Ancient Civilizations

Socrates Café meets on the first Saturday of each month. Though this may be considered a "philosophical" group, there are no rules as to what is discussed. Usually, the topics revolve around social concerns, morality, and the first principles of things. Prior to each meeting we vote online for the questions we will discuss. That way, we will have enough time to ruminate on them and have more in-depth conversations. If you RSVP to a meeting, you may post your question in the event comments section below. I'll send out a survey for voting a few days prior to the meetup. We discuss two questions each night. So you will get to cast two votes in the survey. When we meet, we break into smaller groups of five to seven to discuss the top two vote-getters. Each group discusses one question for around 45-50 minutes, and we then take a short break. After reconvening, each group moves on to its second question. Hope to see you there! -Brian

Please join us for our next **Friday gathering** on **March 6, 2026** for an evening of warm fellowship and insightful discussion. We'll start at **7:00 pm** with **refreshments** at the **Alexandria Bahá’í Center**. The discussion will begin at 7:30 p.m. on **One Human Family.** One Human Family is a core tenet of the Bahá'í Faith, expressing the fundamental belief in the oneness of humanity. This principle calls us to recognize the essential unity of the human race and to work toward eliminating prejudices of race, class, gender, and nationality. In our increasingly interconnected yet divided world, this teaching is more vital than ever—it challenges us to move beyond superficial differences and build a global civilization founded on justice, equality, and shared purpose. The presentation will be led by Trisha Irons, a member of the Alexandria Bahá'í community who enjoys volunteering her time working with families in many community-building activities.

In the first 30 minutes of class, Qi Gong(5 organ and spirit enlivening)exercises are taught. In the last hour, the class is divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced groups and are taught Lao (old) Yang Tai Chi Chuan.

Expect a fun afternoon of drawing and socializing with like-minded artists! Although each Session is 3 hours, feel free to drop in as your schedule permits. This is a casual gathering, and we know that people might only be able to stay a little while -- drop in, and stay, as long as you are having fun, and as your day allows. **Note: about RSVP's, please respect the RSVP process. If you RSVP YES, you are commited and we are all looking to seeing you. If your plans change however, that's OK, but please be courteous and change your RSVP to NO. We are reaching the headcount limit regularly now and it is rude to take a spot and not relinquish it if your plans change... Respect others; don't be rude. Thank you for your cooperation**. All skill levels are welcome -- this is not a competition. This Group and all its Events are intended to be in equal parts, Drawing/Art AND Socializing. As such, conversation is expected and encouraged. ***However, in all cases, please refrain from discussion of Political topics.*** Our goal is enjoyment, in the form of drawing together while socializing, and political conversation is too polarizing for that to happen. We are looking forward to seeing you there! **Note (in parting): Be aware, and keep in mind that our group, meeting as it does at Starbucks, depends on this business's generosity for the space it allows us. As such, please make a point of purchasing something from the business to express our appreciation as a group using their facility. If you are experiencing hardship and can't afford a modest purchase, get my attention discreetly, and arrangements will be made with no judgment whatsoever. Thank you for your understanding... Michael (your host)**

