Alchemy
Searching for the Philosopher's Stone? Come meet with others on the same path.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out alchemy events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the alchemy events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find alchemy events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Alchemy Events Today
Join in-person Alchemy events happening right now
IN PERSON STUDY & CONVERSATION GROUP - OCCULT SCIENCE
IN PERSON STUDY & CONVERSATION GROUP - OCCULT SCIENCE
WITH DAGMAR STEFFELBAUER
**Occult Science is not a collection of lectures but a written book by Rudolf Steiner. It is meant for studying the content. It is composed of VII Chapters and the study group has almost reached the end of chapter lV (Human and World Evolution). Soon the study group is going to enter chapter V in which Rudolf Steiner is focusing on our present time and tasks in which each individual Human Being is called to participate. We are using the translation by George and Mary SAdams.**
**All are welcome!**
**Further information: d.steffelbauer@gmail.com**
This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain and small donations towards expenses are welcome.
£ 3 / £2 .
Ealing Broadway Chess Social
Join our [whatsapp](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GvWcfGeLl8D91qKgZ4NkjA) for the latest updates!
Chess social event! Players of all levels welcome, there will be lessons available for free using a chess demonstration board alongside several chess boards to play yourself.
**Adults only!**
February 2026 Meetup
Elixir London Meetup; February 2026 edition. All are welcome.
**Session 1: Bryan Hunt - Faria Data Platform: Building a data platform in Elixir**
How to build an ETL pipeline using Amazon Athena, and Elixir: techniques, tools, UX, lessons learned.
**Session 2: Christoph Beck** **\- Structured Generation and Logits Processing with Elixir**
Ever tried to get a poem from an LLM doesn't contain the letter \`e\`? Large Language Models are kind of amazing and surprisingly unreliable at the same time. Using Elixir's Bumblebee and open source LLMs, you can get much better control over the generation. We introduce you to logits processing, and how it can be used to achieve what ChatGPT can not accomplish.
*The event is kindly sponsored by* [Verna](https://verna.earth).
**Time**
Doors open at 18, start at 18.30.
**Venue**
Geovation
F4, Sutton Yard, 65 Goswell Rd., London EC1V 7EN
**Refreshments**
Food and drinks will be provisioned on the day.
**IMPORTANT**:
**If you wish to take photos and post online during the event, please notify organisers first, so that attendees can opt-out from being in photos.**
Life Drawing Class in Chelmsford!
7:30 - 9:30 PM
Arrive 10mins before to set up
• Drawing materials & refreshments provided
• Tuition Available
• Professional lighting setup
• Parking on site, Rainsford Rd., or at nearby West End car park.
£12 per session / £10 students (cash only)
ALL abilities welcome!! Don't be shy...
We are a friendly and relaxed group.
Come Along and Try Out Our Mid-Week Silent Sufi Meditation
We will begin with a talk giving some background to the School of Sufi Teaching and our meditation practices. We will then sit together in meditation. Following this there will be an opportunity ask questions arising from your experience during the meditation.
Please arrive at 7.00pm so as to benefit from the short introductory talk. Meditation will commence at 7.30pm . The session should be completed by 9.00 pm.
The meditation will start promptly at 7.30 pm when the front door will be closed so as to ensure an undisturbed period of solitude.
Location of Meeting
**Entry is via the side door which is located in the side road between our building and the pub.**
**Follow the plant containers.**
253 Globe Road
London E2 0JD
https://goo.gl/maps/6Ng5rhHKsLXe16jz6
Nearest Underground Station is Bethnal Green
For individuals interested in learning more about Sufism, our practices and their transformational role on the individual we recommend reading
**Click here**
[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463)
**Turning Toward the Heart: - Awakening to the Sufi Way**
**Forty Questions and Answers**
Fems and Thems Social
Join us for our weekly Fems and Thems Climbing Social, a welcoming space for women and non-binary climbers to connect, climb, and have fun! Whether you're new to climbing or a seasoned pro, this social is all about building a supportive community and celebrating our shared love for the sport.
This is a relaxed, no-pressure environment designed to help you enjoy climbing while meeting like-minded people.
