Postmodernism

Presented By Wendy Dixon of the Sydney Blavatsky Lodge **ONLINE COURSE:** Introduction to Theosophy runs yearly for 10 months from 5th February to 19th November on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month. Our core text is Theosophy: An Introductory Study Course, 4th Edition by John Algeo. It can be downloaded for free from the URL: [https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf)](https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf)) Additional material is provided with slides that are shared after each class via Mailchimp emails. The sessions are all run with questions answered throughout. While it is preferable to attend the whole year, participants are welcome to join at any time - everything is run in monthly modules. **PROGRAM** **February:** What is Theosophy - Fundamental Concepts of Theosophy **March:** Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World/Universal Brotherhood - History of TS/Brotherhood and the Path **April:** Human Beings and Our Bodies (Etheric, Astral, Mental, Causal) **May:** Life after Death - Withdrawal from the Bodies and Devachan **June:** Reincarnation **July:** Karma **August:** The Power of Thought/The Question of Evil - Understanding how we continue to create the world around us **September:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part One - Evolution, 3 waves of Evolution, Individualisation **October:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part Two - Human Evolution, Seven Rays **November:** The Rise and Fall of Civilisations - Root Races **COURSE LINK** Please click on this link to join: [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054) Meeting ID: 883 2972 7054 Passcode: 840346 Admission by Donation: A suggested donation of $5 or more per session assists Blavatsky Lodge to offer online Theosophical courses. Please donate via PayPal here: [https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses](https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses) or email [info@tssydney.org.au](mailto:info@tssydney.org.au) for other payment options.

🌟 **Unlock Your Full Potential with CPA Toastmasters!** 🌟 Are you ready to become a more confident speaker and a stronger leader? CPA Toastmasters is here to help you *grow* both personally and professionally! Whether you're looking to improve your public speaking skills, enhance your leadership abilities, or build self-confidence, Toastmasters provides a supportive and encouraging environment for you to thrive. 🚀 **Why CPA Toastmasters?** * **Improve Public Speaking**: Learn how to communicate clearly and confidently in front of any audience. * **Build Leadership Skills**: Develop the tools and techniques to become a stronger leader in your personal and professional life. * **Friendly, Supportive Community**: Join a group of like-minded individuals who are all working toward their personal growth and success. * **Real-Time Feedback**: Get constructive feedback in every meeting to help you continually improve. * **CPD Hours**: As our member, you are eligible to claim CPD hours under CPA for attending our meetings! 📈 **What to Expect at a Toastmasters Meeting:** * **Prepared Speeches**: Deliver speeches on topics you’re passionate about (Members only) * **Impromptu Speaking**: Practice thinking on your feet with quick, fun exercises. * **Constructive Feedback**: Receive valuable tips to help you improve, delivered in a positive, encouraging way. * **Leadership Roles**: Take turns leading the meeting, which helps you refine your organizational and leadership abilities. Come visit us in our next meeting and learn how our club can support your public speaking journey!

Business Agility is continuously improving, as is the Domain Model that underpins how we think about it. In June we welcome Evan Leybourn co-founder of the Business Agility Institute and Chief Product Officer at the newly founded X2A to run a deep dive on how the Domains, their Capabilities, and exhibited Behaviours evolving. The goal of the update is to further support practitioners' understanding of their organisation's standing today (their "X") and map a viable approaches to meet their ambitions (their"A"). Thanks to TeamForm for providing the space and funding the refreshments on the night. Without sponsors great events like this don't happen.T

**Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking with Southbank Toastmasters!** Ready to transform nerves into confidence? Join us for a fun, interactive workshop to: ✨ Conquer your fear of speaking 💡 Learn pro tips from experienced mentors 📈 Boost your business and career through powerful communication Whether you're a newbie or a seasoned speaker, this is your chance to grow, connect, and shine! 🌟 Don’t miss out—step up to the mic and join us! 🎤

