Richmond IONS March 2025 Meeting

Program Title: “Why Dreams, Why Now?” Our March 15, 2025 program will feature a talk by Sarah D. Norton,
PhD, Fredericksburg-based Depth Psychologist and Dream Interpreter.

In this presentation, Sarah D. Norton, PhD, will explore the gift of dreams and images in times of
great uncertainty. Dreams are a direct line to our deepest wells of knowledge and connect us to
wisdom from the archetypal realm and the collective unconscious. We have access to them every
night whether we remember our dreams or not. Even if dreams are not as accessible to us, there are
images everywhere around us, in nature, in art, in film, in myth, and more. In her new book, Sarah explores this through images of climate change in our shifting environment, moving each image from a mere sign of
climate change to a deep symbol of what this change means to us on a collective and personal level. Though her work is rooted in the global crisis of this environmental change, her exploration with dreams began at a time of great uncertainty in her personal life.

Through the parallels of the personal and collective crisis a relationship began to grow with an image of Earth that spoke to all aspects of this tumultuous time. Through dreams, active imagination, and the creative process of
writing, an opening to healing and possibility took shape. We will look at a few passages from the book, some enduring dream images, some of the artwork that sprang from these encounters, and more to discover where these
expressions of deep knowing can find a place in our lives even in the most difficult times. Whether you have a creative practice, record your dreams regularly or hardly ever, there are images in your life that are open to these in
depth relationships. We will dig into how these images, from dreams, artwork, nature, memory, and/or the imagination can become an opening to possibility, healing, creativity, and comfort even in the most uncertain and
chaotic moments.

Another not-to-be-missed program for all who can attend! See you there!

: Sarah D. Norton, PhD, is an independent scholar who earned her MA and PhD in Depth Psychology with an emphasis in Jungian and archetypal psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She completed her dissertation Arctic Imaginings: Chasing Ice through Jung’s Liber Novus into the 21st Century. With a passion for intersectional environmentalism, grief work, dreams, and creativity she writes about climate and current events from an archetypal perspective. Her new book is Climate Change, Environments of Uncertainty and Loss: Jung, Politics and Culture (Routledge, 2025). Sarah is the online education coordinator at the Richmond based non- profit, The Foundation for Family and Community Healing (www.HealingEdu.org). Sarah is also the editor of the publication The Rose in the World, communications coordinator for the Natural Spirituality conference (www.NSRGathering.org), and cohost for the London Arts Based Research Centre’s monthly salon “Psychreative” (LABRC.co.uk) devoted to the discussion and sharing of creativity, Jungian
thought, and the arts. You can contact her at sarah.norton.phd@arcticmail.com and see more at http://sdnortonphd.net/.

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, 10:00
a.m. to 12:00 noon, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion.

Upcoming Meetings:
April 19, 2025: Susanna Calvert, Ph.D., Richmond-based Channel, Healer, Teacher and Founder of Sanctuary of Earth.
May 17, 2025: Shruti Paskar, ND, Pawleys Island-based Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.
June 21, 2025: Bart Smyth, Florida-based QiGong Master and healer.
July 19, 2025: Mark Adams, Richmond-based candle healer.