Open to all women and non-binary folks aged 18 and over.
Cost: £16 regular peak time entry at Bethwall Climbing centre (£2 registration fee might apply) + £4 rental shoes (chalk is provided
Come solo or bring a friend – everyone is welcome! Let’s climb, chat, and share some good vibes.
We can’t wait to see you there!
For any questions or accessibility inquiries, feel free to contact us in advance.
Winter Gong Bath in Barking
[BOOK HERE](https://www.benita-yoga.com/gong-bath-in-barking) spaces are limited !!!
Don’t predict anything that can happen in the gong bath, please bring an open mind with no expectations. This is an adventure. Just relax and drift off where the sound takes you 🙂
What to expect in Gong Bath?
You simply submerge in the sounds, in the ocean of sounds. All you do is lie comfortably on a mat, close your eyes and slow your breath. Just like during the relaxation after our Yoga class. You prepare yourself to become the receiver of sound. In the place of stillness you become more open and aware of each sound that comes in. Then I create the soundtrack… Your mind, body and soul is bathed with the tones of the Gongs and other instruments. The aim is to go into a deep state of relaxation, taking you to a space of neutrality, a space of bliss where the body’s natural healing process begins… It’s all about opening the passage of energy flow throughout the body to make you healthy and happy.
When you awaken, you are ready to come back to the outer world, revived, calm and full of energy.
What’s behind this technology of sound vibrations?
Sound has been used in various cultures for thousands of years to move us from a place of imbalance to a place of balance. The sound vibrations, confirmed by scientific research help return your body to a natural state of harmony. Sound helps to facilitate shifts in our brainwave state. Our fluctuating brainwaves are synchronised with a stable frequency which the brain can attune to. By using rhythm and frequency it becomes possible to down-shift our normal beta state (normal waking consciousness) to alpha (relaxed consciousness), and even reach theta (meditative state) and delta (sleep; where internal healing can occur). We experience our brainwave balancing to clear the mind, release stress from the nervous system and allow us to feel a deeper inner sense of peace, balance and vitality.
Alchemy Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
WHITTLE A SPOON
**Bookable via our website ➡️** https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/whittle-a-spoon-8/
**⋆⋆⋆**
Like spoons? You’ll love this.
If the idea of carving a spoon appeals to you, but setting out into a muddy wood and starting your learning by wielding an axe seems somewhat daunting, join us for a one-day course that will bypass all that and yet give you the immense satisfaction of watching a fully-fledged spoon emerge from your handiwork.
Each spoon will be carved using seasoned wood and we will use Lime – a light, silky smooth and close-grained wood- used by great master carvers in St Paul Cathedral and stately homes.
In one day, you will learn how to create a spoon from Lime wood- a traditional seasoned hardwood that holds detail and is a pleasure to carve with a cutout decoration detail in the handle. This can be a straight handle or a heart, but if you have an idea for a simple design, we can try and make this possible too.
Your spoon will be a gift to keep for yourself or give to your loved one.
This course is taught by Jon Hall, a talented professional City and Guild trained carver who teaches our one-day ‘Intro to Woodcarving’. We supply all the tools and materials and can advise you on which simple tools to buy to carry on this fascinating hobby.
Love Spoons.
In folk museums and heritage craft collections throughout Europe and the UK, you can sometimes see versions of these charming ‘Lovespoons’- some with one or two hearts carved out of their handles.
The traditional lovespoon was made by a man who gave it to his beloved in order to show his skills and commitment. Her father would also have been able to see the man’s craftsmanship.
Some of them are full of complex symbolism. A lock denoting security, a cross for faith, horseshoes for luck, bells for marriage and some including interlinked chains.
As a ‘pastime’, many hours were spent on them and sailors passed their free time embellishing them with mermaids and anchors.
One-day course 10.00 – 5.00pm.
CheckedIn - London Chapter - Speed Networking With The CheckedIn App
### 📍**CheckedIn London — Speed Networking for Real Connections**
CheckedIn London is built for one thing:
**helping you meet the right people faster—in real life.**
We get you out from behind the screen and into the room, where real conversations happen.
