Ticket Levels
$100 Day Pass: 9am-5pm at the Wheeler Opera House (including two short breaks with snacks included, lunch break 12:30-2:00pm on your own)
$350 Patron Pass: 9am-5pm at the Wheeler Opera House (including two short breaks with snacks included, lunch break 12:30-2:00pm on your own). Speaker Reception, Seated Dinner, Drinks and Entertainment 5:30-9:30pm at the Paul JAS Center (422 E Cooper Ave, 3 minute walk, 0.1 miles from the Wheeler)
Schedule
August 23, 2026 | 9am-5pm
Full-Day Symposium | Wheeler Opera House
9:00am | Welcome and Introductory Remarks
9:15am | Story One: Into The Future Opening Keynote: New Intelligences And The Human Response
10:00am | Story Two: Back To The Beginning How Human Consciousness Developed In Concert With The Nonhuman World
11:15am | Story Three: The History Of Human And Animal Consciousness (As Told By The Humans)
12:30pm | Lunch Break
2:00pm| Story Four: Panpsychism And The New Story Of Consciousness
4:15pm| Story Five: Deep Intelligence Of Earth, Deep Capacity Of The Human Closing Keynote
There will be an audience Q&A within each session.
There will be two additional breaks throughout the day to enjoy snacks by Epicure and purchase books from Explore Booksellers.
Patron Ticket Dinner | Paul JAS Center
5:30-6:30pm | Speaker Reception
6:30-9:30pm | Seated Dinner by Epicure featuring Live Entertainment
Availability Limited
About Center for MINDS: Advancing the science of breakthrough insights & innovation for humanity’s greatest challenges, MINDS envisions a future where humanity unlocks its full creative potential to drive breakthroughs across science, technology, design, and leadership, fostering not just technological progress but the wisdom and insight needed for transformative solutions. MINDS explores how psychedelics can enhance creativity, problem-solving, and innovation, drawing on historical and modern evidence. Learn more at: centerforminds.org
About the California Institute for Integral Studies, Department of Philosophy, Cosmology and Consciousness: California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) is a private, non-profit university in San Francisco that offers a unique approach to higher education. Founded in 1968, throughout its history, the Institute has fostered cutting-edge thought. The institute offers over 30 graduate and undergraduate programs spanning psychology, philosophy, spirituality, and social sciences while transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries. CIIS is committed to integrating all aspects of the person, cognitive, emotional, somatic, social, cultural, and spiritual, in its educational approach. The university combines Eastern and Western spiritual and intellectual traditions, fostering a holistic view of human potential in service of individuals, communities, and Earth. Learn more at: ciis.edu
About the Wheeler Opera House: Since 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been Aspen’s favorite year-round performance venue and has become the Roaring Fork Valley’s premiere site for concerts, films, festivals, lectures, community events, and more. The Wheeler takes great pride in being a part of Aspen's history as a gathering place and space for artistic expression in our community.
We would like to thank the Mays Family Foundation for their very generous support.