Richmond IONS February Meeting

What Is a Starseed? with Kimberly Barrett
Where/When: In person and online* and in-person at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221, on Saturday, February 15, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion.
Program Title: “What Is a Starseed?” Our February program will feature a talk by Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator, Intuitive Life Coach, Death Doula, Blue Star Master, Empress Unicorn and Quantum Energy Healer.
The notion of starseeds or sojourners from other planets and more advanced civilizations, living among us and incarnating in human form in order to aid humanity’s ascension on Earth, was first popularized in the modern era by author Ruth Montgomery in the 1970s. The Ra/Law of One material, channeled between January 1981 and November 1984 by Carla Rueckert with the help of Don Elkins and Jim McCarty, introduced the concept of wanderers, souls which choose to migrate from planets with higher levels of consciousness to assist those at lower levels (like humans on Earth) advance to the next level. Wanderers are Starseeds by another name.
Kimberly has been communicating with spirit, with ETs, with animals and with nature itself throughout her life. In more recent times she was activated into Blue Star Celestial Energy and awakened into her own Starseed Energies, Starseed Memories and her Galactic Track. Through this process of awakening, she discovered that a major part of her purpose in this lifetime on Earth is to serve as a Starseed Activator and Master Teacher, i.e., to assist in the awakening and activation of other Starseeds who may not have yet discovered their true identity, and to help them
understand ways in which their mission/purpose as a Starseed here on Earth can best be fulfilled. We have known for years that many in our group are Starseeds and wanderers. The time is now at hand for all of us to embrace that reality, accept responsibility for it, and to step up and get our marching orders.
About Our Presenter: Kimberly has been communicating with SPIRIT, ETs, Animal and Nature her whole life. She was introduced to Crystals at age 16, and Tarot Cards and Runes at age 20. She had a Spiritual Awakening in 1997. In 2010 she had a major energy healing that created a quantum leap, awakening her to her natural mediumship, channeling and starseed nature. By 2011-2012, she was providing psychic, mediumship and Tarot/Oracle Card readings for others. In 2013, she began offering metaphysical workshops and classes. In 2018, Kimberly was activated into Blue Star Celestial Energy, and she has been a magical journey of growth ever since. Kimberly’s Mission is to share love and light with others, so they can in turn share their love and light with others. Kimberly offers a Spiritual Development Circle Group, which can be accessed on both FB and Meetup. Kimberly can be reached through her website at sharingloveandlightshow.com; TikTok@kimberlybarrett777; TikTok@ddeathdoulamedium; and FB at facebook.com/groups/8286374741433719.

*ON-LINE: ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841)

Richmond IONS January 2025 Meeting

Program Title: “Something New Under the Sun.” Our January 18, 2025 program will feature a talk by

Tom Coates, in collaboration with his sidekick, Taliesin St. Clair, along with a celebration of our group’s TWENTY-
NINTH ANNIVERSARY and the kickoff of our THIRTIETH YEAR!!!

Alfred North Whitehead, one of the most distinguished mathematicians and philosophers of the 20th
Century, famously quipped that, “All of Western philosophy is but a footnote to Plato.” Plato, an Athenian who lived from 428 to 347 B.C., was a devoted student of Socrates and also deeply influenced
by Socrates’ antecedents, including Pythagoras, Heraclitus and Parmenides. From this lineage, beginning with Pythagoras, who studied for years in Egypt and probably in India as well, came not only Greek mathematics and geometry, but also the Pythagorean/Socratic dialectic, Plato’s myth of the cave and his theory of forms, from which arose the Gnostic Demiurge and our 21st Century counterpart idea of The Matrix (as in the movie trilogy), and the idea that the reality in which we are living our lives may be an AI-generated computer simulation, behind which lies an authentic, real world.

What began 2,600 years ago with Pythagoras in Greece, Zoroaster in Persia, Buddha in Nepal and India, Lao Tzu in China, and later produced Jesus Christ, was a major shift in consciousness the world has not seen the likes of since – until now. But the shift underway now may well eclipse all that has preceded it, by awakening humanity to a new ontology of expanded awareness — an awareness that awareness itself, i.e., consciousness, is the most fundamental substrate and essence of All-That-Is, an awareness of the essential divinity and divine essence within ourselves,
within all other selves and within everything we can experience and perceive within our framework of reality, an awareness that all of Creation is but One Consciousness of which all of us are integral parts. The theme of this installment will be how to awaken to that expansion and how to make meaningful connections with the divine essence within. As always, Tom promises that some secrets known only to a few may be revealed.

Another not-to-be-missed program for all who can attend! See you there!

About Our Presenter: Tom Coates is a Richmond-based lawyer who has represented numerous spiritually oriented and public interest
groups throughout his career. He was a co-founder of Richmond’s Ekoji Buddhist Sangha in 1985, and has been a member and contributor
of the Richmond IONS chapter since its formation in early 1996. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, creative writing, painting, woodworking, alpine skiing, biking, backpacking, sailing, time travel, metaphysics, and relaxing with his family at their ancient Outer Banks beach cottage and their Colombian Andes Mountains retreat. He now is looking forward to undertaking a new role as an ambassador for Earth in the Galactic Federation.

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221, on Saturday, January 18, 2025, 10:00
a.m. to 12:00 noon, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion.

