Cosmic Conversations & Chill Over Coffee

Are you curious about the mysteries of life, the universe, and everything in between? Join us for a fun, casual and thought-provoking social exploring enjoyable but fascinating conversations on interconnected questions relating to everything from science to philosophy to the unexplained over a delicious mug of coffee.

Hosted by a former international Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher in pursuit of the "truth", they'll be no strict structure - just a relaxed and friendly open space to chat, share experiences, exchange ideas, and try out some fun games. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using fun exploratory divination practices.

Whether you're a spritualist already or just beginning to ponder life’s big questions, you’re welcome to join the lively discussion. Some topics might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains paranormal experiences? What could reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show they used noetic sciences - why? Is Nirvana (not the band!) just fantasy?

As well as illuminating chats guiding self-reflection, there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun!

To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, the mind, and the mysteries of reality, not religion. After all, as my very posh philosophy professor once said: "If God created Adam, who created God?"

I may also share the latest empirical evidence surrounding paranormal and consciousness phenomena as well as consider potential explanations from neuroscience, metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy.

=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===

1. Does consciousness survive death or is Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if ghosts existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Was the Enfield Poltergiest 100% hoax? Brain scans by Neurologists shows thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive consciousness - so how can our spirit/mind live on after brain death?
2. Is synchronicity/coincidence simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein famously called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it?
3. Are "mediums" just highly sensory people readers and skilled extrapolators? If not, how are they able to connect with dead people? Is Tyler Henry the real deal?
4. Could the limits of our understanding in quantum physics explain paranormal experiences?
5. Given neuroscience is in it's infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta wave states? Is the Mandela Effect real? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them?
6. The laws of probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there must be other non-microbial life out there. If so, what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was the 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star?
7. Do photons omitted by our bodies explain auras?
8. Stephen Hawking once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If the behaviour of matter is affected by observation (double slit experiement), does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery by scientists of quantum superposition & disappearing neutrons imply parallel universes must exist?
9. Could Metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs thoeries from the psychology literature. Or do we just live in a simulation as Elon Musk proposes?
10. Do NDEs result from neurochemical changes in the brain close to death or something beyond physicality?
11. What existed before the big bang - how do you get something from "nothing"?

SO HOW DO WE GET TO THE "TRUTH"?
Both in my journalism days and current consulting work applying the most advanced empirical research techniques - it becomes clear that the truth is very elusive. What we think we know and actual reality diverge leading to that great paradox of knowledge. And as the boundary between the knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and just more questions.

In that spirit - like every credible philosopher & scientist already knows we'll never get to the complete truth but could experimental methods lead us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? What about the "spirituality" toolkit?

=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===
We'll meet inside the venuee. I'll be wearing a Starwars identifier and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number

Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answers (and of course Susan )