It's almost spring! That means, it's time for the Firefly House's annual Foundations class series. These classes are meant to provide students the opportunity to learn about the House and about our way of being Pagan. For the first class of our seven-class series, we'll be covering an introduction to the House and its way of being Pagan. Because Wicca is a formative part of our House's foundations, and we honor that foundation, we'll be talking a lot about it during this and the first few classes. But, rest assured, if you're not Wiccan, you're 100% welcome to join us as much as you're able and interested. Additionally, this first class goes over some key terms that we tend to use which, like "Paganism," can have a variety of meanings. Including them in an introductory video helps us to proceed onto the subsequent classes with a shared vocabulary and understanding. When you RSVP for this class, you'll be asked to provide an email address. We'll send you a link to the class video at that address as soon as possible after we receive it. We keep won't share your email with anyone ever. Watch the video before the class date and time, and come to class with any questions you might have. During the class session, we'll be going over anything from the video you wanted to review, and then for the remainder of the time, you can ask us anything you'd like about the House or Paganism in general and we'll do our best to answer. If you're comfortable with it, join us at the MLK Memorial Library in the Room 401-D to join the conversation in-person. Masks will be welcomed, but not provided, for in-person attendees. We will also have the necessary technology to allow folks to join in online via Google Meet if you prefer to attend remotely. Video conferencing information will be sent out the morning of the event. If you're connecting that way, please give us a few minutes past 3:30pm to get the stream online. This class is a part of our [foundations class series](https://docs.google.com/document/d/18-tA9ewEm1YEvY26jlWq07F2DT_-_HKwd-_wnl0l84g/edit?usp=sharing), which is only required if you wish to join the Firefly House as an initiate. If that does not interest you, then feel free to skip classes that you find less important for your journey. If you want to keep your options open with respect to initiation but cannot attend this session at the listed date and time, please contact the event host prior to the session. Keep in mind, you can only miss two of seven sessions in this way. Time spent with initiates of the House and your fellow classmates is an important part of knowing if you want to initiate. If you don't initiate, regardless of the reason, you're still welcome to all of the public events we organize. If you would like to, feel free to [join our Discord](https://discord.gg/RrS9XNzf9X) to chat with others in the Firefly House between sessions. This is also a great place to ask for help if you've lost a link to a video, for example. \*\*\* The Firefly House seeks to provide a friendly, safe environment in which all participants can engage in productive dialogue, sharing, and learning with each other in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We are committed to providing a harassment-free environment for all, regardless of gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body type, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices. If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact the host.

We will be playing up to two games of Power Grid. All experience levels welcome. Expect the game teach to start promptly within the first 10 minutes. Power Grid is an economic network building strategy game with a fluctuating commodities market and an auction round. The objective of Power Grid is to supply the most cities with power. Players mark pre-existing routes between cities for connection, and then bid against each other to purchase the power plants that they use to power their cities. As power plants are purchased, newer, more efficient plants become available, so by merely purchasing, you're potentially allowing others access to superior equipment. Additionally, players must acquire the raw materials (coal, oil, garbage, and uranium) needed to power said plants (except for the 'renewable' windfarm/ solar plants, which require no fuel), making it a constant struggle to upgrade your plants for maximum efficiency while still retaining enough wealth to quickly expand your network to get the cheapest routes. Find [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfvCc9uGN-U&pp=ygUWaG93IHRvIHBsYXkgcG93ZXIgZ3JpZA%3D%3D) a how to play video on youtube. Find [here](https://www.riograndegames.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Power-Grid-Recharged-Rules.pdf) the rulebook. Note: Please remember to update your RSVP if you can not attend the event. By updating your RSVP when you can't make it other players on the waitlist will have a chance to attend. No-shows may make it harder to attend future meetups. Also, all library rules apply to this meetup event. Mainly that no food is allowed in the library. Covered drinks are allowed.

As divine, immortal Soul, we have an inborn connection to the Creator. This unbreakable bond of love, support, and guidance can allow us to live life productively, joyfully, and adventurously. However, it can be challenging to remember and use our gift of spiritual communication. Singing HU – a sacred sound and ancient mantra – can help us recognize, strengthen, and consciously maintain this deep connection. During a lively, interactive session, we’ll explore how HU, the Sound behind all sounds, can: · Fill us with peace and re-ignite our dreams. · Help us face challenging situations with confidence. · Bring more love into our life **now.** We look forward to seeing you then. If you wish, you can download a free ebooklet about the HU at: [www.eckankar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/HU-Your-Key-to-Spir-Living_ebooklet.pdf](http://www.eckankar.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/HU-Your-Key-to-Spir-Living_ebooklet.pdf) A flyer for this event is available for you at: [https://eck-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Poster-for-March-8th-2026-HU-Key-to-Spiritual-Living-Rev-1.pdf](https://eck-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Poster-for-March-8th-2026-HU-Key-to-Spiritual-Living-Rev-1.pdf)