Upcoming Meetings:
February 15, 2025: Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator and Quantum Energy Healer.
March 15, 2025: Sarah Norton, Ph.D., Richmond-based Depth Psychologist and Dream Interpreter.
April 19, 2025: Susanna Calvert, Ph.D., Richmond-based Channel, Healer, Teacher and Founder of Sanctuary of Earth.
May 17, 2025: Shruti Paskar, ND, Pawleys Island-based Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

Richmond IONS December 2024 Meeting

Please note there will be no potluck after this program.
Program Title: “Spiritual Consciousness Emerging through the Quantum Field of Possibility.”

 Our December
14, 2024 program will feature a talk by Peter Smith, Board Member and former President of the Michael Newton Foundation and author of Quantum Consciousness: Journey Through Other Realms. Peter will be speaking to us from his home in Australia, which is 15 hours ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S., and hence the change from our Richmond usual meeting time.

The late David Bohm, quantum physicist and philosopher, hypothesized that both quantum theory and relativity point to a deeper level beneath them both, a quantum field theory. Bohm believed this fundamental level represented an undivided wholeness, an implicate order which gives rise to the explicate order of the universe as we experience it. Bohm’s implicate order applies both the matter and consciousness, and Bohm believed that matter offers nothing to help us understand. Quantum consciousness seeks to apply principles of quantum physics toconsciousness itself.

In his book, Quantum Consciousness, Peter Smith provides an enlightening guide that helps pull science and spirituality closer together, and tools for accessing alternate realities, parallel lives, interdimensional consciousness,
the eternal state, and even the very fabric of the universe. Its emphasis is on four aspects of quantum consciousness: the creator effect, entanglement, everywhereness, and holographic healing, as well as detailed explorations of various realms of consciousness, including “stored” consciousness, “alternate” consciousness, “parallel”consciousness, and “interdimensional” consciousness. Peter guides us on a journey of life changing discoveries and expanded vision of humanity’s amazing and largely untapped potential for consciousness expansion. Peter has
addressed groups the world over, and we are grateful and excited to have him as our guest speaker.

Another not-to-be-missed program for all who can attend! See you there!

About Our Presenter: Peter Smith founded the Institute for Quantum Consciousness in 2013 to explore the overlap between Quantum
Physics and Spirituality. He is the author of the books Quantum Consciousness – Journey Through Other Realms and The Transcendence
of Celeste Kelly. The Institute has a network of Consciousness Facilitators around the world who continue to explore the work he started.
Peter is also the Director of the Michael Newton Institute’s ‘Beyond’ program, established to take MNI and Life Between Lives further,
towards the unlimited potential of Spiritual Consciousness.

Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at Unity of Bon Air, 923 Buford Road, Richmond, VA 23235, on Saturday, December 14, 2024, 3:00 p.m.
to 5:00 p.m.

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Upcoming Meetings:
January 18, 2025: Taliesin St. Clair, our 29th Anniversary Program, “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun.”
February 15, 2025: Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator and Quantum Energy Healer.
March 15, 2025: Susanna Calvert, Richmond-based channel, healer, teacher and founder of Sanctuary of Earth.

Bonus Richmond Ions Meeting

 

Program Title: “Melissa and Aralamb, Live and In Person.” Our November 23, 2024 program will feature an in-person talk by Melissa Gates-Perry, author and channel, and Aralamb, her spirit guide, on the book they co-
authored, Being Humans (2022).

This is an in-person sequel to the ZOOM program they brought us in June 2024, and is back by
popular demand. Melissa was born and raised in Southern Vermont. She became aware of her
intuitive, psychic nature and abilities as a child. She connected with Aralamb and began
channeling for clients in 1993 and has since worked with people in every part of the world.

 Melissa was born and raised in Southern Vermont. She became aware of her intuitive, psychic nature and abilities as a child.  She connected with Aralamb and began channeling for clients in 1993 and has since worked with people in every part of the world. 

Being Humans encompasses 30 years of relationship between Melissa and Aralamb, and all of the information and life lessons that Aralamb revealed to her. It is a no-holds-barred, brutally honest read threaded with life lessons, stories from 2024 her childhood, encouragement, and Aralamb’s wisdom, all offered to better understand and steer through our lives’ trials. 

About Our Presenter: Melissa Gates-Perry is an intuitive channel who has been working with clients for 30+ years through her guide, Aralamb. The focal point of her work is uplifting, healing, and teaching her clients to live better lives through self-knowledge and the workings of the soul. Much of her work delves into childhood trauma and integrating those lessons with Aralamb. go to melissagatesperry.com for more information. 

