Visionary Futures

Abstract

Guided cognitive imagery is described as an appropriate technology of choice for intuition-based exploring, learning, and teaching about alternative futures—especially suitable for futures involving cultural transformation. Two methodological approaches with case examples are described: (a) a virtual time travel method for visionary futures exploration and for experiencing the needs offuture generations and (b) a set of depth-intuition methods for need finding, transforming perceived needs into opportunities, choosing between policy options, and transcendental exploration. Although these “visionary futures” methods extend well beyond the conventional paradigm of the behavioral sciences, they are consistent with the cannons of science in that they are trainable and can be replicated. Moreover, they can readily be used to help integrate the methodologies of social action research, futures research, and political activism—a task which urgently needs to be done.