Ayn Rand

This course, facilitated by Wendy Dixon, explores the concepts and exercises in Wallace Slater’s book *A Simplified Course of Raja Yoga*, which follows the Yoga Sutras or Aphorisms of Patanjali. We meet online every Wednesday night and follow the 10-lesson structure created by Slater, allowing a month for each lesson. We will thoroughly explore each step, with time for discussion and practice. Each session contains material on one or more of the eight limbs of yoga, so named by Patanjali - self-restraint (yama), self-discipline (niyama), posture (āsana), control of breath (prānayāma), control of the sense (pratyāhāra), concentration (dhāranā), meditation (dhyāna) and contemplation (samādhi). Additional material is sourced from I. K. Taimni, Swami Vivekananda, H. P. Blavatsky and contemporary Raja Yoga books. We begin and close each session with sitting meditations. **This is an ongoing course that you can join at any time.** **COURSE LINK** Please click on this link to join: [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86376822389](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86376822389) Meeting ID: 863 7682 2389 Passcode: 251130 **Admission by Donation:** A suggested donation of $5 or more per session assists Blavatsky Lodge to continue to offer online Theosophical courses. Please donate via PayPal here: [https://tinyurl.com/blavatskylodgedonation](https://tinyurl.com/blavatskylodgedonation) or email info@tssydney.org.au for other payment options. The course is run by **Wendy Dixon**, a National Lecturer for the Theosophical Society in Australia. She has been a member of the Theosophical Society for over 53 years, attending the youth group for at least 4 years prior to joining the TS at the age of 16 years. The works of Blavatsky, Hodson, Krishnamurti, Taimni, Besant, Leadbeater and the Dalai Lama are the cornerstone of her ever-continuing studies.

**🌿 Eat Drink Dance Melbourne: The East Melbourne Garden Wander & Post Valentine De-Brief 🌿** **When**:Wednesday 18 February **Meet**: 6:00pm **Start**: 6:15pm sharp-ish (we respect punctuality… but only in theory) **Meeting point**: Corner of the Old Treasury Building & Treasury Gardens, Spring St **Duration**: ~1.5 hours **Finish**: Transport Bar at Fed Square or one of the floating Yarra bars for drinks & dinner **Vibe**: Flirty, leafy, semi‑exploratory chaos with excellent company **💘 The Mission (Should You Choose Your Own Adventure)** This is not a normal walk. This is a choose‑your‑own‑romantic‑comedy‑opening‑scene kind of walk. **We’ll drift through**: - The Treasury Gardens (soft lighting, perfect for accidental eye contact) - The Fitzroy Gardens (where half the trees look like they’ve seen things) - The gorgeous old terraces of East Melbourne (heritage architecture judging our life choices) - A pilgrimage to the MCG parklands (Aussie sacred ground, where legends are made and we pretend we know stats) - Then somehow — through charm, improvisation, and mild navigational chaos — we’ll find our way to the Yarra - And wander back via Birrarung Marr, glowing in the evening light like a group of very wholesome troublemakers The route is semi‑planned, which is a polite way of saying: Mark is making it up on the go, **🐾 Pets Welcome** Dogs and cats are absolutely invited to frillick (yes, frillick) with us. If your cat walks on a leash, they automatically become the main character. **🍸 The After‑Party** We’ll wrap up at Transport Bar or one of the floating Yarra bars for: - Drinks - Dinner - Flirtation - Debriefing about which tree was the prettiest - And possibly scouting for a last‑chance Valentine in case the 14th was a dud. **✨ The Vibe** Think: - Playful - Social - Lightly romantic - A little mischievous - And very Eat Drink Dance Melbourne **Bring**: - Comfortable shoes - A sense of humour - Someone you’d like to “accidentally” walk next to - Or just yourself — the group energy will do the rest **⏰ Timing & Rules (or lack thereof)** This is a social wander, not a Swiss train. We’ll aim to start at 6:15pm, but let’s be honest — we’re a group of charming chaos gremlins and it might drift a little. Leave whenever you like. Stay for the whole thing. Disappear mysteriously halfway through like a romantic subplot. It’s all good. **🚫 No Rules, No Pressure** This is one of the rare small-group events where I’m not enforcing any attendance rules. No-shows won’t be banished. Late arrivals won’t be judged but we may not be there when you get there. Ghosting is allowed (but only if it’s stylish). As the Nirvana song goes: Come as you are. Come along — or don’t. We’ll be wandering and frolicking either way.