About Central VA IONS Community Group:  Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org).  Central VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all.  Central VA IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online.  Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Where/When:  In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in person at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23229.

Cost: Love Offering

Richmond IONS November 2024 Meeting

Program Title: “Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying – A Metaphysical Journey.” Our November 16, 2024
program will feature a talk by Suzanne Munson, Richmond author, historian and CV IONS member.

Our program on November 16 promises many surprises, beginning with author Suzanne Munson’s
spiritual journey following the loss of her husband, Ned, in 2013. It will conclude with the story of an
amazing past-life regression session with Carole Louie that Suzanne gave her now-husband, Jim
Jernigan, as a birthday present. Jim recalled his life as a 15th century Chinese navigator on a historic
voyage across the coasts of Asia and Africa. After becoming a widow, Suzanne began a journey to
explore the afterlife—where we go when we leave physical form, what we do when we get there, and
the meaning of it all. She began with studies of NDEs, reading every book she could find on the subject and
listening to hundreds of online testimonials.
The next steps involved studying reincarnation, life between lives, and past-life regressions. She also met mediums
who connected her with her late husband, family members, and friends. Working with mediums, she had a
revelation: “If we can connect with ‘regular’ people, why not someone famous? Why not someone from history?”
This led to her first channeled book, The Metaphysical Thomas Jefferson, which premiered on Amazon as the
Number One New Release in Political Commentary. She has just completed a series of interviews with composer
Leonard Cohen, who wrote the beloved anthem, “Hallelujah.” Other beings who have had a say during her sessions
with the medium include Hank Williams, Sr., Abigail Adams, Edgar Cayce, Vincent Van Gogh, Sally Hemings,
Steve Jobs, and George Wythe.
For her talk, Suzanne will provide readings from her latest book, Of Loss and Love—A Journey of the Heart. This is
a series of reflections that she began writing after becoming widowed. Anyone who has lost a loved one will easily
relate to her messages. In her journey, she moved from grief to looking for ways to live fully and mindfully.

Another not-to-be-missed program for all who can attend! See you there!

About Our Presenter: Suzanne has spoken previously to IONS from her earlier books, Jefferson’s Godfather, a biography of Founding
Father George Wythe, and The Metaphysical Thomas Jefferson, readings with an entity presenting as Jefferson, channeled by medium Jana
Anna. She lectures frequently at the university level on the legacies of American Founding Fathers. (Suzmunson01@gmail.com)

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at Unity of Richmond, 800 Blanton Avenue, Richmond, VA 23221, on Saturday, November 16, 2024,
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion.

Upcoming Meetings:
November 23, 2024: Melissa Gates-Perry, Vermont-based channel and author, a personal visit from Melissa and Aralamb.
December 14, 2024: Peter Smith, Brisbane-based author of Quantum Consciousness and former CEO of The Michael Newton Institute.
January 18, 2025: Taliesin St. Clair, our 29th Anniversary Program, “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun.”
February 15, 2025: Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator and Quantum Energy Healer.
March 15, 2025: Susanna Calvert, Richmond-based healer, channel, teacher and founder of Sanctuary of Earth.

Richmond IONS October 2024 Meeting

Program Title: “Strands of Compassion.” Our October 19, 2024 program will feature a presentation by
Christoph Wagner, award-winning cellist and Joanne Kong, award-winning classical pianist.

Christoph Wagner, cellist and Joanne Kong, pianist, have been praised for their sensitive and
passionate artistry. Their unique event, Strands of Compassion, weaves together live music,
spoken reflections and visual imagery to illuminate how embracing the connections we have to the natural world and all beings can bring about transformative spiritual growth, positive change and planetary healing. Listeners have praised the duo for the power of their musical artistry to inspire an elevated sense of our innate compassion:

“Joanne Kong and Christoph Wagner gifted our hearts with healing, enchanting, vibrant messages of love,
connection and hope. The images, poetry, quotes, personal reflections and musical performance lifted our spirits as
they directly invited us to a profound compassionate awareness of and growth in our relationships with all beings
and all of nature. Every note and every syllable combined to embody and illuminate our participation in the
interconnected web of existence. The most memorable message of compassionate oneness was exquisitely delivered
and warmly received by those in attendance. I believe many left inspired to further explore how our actions and
choices impact our one common home. This concert/presentation can only be described in superlatives. It is a
priceless treasure to all sentient beings and the planet.” — Loretta Row

Be sure not to miss this one! See you there!

