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Upcoming events (4+)
See all- "KNOW THYSELF" Astrology Workshop Based on Plato's REPUBLICPier 57, New York, NY
A HOW TO workshop on deciphering your own astrology birth chart in order to investigate your strengths, weaknesses, soul-level yearnings, fears and obstacles. In his dialogues, Plato recommended following the ancient Greek advice to "Know Thyself" and he gave a vague sketch for using astrology for that purpose. Since then, Western Astrology has been developed in order to fulfill that need.
This is the second of 6+ events that will meet in the OYSTER classroom at Pier 57. We will start by reviewing the planets covered last session and then discuss Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn in our own chart.
This workshop is entirely FREE but you must know your precise Birth Information, consisting of date, place AND TIME. The time should be listed on your birth certificate. Please print, or download onto a device, your personal birth chart from any of the many free websites available (astro.com is one of many) or download an astrology AP onto a device and enter your birth data there.
In both Plato's REPUBLIC and LAWS Socrates outlined a method that the philosopher-kings would use to come into full self-knowledge. The most advanced stage of the preliminary phase of that process rests on astrology as a means of boosting our capacity to see ourselves clearly; in other words, to use astrology as a mirror to examine ourselves. Each workshop session will include an instructional lecture on aspects of Socratic philosophy and astrological technique based upon the reading listed below.
Download these documents, Mercury Handout & Jupiter Handout to follow along with during the lecture. You don't need to read it in advance. Reading Linda Goodman's SUN SIGNS in advance will add tremendously to your capacity to benefit from this workshop but is not required. The more familiar your are with the basic descriptions of the 12 zodiac signs the quicker you will be able to read your own chart. Particularly, research in advance, if you can, the zodiac signs of your Sun, Moon, Venus and Mars placement using a Google search or YouTube.
If you need to arrive late, simply message me or comment below, no problem. Thanks
- Plato's Symposium (What is Love?) Book Discussion -week 2Pier 57, New York, NY
In the course of a lively drinking party, a group of Athenian intellectuals exchange views on eros, or desire. From their conversation emerges a series of subtle reflections on gender roles, sex in society and the sublimation of basic human instincts. The discussion culminates in a radical challenge to conventional views by Plato's mentor, Socrates, who advocates transcendence through spiritual love. The Symposium is a deft interweaving of different viewpoints and ideas about the nature of love—as a response to beauty, a cosmic force, a motive for social action and as a means of ethical education.
Join us to discuss this classic book over the course of 2-weeks!
Week 2 Sat 5/17 1-3pm
Reading for Week 2
201D to End or The section "Diotima Questions Socrates" to the end (roughly 33 pages)
Translation
Feel free to read any translation of the book you like. I will be reading the Nehamas & Woodruffe Translation
Physical copy available here
Free PDF availabe here *click the arrow at the top of the page to rotate the page counterclockwise*We follow a mindful conversation approach, details on this along with a general FAQ on how we run the meetup can be found here.
Reading is required to participate in the discussion, but not required to attend.Can't wait discuss these ideas with all of you!
-Zach - Ride the Tiger - Julius Evola | Part 2, Reading & DiscussionAce Hotel New York, New York, NY
Hi all,
This is part two of a two-part reading of superfascista Julius Evola and his esoteric far-right philosophical survival manual for modernity, Ride the Tiger: A Survival Manual for the Aristocrats of the Soul.
I'm partially copy and pasting from the first event here BUT - heavily inspired by the Traditionalist philosophy of René Guénon - our first reading in this adventure months back - and Friedrich Nietzsche, Evola's final text is written against the backdrop of the Second World War, the failure of Fascism, the rise of materialism, secularism, and moral decline - all of which Evola swiftly describes as an age of dissolution. Somewhat similar to Simone Weil's self-emptying attention recently discussed in our reading of On the Abolition of All Political Parties and the necessary presence in the world of Ellul, Evola advances in his twilight years a notion of apoliteia, an inner distance unassailable by society and its (as he perceives it) increasingly amoralistic and barbaric attitudes and values, a stance unaccepting of anything binding one to the present, a man both differentiated but integrated, not modern but capable of suffering modernity with nobility, etc. As with all of our thinkers, Evola is pursuing transcendence, via a defense of the world of being and dignity of those aristocrats who feel they belong to a different modality of humanity, wherein one might exist in full recognition of the desert that surrounds us, enabling us to "ride the tiger" so that we might supra-navigate the chaos and degeneration of the modern, technologically-saturated world that we're so unfortunate to inhabit. Or something like that, I don't know.
We will be picking things up starting with Part 5 (Dissolution of Consciousness and Relativism) and reading through the remainder of the text. So, pages 130 through 227. Read what you can, we had great discussions in the first meet-up even with folks that were only able to read a portion of the book.
I will be reading Godwin and Fontana's translation published by Inner Traditions. It is available here for purchase. Also available for free here.
As always, if you're unable to complete the book prior to our meeting, no worries - it's lengthy so we're just happy to have you and welcome whatever insights, critiques, questions, etc. you may have based on what you were able to read.
We will be meeting in the Ace Hotel lobby on W 29th. It's cozy, there are couches, there is lunch, there is wine (thank god), and there is a Stumptown Coffee in the front. It's great. Message me the day of if you can't find us. I usually sit toward the back next to the bar.
It bears repeating, this group is open to newcomers to Evola (preferred in this case), novices of philosophy, ragamuffins, ne'er-do-wells, urchins of all sorts, etc. Purely biographically, Evola is fascinating, and his recent resurgence and resonance with fringe fellas online is worth considering. Just be respectful and kind - it'll be great.
Alright, looking forward to it, and reach out to me with any questions in the meantime.
See y'all then!
- Plutarch Parallel Lives: DemosthenesLink visible for attendees
Demosthenes 384 – 12 October 322 BC) was a Greek statesman and orator in ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide insight into the politics and culture of Ancient Greece during the 4th century BC (from wikipedia).
We will be referencing this reading
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Lives/Demosthenes*.html
however any other version is great as well.This is a reading group in which we read from Plutarch's Parallel Lives about the virtues and faults of great leaders from ancient Greece and Rome. At the end of each life, we rate them for their leadership quality, virtues, entertaining reading, and legacy.
For our leader scoreboard, check out this Google doc:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K66HPHPO_elctuHjCLAWnv5w_3HCY8YbxEK4SgCa_Gg/edit#gid=0For questions please send me a message or post to meetup.
Zita