We show up at tech mixers, networking events, and industry gatherings across Leeds and use the **CheckedIn app** to turn quick introductions into meaningful connections—*on the spot*.
### 🚀 How Speed Networking Works with CheckedIn
At each event, the CheckedIn app helps you:
* Instantly connect with people you meet—no business cards required
* Follow up later without awkward LinkedIn requests
* Remember who you met, what you talked about, and why it mattered
* Turn short conversations into real collaborations, fast
Think of CheckedIn as the **spiritual successor to LinkedIn**—
but built for **in-person moments**, not endless scrolling.
No cold DMs. No forgetting names. Just tap, connect, and keep the conversation going after the event.
Whether you’re a founder, operator, creative, or curious professional, this is a space for conversations that actually go somewhere.
Come solo or bring a colleague.
No pressure. No pitches.
Just good people, efficient introductions, and momentum.
***
## 🌍 Help Us Grow CheckedIn
CheckedIn is expanding, and we’re actively looking for **chapter organizers** to help run and grow chapters in cities around the world.
If you enjoy:
* Bringing people together
* Hosting great events
* Building real community
We’d love to hear from you.
👉 Apply here: **[www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply](http://www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply)**
***
## 🌍 About This Chapter
CheckedIn is a **chapter-based, community-driven network**.
The Londonchapter is part of the wider CheckedIn community. On some occasions, the primary organizer may not be in attendance. These meetups are designed to be **self-led, welcoming, and participatory**—members take ownership of starting conversations, making introductions, and helping others connect.
If you show up, you belong.
If you tap in, connections start immediately.
**Join us. Check in. Connect faster.**
**CheckedIn — open the app and tap.**
Chess&Chats Weekly Women Social Casual Chess
Discover a unique chess community where we’ve created a friendly, positive environment for playing and learning chess, quite different from the ordinary, male-dominated clubs.
This is a place to feel at home, connect with like-minded people, and enjoy developing your chess skills within a supportive community.
What to Expect:
♟ Friendly games and casual play
♟ Coaching sessions for beginners and intermediate players
♟ Socialising with fellow chess lovers
♟ A welcoming and inclusive atmosphere
Ad exciting news: Series of Group Coaching on started on 15th November and a few more: [sign up here](https://pci.jotform.com/form/241475449120353)
At London Women Chess Club, we’re passionate about empowering women in chess. Our non-profit community is dedicated to creating a safe and engaging space for women and juniors to develop their skills, gain confidence, and enjoy the game.
Let’s celebrate the contributions of women in chess and build a vibrant, dynamic community together. Come and be part of something
We can’t wait to see you there!
[Join Us!](https://form.jotform.com/241453653475359)
[Instagram!](https://www.instagram.com/londonwomenchessclub)
THE BIG LOVE EXPERIENCE: Bioenergetics, Breathwork Journey, Ecstatic Dance
**🌿 The BIG Love Experience: an Urban Day Retreat (Bliss Beyond Fear)**
**Bioenergetic Alchemy • Breathwork Journey • Ecstatic Dance & Cacao**
**For booking and more info:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980481460361?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980481460361?aff=oddtdtcreator)
London life can make our nervous systems feel stressed/overwhelmed/exhausted etc... This day is a sanctuary from that.
The BIG Love Experience is a warm, grounded, heart-led “mini retreat” in the city: a full day of movement, release, music, connection, with a deep exhale.
Come for the whole journey, or drop into the sessions that call you.
**You’ll explore 3 powerful practices (each beautiful on its own, even better together):**
* **Bioenergetic Alchemy: Embodiment & Stress Release Workshop**
Discover simple yet potent practices to safely release tension, fear, and shock stored in the body, and reconnect with the underlying feeling: aliveness, ease, and love.
* **Breath of Love: Bioenergetic Breathwork Journey**
A deeply nourishing, guided breathwork session to reset your system, clear mental fog, soften the armour, and open creative states of consciousness... at your own pace, in your own way.
