On Self

From all across the ancient world, people were drawn to the temple of Apollo at Delphi seeking divine insight from the lips of Apollo's oracle. But before they could enter, they passed beneath an inscription carved in stone: “Know Thyself”. It wasn't merely advice–it was a challenge, offered to seekers, rulers, and wanderers alike. Before you seek answers from the gods, look inward. Know who you are.

In today's world of shifting roles, curated identities, and constant comparison, we're encouraged to define ourselves, to know who we are. But what does that really mean? Is the self something buried within, waiting to be discovered? Is it something we shape through our choices? Or is it an illusion—a constantly changing flow of sensations, thoughts, and conditions, empty of fixed identity? From mystical traditions to modern psychology, we're offered many lenses—but no simple answers to this question.

In this session, we'll attempt to pass through the modern world's vale of performance and persona and heed that ancient call to “Know Thyself”. Together, we'll experience why the self has remained a mystery across the ages–perhaps even cross the threshold between what we seem to be and what we truly are.

Resources:
-Philosophy as a Way of Life, Chapter 7: Reflections on the Idea of the "Cultivation of the Self" by Pierre Hadot (I cannot suggest this book and author enough)
-Breath by Breath, Chapter 4: Breathing with Wisdom by Larry Rosenberg (specifically starting at the section Encountering Difficult Emotion)
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Though it's highly encouraged to arrive close to 18:30 in order to have more casual conversation before we jump into the discussion, the actual conversation won't begin until around 7:15. Please arrive by 7:15 as not to distract from the flow of the conversation, but if you must arrive later than please be considerate as you enter.

A note on attendance: If you need to cancel, please do so more than a few days before and change your attendance status before the day of to be considerate both of the host's effort and also others who would liek to attend. Repeated last minute cancelations or no-shows will result in your being placed in the waiting list for future events.