The Naarm Solarpunk Meetup presents this special event to kick-off 2026. Our two speakers will take you through the high hopes that many of us had for the impact of the web on society, and the reality of corporate enshittified platforms that are destroying our ability to connect with our communities while building every more polluting data-centers. Please join us for an interesting evening as we walk through these ideas and meet like-minded people who care about using technology in service of **Sustainable**, **Resilient** and **Just** futures. **Reclaiming the Open Web** [Milly Schmidt](https://www.millyschmidt.me/) In the 2000s, a generation of nerds got online and found a wonderful place where you could learn to code, make things, share your art, be part of communities and feel welcomed. We blogged, we vlogged, we shared, we posted, we followed and we were followed. We found a beautiful world where we could connect with our friends and make new ones, all across the globe, and find the people who liked the same things we liked and feel less alone. We signed up for platform after platform, excited about the promise of a hyper-personalised web, where we would see recommendations and content based on our specific interests. We knew there might be some risks, but we thought it was worth it. In the 20 years or so since then, things have changed. The platforms that once connected us have mutated, transformed under a grim late capitalist ethos to be not just extractive, but no longer even for us. How do we get out of this mess? How do we find our way back to the promises of the early web, where we could connect with communities, friends and family, find joy and creativity and learning? And more importantly, what principles should we hold to ensure we don't make these mistakes again? **Neighbourhood-First Software** [Jade Ambrose](https://jade.hopepunk.me/) A vibrant ecosystem of open-source alternatives to big tech walled gardens is a critical part of building the free and open internet that we want, but technical requirements mean that this software is often only run by a small group of skilled enthusiasts. Neighbourhood-First software is hosted in cycling distance of your house, by volunteers in your local community, for the benefit of those less technical. In this talk, Jade will present a manifesto of Neighbourhood-First software, and discuss how it can help support local-first software, the Fediverse, and other key open source initiatives while also providing local resilience in an age of climate uncertainty. \-\-\- These talks were both previously given at Everything Open 2026, and don't require technical knowledge. We will provide some plant-based nibbles. Probably not enough for dinner, please feel free to bring anything of your own that you'd like to eat. This event will be hosted on the stolen, unceeded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. **Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.** **Accessibility info:** Balam Balam place is wheelchair accessible via lift. Wide corridors and accessible toilets are situated on each level. The grounds are entirely accessible via flat concrete paths and ramps. Mask wearing is very welcome. Our speakers will be unmasked while presenting. Please let us know if there's anything we can do to help you feel more able to attend this event.

**Details - Coding Night!** Bring your laptop and your iOS, visionOS, macOS, tvOS or watchOS project to the combined CocoaHeads & Android GDG coding night. Everyone is welcome to our all-ages alcohol-free event. Hosted in a professional environment to allow you to work on your project. Get help from industry experts who are on hand to help you out. • What we'll do: We'll help you setup up Xcode and start your first project. We'll help answer your questions re how to get to the next phase of your project. • What to bring: Your laptop, a copy of Xcode, a project you'd like to hack on. Before arrival, make sure you're grabbing a fresh copy of Xcode from the Mac App Store (Apple Menu then App Store then search for Xcode, Install. Link: https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/xcode/id497799835?mt=12) Doors open at 5:45 PM at our host the Mantel Group, Level 2/452 Flinders St Melbourne. Message via Meetup or Slack if you are arriving after 6:00 as the lifts won't let you up. The hack night will wrap up at 8:30.

Hi Radiant Ladies, Let’s enjoy a delightful day out at the Geelong Waterfront! 🚤 We will start with coffee at Mövenpick Hotel (opposite Southern Cross Station) before our scenic train ride to Geelong. Stroll along the waterfront, enjoy lunch. Don’t forget your Myki card! It’s going to be a fun day! Lyn ☕️💕

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.

Join us for weekly runs (Every Sunday) along the beautiful Docklands waterfront. Get fit, make friends, and have fun! Schedule as followed: 8:00 Meet at Boost Juice under Big Ferris Wheel 8:00-8:05 Warm Up Run towards Newquay 8:05-9:00 Run 9:00 - 9:10 Cool Down 9:10 Post Run Coffee & Breakfast at "Brotherhood Cafe" nearby Meeting Point: 440 Docklands Drive Meet in front of Boost Juice under the Big Ferris Wheel! Docklands, VIC 3008 Australia

Join Stephen Fiyalko, President of the Melbourne Theosophical Society for meditation, self attunement, study and discussion on the Laws of the Universe. We welcome all to join at 5:30pm for a 30 min Meditation and will begin the discussion group at 6:00pm. For those who prefer to just attend the discussion group you're welcome to arrive at 6pm. An understanding of and action within the Laws through our choices give practical tools for facing, managing and surmounting with confidence the many challenges we face in our daily lives, in society and the world itself. Ignorance of the Laws can leave us adrift to be buffeted and feel overwhelmed by stormy seas. Each week will look at one of the twelve Laws which are principles, not rules, seeking a deeper understanding of that Law, our and their inter-relationship with the other Laws. Discussion will involve sharing stories from our lives which contribute to a growing understanding and confidence in our lives. Each session is free, but donations are welcome.

Together we will explore the Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) as a guide to personal transformation. Most epic stories follow a similar pattern. An ordinary person faces a challenge, goes through trials, and emerges on the other side transformed. The first session is an overview of the Heroes Journey; we will follow Luke Skywalker ala Star Wars. This session will give participants the opportunity to self-reflect as we go through the stages based on the model created by Joseph Campbell. After the break - the second session - we invite you to take a deeper dive, through meditation, self-reflection and group ritual; you are welcome to bring a small object that holds meaning for the Temanos.

