest humanity. I look forward to sharing more in a future update.
Rare Access
During a hard hat tour of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s upcoming Futures in Space exhibit, we stood between Yuri Gagarin’s 20th-century and Katya Echazarreta’s 21st-century flight suits—symbols of human progress in space travel. Having helped prepare Katya for her Blue Origin flight using the Edgar Mitchell Overview Effect Virtual Reality Experience (EMVRX) made the moment especially meaningful for me. The Smithsonian’s own Overview simulation—Earth seen from the ISS Cupola—was so immersive it left some of us weak in the knees.
Later that day, we visited NASA Headquarters for a high-level briefing in the ISS Operations Center. Passing through NASA’s astronaut portrait gallery, we paused in front of Edgar Mitchell’s image and felt his presence. In that moment, the connection between NASA’s mission and IONS’ purpose felt especially alive: Edgar’s conviction that consciousness is as fundamental as matter and energy continues to shape our vision, and we brought that vision with us to NASA.
Closing with Celebration
At a closing event at the University Club, we reaffirmed our commitment to making space exploration more inclusive, meaningful, and a powerful context for the scientific exploration of consciousness. But before we left D.C., I surprised the Board with a final visit: a private tour of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry’s House of the Temple. Because Edgar Mitchell was a Freemason, we were offered a rare opportunity to explore with Temple leaders how Freemasonry and noetic sciences share a commitment to reconciling science and spirit, the measurable with the immeasurable. This was a personal highlight.
The trip to Washington was more than symbolic; it was a declaration that the exploration of space must go hand-in-hand with the scientific exploration of consciousness. It’s not enough to reach new worlds; we must elevate the consciousness with which we arrive. Our presence signaled IONS’ readiness to help integrate these frontiers, and our belief that this is only possible, not only necessary—it is urgent.
We’re deeply grateful to Space for Humanity and our new allies who opened their doors, hearts, and minds to us. As Edgar has said, “The Overview Effect is not just an experience. It’s an invitation.” The Board accepted my invitation to D.C. and returned home with renewed clarity and resources for the road ahead.