* **DESERT GROOVES: Ecstatic Dance+ Cacao Circle**
Finish the day with a high-vibration, mystical music-led, feet-on-the-floor, heart-in-the-sky dance journey.
No steps to learn. No performance. Just music, movement, and medicine-grade cacao to bring you home to yourself.
**✨ What this day is really about**
It’s about coming home to ourselves.
A space to move, feel, breathe, shake out the week (or the year), and remember what it’s like to be human again, connected, present, and a little more free.
You’ll be welcomed exactly as you are: tired, tender, curious, grieving, joyful, shy, bold... all of you is welcome here.
* “My classes follow a format of checking in with the body, warm-ups, grounding and building the body’s energy, then discharging the energy through movement and expression. This is followed by relaxation. The immediate result is a felt sense of security, vibrancy and exhilaration.” — Seth Newman
* Some spiritual teachings say we live from two root states: either love or fear.
This day is a gentle, embodied experiment in what happens when we release what the body has been carrying, and let LOVE be the default setting again.
The Kalahari Bushmen call this natural state: “The Big Love.”
* **🗓️ Schedule**
**◈ 11:45am – 2:30pm**
**The BIG LOVE Experience: Bliss Beyond Fear**
Bioenergetic Alchemy™ exercises & postures (similar to Yoga / Tai Chi), designed to help release tension and restore grounded confidence.
(Please bring a yoga mat & blanket.)
* ◈ Break — 60 mins
Tea/coffee available in the hallway.
* ◈ 3:30pm – 5:45pm
**Breath of Love: Bioenergetic Breathwork Journey**
Grounding + tapping + conscious connected diaphragmatic breathing.
Includes supportive space-holding, affirmations, aromatherapy and Reiki.
* ◈ Break — 1 hr 15 mins
Tea/coffee available in the hallway.
* ◈ 7:00pm – 9:45pm
**DESERT GROOVES: Ecstatic Dance / Movement Meditation + Cacao Circle**
Complimentary Raw Vegan Cacao provided (truly… so delicious).
◈ 9:45pm – 10:00pm
* Optional fruit social to nourish you after the dance.
✅ Come for the whole day — or drop in
* You’re welcome to attend:
All-day (full journey)
Bioenergetics & Breathwork Workshop only
Ecstatic Dance only
No experience necessary. All bodies welcome. All hearts welcome.
* 🌸 What to bring / wear
Yoga mat + blanket (for the day workshop + breathwork)
Water bottle
Comfy clothing you can move + breathe in
Optional: warm layers for relaxation, journal, eye mask
* 🌿 The vibe
Trauma-informed, consent-led, and deeply respectful. You are always in choice: you can rest, pause, or modify anything at any time.
* Come for the release and shake it out with us.
Stay for the Breath and breathe in vitality and prana.
Stay on for DESERT GROOVES and take all that energy higher!
Leave with the Best of who you are.
Chess@Hammersmith - London
**Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned master, join Our Chess Enthusiast Group for Social Fun and Friendly Matches**
**This is the perfect opportunity to socialise, make new friends, and engage in the intellectually stimulating and entertaining world of chess.**
**Our chess group is a diverse and inclusive community, welcoming individuals from all backgrounds and experience levels. We believe that chess is a game that transcends age and gender, uniting people in the pursuit of strategic brilliance and camaraderie. Whether you're a novice looking to learn the ropes or a grandmaster seeking challenging opponents, our group is the ideal place for you.**
**When and Where We Meet**
**We gather every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at a convenient and accessible location:**
**Venue: 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8PW**
**Our chosen venue is not only a clean and safe space but also secure, ensuring that your chess sessions are enjoyable and worry-free.**
**Additionally, there is an indoor cafe on-site, so you can relax with a refreshing beverage and delicious snacks between matches.**
**What to Expect**
**When you join our chess enthusiast group, you can look forward to a variety of chess-related activities:**
1. **Engage in chess matches with players of varying skill levels, providing a perfect opportunity to improve your game or showcase your expertise.**
2. **Connect with fellow chess enthusiasts who share your passion, fostering new friendships and a sense of community.**
3. **If you're a beginner, our more experienced members are always willing to offer guidance and tips to help you grow as a chess player.**
4. **We occasionally organise chess tournaments and special events, allowing you to challenge yourself and compete for prizes.**
