Spiritual Awakenings
IONS Tucson Grows in Knowing Ways
by Marcia Detwiler Scupin
Tucson is home to many spiritual groups, and each holds a cosmic piece to the human consciousness puzzle. The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) Tuc- son is a thriving community group associated with IONS’ world headquarters in Petaluma, CA. This month, we’ll explore how IONS Tucson fulfills its stated mission: “To serve our community by offer- ing opportunities to explore consciousness, inspir- ing a shift in perceptions, beliefs and actions.”
he word “noetic” is derived from the Greek “nous,” which means mind, intelligence or ways of know- ing. Noetic refers to ways of inner knowing, intuitive consciousness, or direct or immediate access to knowledge beyond what is available to our normal senses and reason- ing powers. Noetic sciences study the mind and its diverse ways of knowing in an interdisciplinary fashion, according to IONS. Each month IONS Tucson, which is run by a volunteer Steering Committee of about 16 people, brings a speaker to its current venue, Unity of Tucson. The group moved to Unity’s sanctuary, which seats 240, about a year ago when it outgrew TMC’s Marshall Conference Center. There has been an IONS group in Tucson for 20 years.
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Six years ago, with only 20 or so regulars and ready to disband, the group got a spiritual kick-start from new- comers Susan and David Cooper from New York City. The Coopers, who belonged to an IONS group back east, volunteered to start a Book Group in their home. From this couple’s inspiration, IONS started to grow. Its structure now includes well-attended monthly presentation meetings, a loyal Book Group, an adventuresome Psychic Explorers Group, a Universal Energy Circle, an affiliated Tubac group called “Quantum Physics and Consciousness,” affordable workshops, spiritually-themed films and an annual spring party. A twice-monthly, online newsletter goes out to 1,000 people. Because of its high-profile, Tucson was chosen to host the IONS 13th
International Conference in 2008, at-
tended by about 700 people. IONS Tucson is now one of the biggest IONS groups in the world. Jennifer Treece, a steering committee member and
IONS’ Treasurer, has lent her time and talents to the group for about 15 years. “Having a spiritual community is a passion for us,” Jennifer says. “Pulling together, bringing people in to speak to us, and offering all of this…it’s a feel-
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ing of service to the community.” The group is a nonprofit organization and keeps its
prices, which are tax-deductible, affordable. For example, the “suggested donation” for the monthly public speaker meet- ing is $5, although Jennifer says, “We don’t require people to pay because charging a fee negates the aspect of service.” Many IONS speakers offer IONS-discounted workshops in the $25 to $60 range. Monthly speakers are unpaid but have the opportunity to sell their products in the lobby. The money IONS raises supports its various educational programs and pays its rental fees. Everything IONS supports meets its mis- sion statement’s commitment to offer opportunities to explore consciousness. Speakers and IONS-sanctioned groups must also help the group fulfill its intention statement: “To create programs, study groups and events that focus on emerg- ing paradigms, expanded human potential and integrative health and healing.” Lastly, the group states: “Our endeav- ors align with the Institute’s mission of advancing individu- al, social and global transformation.”
Sobonfu Somé, featured speaker on November 5th
Amy Weintraub, featured speaker on December 3rd
Many in the expanding human potential field want to take IONS’ stage, but Speaker & Workshop Coordinator Jeannette LoCurto screens erstwhile presenters to ensure their lectures align with the group’s consciousness-enhanc- ing aims. 2011 presenters are already locked in. One of the Group Coordinator’s tasks is to interview groups who want to sail under IONS Tucson’s flag. Current Coordinator Mari- lyn Gustin says, “We get a lot of requests we have to say ‘no’ to; the question is: Are they aligned with our mission statement?” Jennifer, however, notes that IONS does not have an ax to grind. “The focus is on presenting all these various forms of information and different points of view to people and they can do what they want to do. We don’t take a stance.”
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