Claire Lachance serves as the CEO of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, leading a team of world-renowned scientists and experiential program professionals located at the IONS EarthRise campus in Northern California.
Noetic Sciences, a term coined by the Institute’s Founder Dr. Edgar Mitchell, is a multidisciplinary field of study that brings objective scientific tools and techniques together with subjective inner-knowing to study the nature of reality. Over the last 20 years, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, or IONS, has become the world’s most foremost authority in the study of human consciousness.
FWM: Over the last 20 years, the Institute of Noetic Sciences, or IONS, has become the world’s most foremost authority in the study of human consciousness. Tell us about the work of the institute.
The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) was founded by astronaut Edgar Mitchell after he had a transcendent experience during his return from the Moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. Mitchell was a trained engineer and astrophysicist, and yet he had this extraordinary experience of oneness (what yogis call samadhi) that could not be explained by the materialist worldview. He saw the need to reconcile science with deeper spiritual truths. With that in mind, he founded IONS in order to bridge inner knowing (noetics) with outer investigation (science). The word noetic comes from a Greek word meaning intuition or implicit understanding.
Since its inception in 1973, IONS has been at the leading edge of consciousness research. Some of our earliest work was in support of meditation and energy healing — back when these fields were taboo and had not gained mainstream acceptance. Today, we continue to shed light on phenomena not previously understood.
Our brilliant team of neuroscientists, molecular biologists, physicists, and computer engineers is generating a body of scientific evidence that demonstrates how human consciousness affects the physical world. In other words, we are investigating the practical applications of psychic phenomena (a.k.a., psi). Our growing body of research includes studies on channeling, mediumship, life after death, clairvoyance, energy healing, and more.
It is the work of IONS, and all involved in the field of psi, to help our world arrive at the secret our ancestors knew so well: All of life is interconnected.
FWM: As IONS CEO, you are passionate about bringing Noetic Leadership out into the world — how do you define Noetic Leadership?
The Noetic Leadership Initiative is a natural outgrowth of our mission at IONS. The initiative is focused on cultivating leaders of all kinds by nourishing their inner wisdom and propensity to lead from an emerging knowledge of our interconnection with other human beings, nature, and the cosmos.
FWM: How could Noetic Leadership support a sustainable shift in how we live and work on our planet?
Imagine how a leader’s decision-making might change if they increasingly embodied an ever-expanding sense of interconnection with all beings and the Earth itself. It’s quite profound and can be uncomfortable at times, as we take an honest look at the impacts of our organizations both upstream and downstream, and across multiple generations. I like to refer to this as being fully cognizant of one’s “noetic ecosystem”…which is multidimensional and stretches across space and time.
I also believe that intentionally cultivating and leading from one’s inner wisdom can spark deep insights that hold the potential for transformative solutions to today’s challenges. Whether one chooses to believe that they are tapping into the wealth of information in the “field,” receiving guidance from the spiritual realm, or simply experiencing the insights that can emerge from quiet mindfulness, the results can be profound — for your organization, your community, or the world itself. This is why I am passionate about bringing Noetic Leadership out into the world!
FWM: How is Noetic Leadership similar to or different from other popular leadership models that we are hearing about today?
We are very intentional in our wish for Noetic Leadership to augment and enhance — rather than compete with — other leadership approaches. For example, leading from interconnection and inner wisdom can very meaningfully enrich approaches such as servant leadership, conscious leadership, integral leadership, mindful leadership, and other similarly aligned models.
FWM: How do you personally practice Noetic Leadership in your role as CEO of IONS? Do you have any tips or suggestions for other leaders?
Well, I have to say that holding an attitude of humility (as best you can) is probably the most important thing to do first. When I think of my leadership role from a perspective of interconnection and service to the organization and to the world, then insights, inspiration, and intuition flow with much more ease. I believe that’s because I am truly embracing the responsibility inherent to interconnection, while being open to what deeper access to my inner wisdom will yield.
I make a point of including noetic practices in our management team and staff meetings — and it’s the same at the board of directors level. We are very intentional about practicing what we preach, acknowledging that we are all learning along the way.
The best tip I can give is to begin the journey from where you are right now. Identify and cultivate a practice that will ground you in your inner wisdom and/or enable you to experience that felt sense of connection to your noetic ecosystem. You can do this practice daily or really at any time you feel challenged or in need of insight. Within a few minutes, you can truly feel a shift. View this as a part of your leadership journey–and unfolding process that can truly last a lifetime.
FWM: How does Noetic Leadership intersect with Spirituality?
Our work at IONS lives at the intersection of science and spirituality. Our effort to bring Noetic Leadership into the world is no different.
Some leaders may look at their world through a more scientific lens, inspired by quantum physics and the implications of research findings demonstrating interconnection beyond space and time. Other leaders may come from a more spiritual perspective; seeking to cultivate a deeper relationship with their inner wisdom and the greater spiritual realm. And some are passionate about both! What’s wonderful is that Noetic Leadership can make a crucial impact on your role as a leader no matter where you are on that spectrum.
FWM: What is on the horizon for Noetic Leadership for the year ahead?
This September, we’ll be offering an exciting new workshop: Foundations in Noetic Leadership. The workshop features foundational course material, conversations with special guests, practical tools to expand your noetic repertoire, and ample opportunity for meaningful dialogue with our speakers and each other. It will be followed in the Spring of 2022 with an in-person course that dives a level deeper. As this ramps up, we’ll continue expanding our growing community of Noetic Leadership practitioners.
Additionally, we offer ongoing webinars that are free and open to everyone!
FWM: What is next for the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS)?
This is a very exciting time for us at IONS as we continue to advance our leading-edge scientific research and experiential programs. In the next few months, we will unveil our latest research-based experiential offering: the Noetic Signature™. We are eager to share this important tool with the world, as the Noetic Signature offers each person an opportunity to understand how they uniquely access inner wisdom–and information and energy not limited by space or time. I am personally very excited about the opportunity to integrate Noetic Signature into our leadership programs!
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