**Reserve Your Space**
**Due to space limitations, we kindly request that you reserve your spot before attending our chess gatherings. This ensures that we can accommodate everyone and maintain a comfortable atmosphere for all participants. To reserve your space or inquire about the group, please reach out to us via email magdyelalfy@gmail.com**
**While we do provide chess sets at our venue, we encourage members to bring their own if they have one. Personalising your chess experience with your preferred set can add a unique touch to your games.**
**Join us at 245 Hammersmith Road, London, W6 8PW, and be a part of a vibrant and engaging chess community. Whether you're in it for the love of the game, the social interactions, or both, our chess enthusiast group offers a fantastic platform to indulge your passion for chess and make new friends along the way. We look forward to welcoming you into our fold and sharing the joy of chess with you.**
**For reservations, Click attend on the meetup App.**
**Come and make your next move with us – both on the chessboard and in your social circle!**
DESERT GROOVES: Mystical Ecstatic Dance & Cacao Ceremony - Ecstatic Dance London
**ECSTATIC DANCE LONDON presents:**
**DESERT GROOVES - an evening of Mystical & Uplifting Dance Music, Cacao Ceremony, Live Percussion, Visuals & Fruit Social** **7pm-9:45pm**
Ecstatic Dance London - Pioneers of the Ecstatic Dance scene in the UK since 2009
You are warmly invited to join us for our freestyle, expressive dance & moving meditation sessions. This is a unique sober Saturday night dance in London!
**For Booking and more info:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981566615088?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1981566615088?aff=oddtdtcreator)
**WHAT IS "DESERT GROOVES" ALL ABOUT?**
Many of us know that certain music genres can take us into deep states of Flow. Tuning us to aspects of ourselves that we perhaps have lost touch with. And that, through dance, movement & expression, we can begin to reconnect with the wonder, openness, and ecstatic nature of our being.
This kind of dance-as-meditation has been practiced throughout the ages, as a primordial way of connecting us with something far greater than our individual selves.
Ecstatic Dance London offers this event as an invitation to come and dance to OPEN-UP, release city stress, dance in more light and joy, and make new friends - all accompanied by a transformational mystical euphoric & uplifting dance music set to connect us deeply with our dance, our hearts, and our creativity.
We'll be including delicious ceremonial grade cacao and a beautiful cacao ceremony/guided meditation facilitated by Seth to connect us with our body, our heart, and positive intention.
No prior experience of ecstatic dance is necessary.
All are welcome.
**📌ECSTATIC DANCE GUIDELINES**
\- No booze\, No Shoes\, No phones\, No Chit Chat\, Move However You Wish\, Respect yourself and others\.
\- Zero\-tolerance drug and alcohol space\! This is one of the very few spaces where Londoners can go out dancing in London in a safe and clean sober space\. Please respect this\, and please don't come drunk or high as you will be refused entry or asked to leave\. \- No refunds\.
\- Dancers enter at their own risk\. Event organizers accept no responsibility for spontaneous joy\, open\-heartedness or sore cheeks from too much smiling \(we also accept no liability or responsibility for any injury\, loss or damage\)\.
\- Few photos/videos may be taken during the event by the event organizer for promo/marketing purposes\.
**SCHEDULE:**
◈ 7pm-7:30pm Doors Open/ Check-in For Ecstatic Dance/ Warm up (No entry after 7:30pm sorry, this is so we can all journey together)
◈ 7:30pm-9:45pm Cacao Ceremony, Positive Intention Setting/ Ecstatic Dance SoundWave
◈ 9:45pm-10:15pm Optional fruit social to nourish you after the dance
IN PERSON EVENT - POETRY EVENING
IN PERSON EVENT - POETRY EVENING
WITH BARNABY TOBIAS AND IAIA CHIESA
**Join us in the bookshop on the third Thursday of every month for the sharing of poems; either yours or another’s you admire. There will be some discussion around the poem and short tea break halfway through.**
**Iaia is a poet and activist, who’s published several volumes of poetry.**
**Barnaby is an actor and playwright, who’s worked for Netflix, RSC and written plays to critical acclaim.**
**Drop in event with no need to book.**
**Cash donations are welcome.**
**More Information:**
**rsh-bookshop@anth.org.uk**
This group is run under the auspices of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain.
