With an emphasis on exploring the science of consciousness and understanding of human possibility, the first West Virginia Chapter of Noetic Science has been formed in Jackson County.

Robert M. Hunter said he had a long-standing interest in the noetic sciences, beginning in junior high school. He said his mother had many premonitions, which first sparked his desire to learn more. Hunter has been a member of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) for the past 20 years.

Hunter said IONS was started by Dr. Edgar Mitchell, NASA scientist who traveled through space as part of the Apollo 14 mission. It was on the return home when Mitchell had an epiphany that all life and matter in the universe was connected.

According the IONS website, Mitchell said, “The presence of divinity became almost palpable, and I knew that life in the universe was not just an accident based on random processes…The knowledge came to me directly.”

It was that revelation that led Mitchell to question the mysteries of science, not just the conventional science he had been taught.  On his trip home through space, Mitchell conducted an ESP (extra-sensory perception) experiment with a standard deck of cards. He scored higher than normal.

The IONS website said Mitchell sought out others who “felt the need for an expanded, more inclusive view of reality.” It was this effort that led to the founding of the Institute of Noetic Sciences in 1973. The name is derived from the Greek word nous, roughly translated to mean “intuitive ways of knowing.”

The group now includes an array of experts in the areas of psychology, research, theology, medicine, and other related areas.

Hunter and his wife Joan recently attended a conference in Tuscan, where he was able to received continuing education credits. That conference served as the impetus for his starting a local chapter, the first in West Virginia. “I Have No Idea,” the name of the local chapter, held its first meeting about three weeks ago, and some 20 members of IONS from around the state attended.

The next meeting is being scheduled for October 17 at WVU-P Jackson County Center.

The all-day event will begin around 9 a.m. with the first session focusing on the art of listening and mindset, particularly how they apply to a business setting with employers and employees.

The rest of the event will include the viewing of a film called “The Living Matrix: The Science of Healing,” which deals with the connections of the body, mind, and health. Discussions will follow the movie.

Hunter said he is being assisted by his son-in-law Truman Long on this event.

Anyone with an interest in the science behind consciousness and a better understanding of telepathy, premonitions, clairvoyance, and other phenomena are invited to attend.

Hunter said the idea of this non-profit organization is to share science and factual information about the noetic sciences.