Join Theosophist Margaret Harris, PhD, in her continuing series of discussions, digging deeper into Astrology every Friday from 4:00pm - 5:30pm WHO AM I? It is not the fear of God' which is 'the beginning of wisdom' but the knowledge of SELF which is Wisdom Itself .. MAN KNOW THYSELF" (Blavatsky,1901, p.15, Studies in Occultism) KNOW THYSELF In this supportive weekly group, through an Astrological lens and connecting with our own birth maps, we explore books that can help us explore paths towards our spiritual unfoldment. Through a variety of texts, from both Theosophists and Astrologers, we look at the energetic connections we have with the heavens and how they can assist us as we journey from our personality selves to our spiritual selves. Various knowledges from participants are also welcomed and encouraged as we continue to work with the 3rd object of the Theosophical Society: "To investigate unexplained laws of Nature and the powers latent in the human being" The Society is a registered charity and these events are free, but donations are welcome.

Beloved Friends , You are warmly invited to join **Osho Dynamic Meditation** — a powerful space to release stress, let go of built-up tension, and breathe freely again. Through movement, breath, and silence, allow the mind to unwind and the body to relax. No experience is needed — just come as you are and reconnect with your true nature, with awareness, aliveness, and inner peace. We would love to share this meditative journey with you. http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/e/0/600_453663808.jpeg When : Every Saturday , 7:30am to 8:30am Where : Elwood Angling Club, Foreshore, Elwood Contribution : $15 "Just to be is such a great celebration if you know how to take the conditioning off. This 'taking off' you will learn through Dynamic Meditation. it will not be caused; it will come to you uncaused. Meditation will create a situation in which you will come to the unknown; by and by you will be pushed from your habitual , mechanical, robot-like personality. be courageous: practise Dynamic Meditation vigorously and all else will follow. it will not be you doing, it will be a happening" OSHO - Meditation the art of ecstasy With Love and Hugs, Bodhiprem * If you are coming along for the first time, please arrive 10 minutes early for instructions, Please see below a link for the Dynamic Meditation Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxr9MySioc&feature=youtu.be

**Nirvana Shatakam – Shankara's Six Verses on Freedom** Most spiritual paths tell you to become something. This teaching does the opposite. Through six ancient verses by Adi Shankara, you discover who you are by removing what you're NOT – the body, mind, and roles you play. What remains is your limitless nature that was always here. Over seven months, we'll unpack these verses line by line, transforming how you see yourself and your life. **What You'll Learn** * How you mistake yourself for body, mind, emotions, and roles * Why self-knowledge differs from self-improvement * Why you've never actually been bound – and what keeps that recognition hidden * What it means to recognise yourself as the sought, not the seeker **About the Teacher** Andre Vas teaches Vedanta full-time under the Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) lineage. As a former business owner, he relates deeply to householders juggling work, family, and inner growth. Known for making knowledge stick through lived experience, not just concepts. **Who This Is For** No prior background needed. For anyone noticing that acquiring more, achieving more, or becoming better doesn't stick. For those with burning curiosity and a hunger to know, understand, and live this wisdom. **I'll set up group discussions also to help us make new friends.** **When & Where** 📅 Feb 21, 2026 – Every Saturday, 2:00-4:00pm Melbourne time 📍 3 Anjaya Court, Blackburn, Melbourne **More info: [YesVedanta.com/nirvana](https://YesVedanta.com/nirvana)**

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

Sunday Lunch at Little Grand. Something for everyone at their Eatery. Enjoy a variety of culinary delights from Vietnamese and Italian to Cuban and Korean cuisines satisfying any craving. The market also boast two bars, serving craft cocktails & local brews.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

Wouldn’t it be nice to find a way to overcome your feelings of anger so that you not only control them, but you no longer have the urge to lose your temper in the first place? And how about being able to shake off resentments, persistent annoyance, or even feelings of vengeance? We’d like to invite you to an event on how to overcome anger and resentment. We will show you why people have trouble controlling their temper and where resentment comes from. Flaring anger can ruin a meeting, a relationship, an opportunity, or just about any aspect of life. Worst of all, outbursts towards our family can create hurt that lingers throughout a lifetime. You want to have a civil conversation, and you’ve vowed that you wouldn’t lose your temper, but a few minutes later, the anger flares up. Maybe you’ve realized that being angry doesn’t get you what you want so you internalize it. Or maybe you avoid the knockdown, drag-out fights, but stewing in resentment is exhausting and takes an emotional toll. In this event we show you how to get to the root of your anger so that it stops being an issue to you. You’ll also learn why people harbor resentments and how to move on. Don't continue to struggle, make a difference in your life, and join us for this local event. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to the event. We look forward to seeing you there. This Meetup is sponsored by your local Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

Welcome, readers! Our February read is **_1984 by George Orwell._** In 1984, George Orwell imagines a world where the government watches everyone, rewrites reality, and punishes even private thoughts. Winston Smith dares to question this system, believing that truth and love might still exist. His rebellion draws him into a chilling struggle against a power that knows him better than he knows himself. The novel leaves readers asking whether freedom is possible when reality itself can be controlled. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

This meeting will be an open discussion about the book "an Immense World" by Ed Yong