Alchemy Events Near You
Connect with your local Alchemy community
Soul Soothing Sound Bath
Join Sacred Sound Alchemy Columbus for a transformative Sound Bath experience that will take you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Immerse yourself in the powerful vibrations of various sound instruments like crystal singing bowls and rain drums, carefully orchestrated to balance your chakras and uplift your spirit. The soothing sounds will help you release negative energy, reduce stress, and promote deep relaxation.
This event is perfect for those seeking a moment of tranquility and a chance to connect with their inner selves. Whether you are new to sound healing or a seasoned practitioner, you will benefit from the harmonious frequencies that will resonate with your body and soul. Come and allow yourself to be enveloped in a wave of healing energy, leaving you refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for life's next chapter.
Please bring something comfortable to lay on like a yoga mat. Being a pillow for your head or for under your knees and a blanket to cover over yourou. The library can get cold. Bring some water to help flush your body for after the session.
Psychic Development Series II - Pueo Group
Private Group. Closed to the Public
Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy.
In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected.
The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve.
I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia
Columbus Chess Club
This is a time where players of all ages, and skill levels can gather and enjoy a nice Sunday full of Chess!
Pranic Healing Level I - PH I--- DAY 2 of 2
MCKS PRANIC HEALING® Level I
In PRANIC HEALING® Level 1, you learn the basics of working with your energy aura, including learning to "scan," or feel the energy, to "sweep," or clean away congested energy, and to "energize," or supplement areas in your aura that have a pranic deficiency.
PRANIC HEALING® has been taught to doctors, nurses, massage
therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, shiatsu practitioners, and many others in the healing field. It has allowed them to heal confidently and consistently in the shortest learning time possible. These professionals find PRANIC HEALING® very effective and easy to apply.
Other topics covered in PRANIC HEALING® Level 1:
Energetic anatomy: You will learn to work with the network of chakras, meridians and auras to accelerate the healing processes of your body.
Preventive healing: You will learn to remove the negative energetic patterns of a disease to prevent it from fully manifesting as a physical ailment.
Self-Pranic healing: You will learn to apply these healing techniques to accelerate your own healing.
Step-by-step techniques for ailments related to your:
respiratory system, e.g., asthma,; circulatory system, e.g., heart ailments; gastrointestinal system, e.g., irritable bowel syndrome; musculoskeletal system, e.g., arthritis and back pain; reproductive system, e.g., menstrual problems. You'll also learn how to address common problems as migraines and sinusitis.
Additionally, you'll learn to apply distant healing to loved ones who are not present in the room with you.
All PRANIC HEALING® courses are "experiential," which means that you learn by actually performing the techniques and exercises in class - on yourself and those around you. During class, all the principles will be explained thoroughly and you will practice the techniques exhaustively so you will be confident in your ability to produce positive results when you finish the course.
This is Day 2 of 2 Attendance at day one is required to attend day 2.
The Course text book is Choa Kok Sui, "Miracles through Pranic Healing" Please bring this with you to class.
PRANIC HEALING® Level 1 is a prerequisite to all other GMCKS courses.
For those interested to review the class...Review fee is only $75!!
LOOK AT THIS!! Review for FREE when you bring a new student to class with you.
Let's Create with Jaina and Michelle
Welcome to the first Let's Create.
You will receive supplies to create one or more cards (but not the one pictured .. not this month anyway). These events are usually held at Day's Paper Palace (my home). However, this is a placeholder for the event and it may be moved to the Grove City Library.
If you are new, you will not need to bring supplies. They will be provided.
Philosophy of Friendship: What are the bases of "friendship"?
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!



