### The Return: A Four-Week Immersion into Authenticity & Internal Trust Thursday evenings across June #### How much of who you are today is *you*, and how much is a collection of "shoulds," "musts," and the quiet habit of people-pleasing? Join us for a dedicated **four-week immersion** designed to help you peel back the layers of societal conditioning and rediscover the internal voice that has been waiting to be heard. This isn’t about becoming someone new; it’s about **The Return**—stripping away the masks and learning to trust your own internal wisdom: honouring yourself, distinguishing your yes's from your no's, & reclaiming true rest. #### **What to expect:** Over four Thursday evenings, you will join the same group of women to explore: * *The Authentic Self*: Identifying unhelpful habits and conditioning that keeps us small * *Somatic Release*: Gentle yin yoga and movement * *Sacred Circle*: The power of being seen and held in a community of like-minded women * *Inner Inquiry:* Reflection through curated journal prompts to bridge the gap between your mind and heart *Inclusions:* * *Guided workshop series designed and guided by clinical psychologist & yoga instructor, Dr Zac Elizabeth Buchanan* * *Nibbles & tea to nourish each evening* * *Connection with like-minded women* * *Take home journal and goodies* #### **Is this for me?** The Return welcomes women of all ages and stages of life. Whether you are navigating a major transition—such as **motherhood, career change, perimenopause, or retirement**—or simply feel a quiet pull to deepen your self-awareness, you are welcome here. #### **The Details:** * *When:* Thursday evenings (June 4, 11, 18, 25) * *Time:* 7pm - 9pm * *Where:* A cosy, boutique studio in Balwyn North (precise location provided upon RSVP) * **Please note - a commitment to all 4 Thursdays is required.** #### **Investment:** * $310 (+ booking fee) - tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-return-a-4-week-womens-workshop-series-tickets-1988474174785 * EFT available to avoid booking fee - please email hello @ drzacelizabeth.com #### **Spaces are limited to keep the circle intimate and deeply held. I would love to see you there** ♥ [Claim your spot](https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-return-a-4-week-womens-workshop-series-tickets-1988474174785)! > **A Note on the Nature of Our Space:** While this series is facilitated by a clinical psychologist and explores psychological concepts, it is a wellness-focused immersion and is **not a substitute for clinical therapy.** It is intended to complement any personal work you may be doing elsewhere. We invite you to join us for communal growth and somatic reflection, ensuring you have the appropriate professional support in place for any acute clinical mental health needs. ####

🌟 Welcome to North Melbourne Toastmasters! 🌟 At North Melbourne Toastmasters, we're your supportive path to public speaking, communication, and leadership excellence. Our warm and friendly club offers a structured yet enjoyable meeting atmosphere. 🗓️ Meeting Schedule: Join us on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month at 7:15pm for a 7:30pm start. We wrap up by 9:00pm. 🎙️ Meeting Highlights: Experience up to 2 prepared speeches by members or guest speakers, and dive into Table Topics for spontaneous speaking opportunities. Guests are welcome to observe without any pressure to participate. 🚪 Visit Us: Select your preferred date to attend, bring a pen and notepad and find us at our welcoming North Melbourne venue at Kensington Neighbourhood House. 💼 No Cost to Visit: Exploring North Melbourne Toastmasters as a guest is entirely free. Join us to discover how we can help you achieve your speaking and leadership goals. For official club details, please visit our website: https://northmelbourne.toastmastersclubs.org/ We look forward to helping you unlock your full potential! 🚀🗣️

We invite you to come and practise your English with people from all over the world in a friendly environment. We are open to all levels from beginner to advanced. We have classes in small groups and you will be placed in one of these groups according to your level of English. Our free conversational English classes are every Thursday evening (except term breaks). If you are coming for the first time, please come on time for registration. Please note: English Corner is for non-native speakers. Our team of facilitators is really looking forward to having a wonderful time speaking English with you! **Please scan the QR code upon arrival to register your attendance.** If this is your first time, we recommend arriving a bit earlier to complete your initial registration. In case you aren't able to join us face to face we have an Online Alternate English Conversation Thursday class option too! Sign up for this on Meetup.

**Are Aliens Demons?** But it will be a good one! **VIDEO** [Aliens are Demons](https://youtu.be/xL9XdgkpmuU?list=PLkncBbpy4InqdxPGuvC5P_2ePQI-4Qs79) **Discussion Outline** Why are UFOs and aliens so elusive, hidden and seemingly unprovable? Why is the US government covering up alien visitation? Are aliens extraterrestrial or are they inter-dimensional beings?

**Atheists' Pub Evening.** Please join with us at the pub for drinks, informal conversation and fun. If you can't make it by 6pm, don't worry - we'll be there for a good 3 hours or more (sometimes to midnight), so turn up whenever you can make it. Children are welcome. From 6:00 pm on the first Friday of every month. For information contact: Andrew - 0438 043 050 or John - 0411 143 744

The denizens of the Mental Plane are as varied and complex as the landscapes they inhabit. Embodied and disembodied, conscious and unconscious, subtle and forceful, are the many presences that live within that realm. The Mental Plane is a living world - dynamic, responsive, and shaped by the quality and range of our thoughts. By engaging consciously with this realm we begin to realize that we are both residents and architects, actively contributing to the evolution of the Mental Plane itself. *‘The mental plane, as its name implies, is that which belongs to consciousness working as thought ; not of the mind as it works through the brain, but as it works in its own world, unencumbered with physical spirit-matter.’* from ***The Ancient Wisdom*** by Annie Besant **Wendy Dixon** has been a member of the Theosophical Society for over 54 years, attending the youth group for at least 4 years prior to joining the Theosophical Society at the age of 16 - a birthday present from her parents.. The works of Blavatsky, Hodson, Krishnamurti, Leadbeater, Taimni, Besant and the Dalai Lama are the cornerstones of her ever-continuing studies. Prior to becoming a National Lecturer for the Theosophical Society, Wendy had a successful career as an international soprano soloist and as a tertiary academic lecturer. She now also holds the position of Administrative Officer at the Australian Section of the Theosophical Society.