About Our Presenters: Christoph Wagner, a native of Germany, is a sought-after, award-winning cellist who has concertized on four
continents. Dr. Wagner holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rice University, and his current research focuses on the role of
nutrition in musical peak performance. A passionate advocate for Sustainability and Plant-Based nutrition, Wagner created Rice Vegan
Society in 2017, advocating for a more veg-friendly and zero-waste environment at Rice University, as well as sharing information about
the manifold benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle: environmental sustainability, animal rights, health, social justice, spirituality, and world
peace. Currently Dr. Wagner is Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of New Mexico.

Pianist Joanne Kong’s performances have been praised for “great finesse and flexibility” (The Washington Post), and “superb artistry” (San
Antonio Express-News) in works “sensitively played” (New York Times). She has received numerous national and international honors, and
in addition to her music career, speaks around the world as an animal, environmental and vegan advocate. Her TEDx talk, The Power of
Plant-Based Eating, has over 1 million views. Dr. Kong is on the faculty at the University of Richmond and draws upon a diversity of skills
as a writer, speaker and creative artist.

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local
community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central
VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA
IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a
love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at
locations announced in its program notices and are open to all. Our website is at richmondions.com.

Where/When: In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in
person at the University of Richmond Campus, Perkinson Recital Hall (North Court Building), Choir Room, 421
Westhampton Way, Richmond, VA 23173, on Saturday, October 19, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Upcoming Meetings:
November 20, 2024: Suzanne Munson, Richmond author, “Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying – A Metaphysical Journey.”
December 21, 2024: Peter Smith, Brisbane-based author of Quantum Consciousness and former CEO of The Michael Newton Institute.
January 18, 2025: Taliesin St. Clair, our 29th Anniversary Program, “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun.”
February 15, 2025: Kimberly Barrett, Fairfax-based Psychic Medium, Starseed Activator and Quantum Energy Healer.

Richmond IONS September 2024 Meeting

 

Program Title: “Architectural Design for The MorningStar Retreat Center.” Our September 21, 2024 program will feature a talk by Lawrence M. Schechter, Architect

Lawrence was born in Chicago and moved to the West Coast after graduating from the University of Illinois in the school of architecture and has been in practice as an architect for over 50 years. He was recently guided to move to Richmond, VA for the realization of a very specific long-held vision to serve the advancement of human consciousness. A few years of affiliation with this IONS chapter and the Sanctuary of Earth prepared this move. This presentation will cover the inspiration and architectural design, as well as its status.

Several highly motivated people in Richmond (here today) are committed to serve the transformation of human consciousness as the principal means by which we may shape the future of our race and that of our Earth. This group is growing with perception of ecology, vitality and consciousness as unified whole. We are taking steps to create a holistic center to develop human potential in accord with our higher nature. As an integral part of the center, the MorningStar Retreat will provide an extraordinary environment, shaped by universal principles of sacred geometry and ecologically advanced technology. The environment itself will act as a tuning fork of natural subtle energies aligned with the infinite side of our nature. The term Morning Star has been used by many ancient cultures to identify the planet Venus as the harbinger of the dawn. In this context, the MorningStar Retreat will serve as an inspirational portal to enhance the development of human harbingers of that awakening.

Following the presentation and Q & A session, a mindful celebration of the Autumnal Equinox will be offered from 11:30 to noon. All are welcome to bring a temporary offering of fruit or vegetable for ceremonial blessing of the harvest. Normal potluck thereafter.

Another not-to-be missed program for all who can attend ! See you there!

About Our Presenter: Lawrence’s bio is as follows: Graduate, University of Illinois, Bachelor of Architecture, 1964; Licensed Architect in Californian and Oregon, 1967-2023; LEED Accredited Professional, US Green Building Council; Program Co-Founder, Building Green Council of Central Oregon; Adjunct Faculty, Green Building, Central Oregon Community College; Co-Founder, Alcyone Light Centre, Ashland, Oregon, 1981-1994; Founder, LightPath Educational Center, Bend, Oregon, 2016-2023; Facilitator, Mastermind group, Unitive Justice, RVA, 2024; Founder, Morning Star Retreat Center (in formation), RVA, 2024.

