From Outer Space to Inner Space

In February 1971, as Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell hurtled Earthward through space, he was engulfed by a profound sense of universal connectedness. He intuitively sensed that his presence and that of the planet in the window were all part of a deliberate, universal process, and that the glittering cosmos itself was, in some way, conscious. The experience was so overwhelming, Mitchell knew his life would never be the same. For the next thirty-five years, he embarked on another journey, an inward exploration of the ineffable mystery of human consciousness and being. Mitchell left NASA to form the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS). There he initiated research in areas of study previously neglected by mainstream science and constructed a theory that could explain not only the mysteries of consciousness, but also the psychic event—what spiritualists call a "miracle" and scientists dismiss altogether. Mitchell also created a new dyadic model of reality, revealing a self-aware universe not predetermined by the laws of physics, preordained by deities, or infinitely malleable. While human actions are generally subject to the laws of physics, these laws are also influenced by the mind. This book traces two remarkable journeys—one through space and one through the mind.