Welcome! Last month, we trialled Dymocks Cafe for our venue and people loved it. So we're going to meet there this month too. **HOW TO FIND US** When you enter 234 Collins, go down the escalator to the basement where Dymocks is (you can't miss it, there's books and people everywhere), turn right and you'll see the cafe next to the cashier. Come up the stairs and join us. **ITINERARY** 11am: Meet at Dymocks Cafe (upstairs) inside Dymocks Bookstore, 234 Collins St. Choose your seat. Order a drink to support the cafe. (They have a decent range of sweet and savoury snacks.) Enjoy your book. 12.15pm: Let's chat about what we read, what we loved, and why. 1pm: End of event. [OPTIONAL EXTRA] For those who are not too tired, we can go for lunch together after the event. **COST:** There is an organizer fee of $5 for this event. You can bring cash on the day or PayID me at 0403 413 056 (Serena Low). **GETTING THERE:** The closest train stations are Town Hall (4 min) and Flinders St (6 min).

We read Sally Hepworth’s novel Mad Mabel, about an 81yo Melbourne woman with a big secret - as a 15yo she murdered someone.

Please join us this Sunday to discuss David Hume. Hume (1711-1776) was a highly influential Scottish philosopher known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. We will meet at the Captain Melville at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp. **Please note the new $5 mandatory donation entry fee** (cash or transfer on day) to help with MeetUp subscription costs, venue costs, etc. There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. This event is also posted to the Philosophy Circle group. Topic questions will be forthcoming. Hope to see you there!

I have been studying the question of "self" online with Prof. Ellie Anderson and so I thought a prompt on the "self" might be interesting. Full confession: I had Claude create this prompt and I like it, so here goes: Imagine a thought experiment that merges two classic puzzles: > You undergo a procedure, performed neuron by neuron, in which every biological component of your brain is replaced with a functionally identical synthetic substitute. At each step, your behavior, memories, and personality remain unchanged. When the last neuron is swapped, is the consciousness experiencing the world still you? And — more pressingly — was there ever a continuous "you" to begin with? ### Questions to Wrestle With * If consciousness is purely physical, does the *gradual* nature of the replacement matter, or is it equivalent to being destroyed and rebuilt? * Could there be a "self" without continuity of experience — even moment to moment, while you sleep? On a more practical level, consider the simpler case first: **hemispherectomy** patients — people who have had an entire cerebral hemisphere surgically removed — often retain a strong sense of personal identity and continuity. This suggests "you" are not rigidly tied to specific physical material. But does that vindicate the synthetic neuron case, or merely show that identity is more *flexible* than we thought — not that it can survive *complete* substrate replacement? I used Claude so I could get this out today and let everyone have some time to consider it. Hope to see you at the Oracle. Sorry about the location change two weeks ago. That's what I get for trusting local weather predictions!

Join us as we discuss our June pick: Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider! Book description: Even though she's not one of them, Brynn has spent her life among the Alaha, training to be a guard and waiting for the chance to attend the annual market hosted by the Kenta–the very same people who exiled her adopted community to a life at sea. Going to the market is a rite of passage eagerly anticipated by all young guards, but Brynn does not anticipate breaking a century-long peace treaty while there. Nor does she plan for the intense encounter with an enemy soldier that now threatens to unwind the fragile coexistence between their people–and everything Brynn once believed about herself to be true. Brynn's loyalty to the Alaha is tested when the truth of her identity is brought to light by this soldier who's taken an oath to bring her back to where she belongs. Narrowly escaping death on the violent high seas, Brynn's connection to the Alaha is further tested when she learns about the world of magic she's been denied. She was once certain of her fate and where she belonged, but the dark, knowing eyes of this stranger have her questioning everything, including her heart. Packed with knife fights and seafaring adventure, METAL SLINGER is the smash-hit start to the romantic fantasy duology, the Fire & Metal series

[Columbus library link to book](https://cml.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S105C3351321) Location: The Goat River South 219 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215 Street parking is free on Sundays [Menu](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/686d3ed16745133042482c5f/t/68ff654dbb03b96875430bde/1761568077220/all_brunch-20250311.pdf) Book summary: On a hot day in Bethlehem, a twelve-year-old Palestinian-American girl is yelled at by a group of men outside the Church of the Nativity. She has exposed her legs in a biblical city, an act they deem forbidden, and their judgement will echo on through her adolescence. When our narrator finally admits to her mother that she is queer, her mother's response only intensifies a sense of shame: 'You exist too much,' she tells her daughter. Told in vignettes that flash between the U.S. and the Middle East--from New York to Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine--Zaina Arafat's debut novel traces her protagonist's progress from blushing teen to sought-after DJ and aspiring writer.

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Let’s meet and share discussion of the James Baldwin short story collection, Going to Meet The Man.

We've moved to guild.host Look for us there. https://guild.host/events/buckeye-cocoaheads-nscoders-tcbrk5