What: Creative facilitation at IONS 15th annual conference, Palm Springs, CA. 

Process: Experience Design + Open Space Hosting + Presencing exercises 

In the summer of 2013, I helped curate, host, design and co-facilitate a 4 day gathering with 40 creative leaders, to explore the relevance of studying consciousness in our modern lives as culture innovators. It is our conviction that systematic inquiries into consciousness will catalyze positive concrete transformations in the world. 

Insights: 
- Standard conferences are over. The new format is collaborative, multi-disciplinary and engaging open discussions. Our hosting style is open and dynamic. We create beautiful spaces and appropriately timed sessions to instigate intimate conversations and meaningful gatherings.

- Presencing and intention: Opening creative sessions with mindfulness and presencing is useful to help big groups enter a space of resonance and openness. 

- Transform yourself, then transform the world. Transformative entrepreneurship is when technology is used to create long-term societal impact, and starts from leaders that decide to also explore within themselves, to create with purpose. 

** Read more insights on the experience design process below: 

Collaborators: Valentine Giraud-Robben | Larissa Conte | Mikyo Clark 

About IONS - Institute of Noetic Sciences 

Founded in 1973 by astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who reported the experience of ‘the overview effect’,  a cognitive shift in awareness reported by some astronauts during spaceflight, often while viewing the Earth from the lunar surface. From space, the astronauts tell us, ‘national boundaries vanish, the conflicts that divide people become less important, and the need to create a planetary society with the united will to protect this "pale blue dot" becomes both obvious and imperative.’ 

When back from space, he founded IONS, to advance research into the potentials and powers of consciousness, exploring phenomena that do not necessarily fit conventional scientific models while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor. The Institute’s primary program areas are consciousness and healing, extended human capacities, and emerging worldviews. They are one of the first institutions to have encouraged open-minded explorations of consciousness through the meeting of science and spirit. Taking inspiration from the great discoveries of human history that have been sourced from insight and intuition and that have harnessed reason and logic for their outer expression.