About Central VA IONS Community Group: Central VA IONS Community Group is an unincorporated association and a local community group of The Institute of Noetic Sciences, an international association based in Petaluma, California (www.noetic.org). Central VA IONS is not associated with any religion, religious organization, doctrine or set of beliefs or practices and is open to all. Central VA IONS is entirely dependent upon voluntary donations of its members and friends to support its programs, mailings and other costs, and a love offering is requested at each meeting from those attending in-person or online. Central VA IONS meetings are held each month at locations announced in its program notices

In person and online, through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) and in person at River Road United Methodist Church, Contemporary Worship Center, 8800 River Road, Richmond, VA 23229, on Saturday, September 21, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, including a celebration of the Autumnal Equinox, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion.

Upcoming Meetings

October 19, 2024: Joanne Kong, Ph.D., University of Richmond professor, acclaimed concert pianist, author and TED Speaker.

November 20, 2024: Suzanne Munson, Richmond author, “Get Busy Living, or Get Busy Dying – A Metaphysical Journey.”

December 21, 2024: Peter Smith, Brisbane-based author of Quantum Consciousness and former CEO of The Michael Newton Institute. January 18, 2025: Taliesin St. Clair, our 29th Anniversary Program, “There’s Nothing New Under the Sun.”

Fast Track to Higher Consciousness with Stephen Hawley Martin

Join us at the Richmond IONS August Meeting In-person or On-line at 10:00 AM ET on August 17, 2024. Our program will feature a talk by Stephen Hawley (“Steve”) Martin, Richmond-based spiritual author, editor and publisher, on his most recent book, Fast Track to Higher Consciousness (November 2023). Bestselling author of Death Is Fiction, Fear an Illusion, Steve writes in his new book that of the two worldviews most prevalent today, neither coincides with what is now known by a small but growing number of individuals to be true. In Fast Track he reveals for the first time a clear picture of reality based on the findings of consciousness researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine’s Division of Perceptual Studies (“DOPS”), founded by Ian Stevenson, M.D. in 1967, and the outcomes of a series of quantum mechanics experiments that have been verified in laboratories across the globe. It’s no wonder, Steve says, that most people sleepwalk through life. They have no idea who and what they are, why they are here, or where they and the rest of humanity are headed. The lofty aim of his recent book is to remedy this. Steve reveals what some will find to be mind-blowing information which he believes may fast track readers to a higher state of consciousness and help them achieve greater peace of mind, as well as help them determine the best course of action to take to find lasting happiness, purpose and fulfillment.

About Our Presenter: Steve is a native of Richmond and a graduate of St. Christopher’s School and Hampden-Sydney College. As the talk show host of a popular weekly internet podcast in the first decade of this century, “The Truth About Life,” it became clear to Steve as he interviewed dozens of near-death survivors, psychics, researchers into the paranormal, as well as quantum physicists and medical doctors, that humankind is on the cusp of a transition to a new understanding of the true nature of reality. To share what he has learned and help speed the transition, which he believes will result in a rebirth of optimism and the world becoming a better place to live and work, he has written over a dozen books, many of which have achieved bestseller status on Amazon. Steve is a former principal of the world-renowned ad firm that created the GEICO Gecko and “Virginia Is For Lovers,” The Martin Agency, founded by his older brother, David, and is currently the editor and publisher of Oaklea Press. He is the only three-time winner of the Writer’s Digest Book Award, having won first prize twice for fiction and once for nonfiction, and he has also won First Prize for Visionary Fiction from Independent Publisher and First Prize for Nonfiction from USA Book News. He can be reached at oakleapress.com.

Join us through ZOOM (Meeting ID: 865 1815 1952, Passcode: 142841) or In-Person at Unity at Bon Air, 923 Buford Rd, Richmond, VA 23235 on Saturday, August 17, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, with Potluck Lunch at conclusion. (Please note that this is a location change for this event.)

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In Loving Memory

We want to express our gratitude for everything that Elisabeth Kuhn contributed to the Richmond IONS Community, especially helping us set up our website and social media platform. She loved seeing everyone who visited her. Elisabeth will be remembered with love as she takes this next step on her journey.