A Starfinder Society Scenario designed for 3rd- through 4th-level characters, playable in 2-3 hours. Kor-Montak is an ancient ritual site where shobhads of old communed with the spirits of the planet Akiton itself. A place of power and pilgrimage, Kor-Montak was abandoned sometime during the Gap and is believed to be cursed. In the ensuing centuries, numerous mystics, leaders, and warriors attempted the pilgrimage up the glacier passes to Kor-Montak, but none returned and Kor-Montak remains a place of myth and memory, lost to time but never forgotten. Impressed by the Starfinder Society’s dedication and ingenuity on a recent joint rescue mission, shobhad geomancer Aruk has invited the Starfinders to explore Kor-Montak and determine the cause of its long-standing curse. Aruk is hopeful the Starfinders can break the curse and return Kor-Montak to its people, as the Starfinder Society is known the galaxy over for their expertise in excavating ancient ruins and handling strange magic. Will you survive the ruins of the world soul? This is an adventure in the ongoing Invasion's Edge metaplot. Written by David N. Ross.

***Please join us as we continue a course of study on the spelling of the Hebrew letters. Our 8th session will be the spelling of Cheth (Cheth Yod Tav) relating to Tarot Key 7. We will be exploring ideas about the spelling of Cheth to illuminate our understanding of The Chariot.*** ***No prior preparation is needed and membership in B.O.T.A. is not required. We'll be providing handouts.*** ***Looking forward to sharing in the Ageless Wisdom as we grow in Understanding together!*** ***Fraternally yours in L.V.X.,*** ***Roger***

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available. It also is being staged at Penn Social in DC on March 17th, and tickets remain available then.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Ireland’s Fight for Freedom,”** with Kevin Matthews, assistant professor of history at George Mason University and former London correspondent for Vatican Radio reporting on British and Irish news. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-ireland-freedom](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/northern-virginia-ireland-freedom) .] After centuries of struggle, Irish men and women won their freedom from Great Britain after waging a war that set the pattern for all other independence struggles of the 20th century. But there was a price—the partition of their country, a split setting the stage for the Northern Ireland “Troubles” that didn’t end until 1998. Gain a deeper understanding of Ireland and its history with Professor Kevin Matthews, a historian and frequent Smithsonian Associates speaker who had served as a journalist covering the last stages of the Troubles in Ireland in the early and mid 1990s. He’ll discuss in depth how the Irish won independence in a two-year war between 1919 and 1921, covering topics as the role women played in the conflict, the life and tactics of the revolutionary leader Michael Collins, and the Irish development of “urban guerilla warfare” using small, highly mobile armed units called “flying columns.” Most important, this talk will examine how the conflict between Irish nationalists and Irish unionists led to Ireland’s division and later conflict. From the Easter Rising to the Good Friday Agreement, from Bloody Sunday to Brexit, this conflict has never quite gone away. As the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats once wrote: Now and in time to be, Wherever green is worn, Are changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born. Professor Matthews will explore how the Irish fought to a standstill what was then the mightiest empire in the world and how, more than he could have known, Yeats’ prediction still rings true today. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Members of the Irish Republican Army’s West Connemara Flying Column in 1921. (Public Domain photo.)

Can humanity truly reach its full potential without all of its members being free to reach and contribute their all? Is equality a tug of war where one side gains at another’s expense? Does empowering women require taking opportunities away from men, or does it actually strengthen the whole and create more opportunities and a better world for everyone? If a bird has one broken wing, it isn’t able to fly or live a full and healthy life. Could this same thinking apply to the balance of men and women? The two wings of a bird do not fight for power, strength or dominance. Both wings need to be of equal strength for the bird to soar. Can humanity truly advance if women do not enjoy the same rights, prerogatives and opportunities as men? How can we work to ensure that we are building communities where everyone has the same opportunities to grow and develop and to contribute to the advancement of humanity together? Come join a different kind of conversation – one that welcomes every perspective in a search for the truths that unite us all – as we discuss the spiritual perspective offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the essential equality of the sexes. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how achieving that equality is needed for all of humanity to progress and reach its full potential. *“The world of humanity has two wings – one is women and the other men. Not until both wings are equally developed can the bird fly. Should one wing remain weak, flight is impossible. ”* – Bahá’í Teachings \*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

WQC has weekly Thursday night social nights at the Westerville Java Central. Come and grab a coffee and connect with the community: low stakes, chill environment, and tasty drinks. No registration is required; come as you are.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

Join the CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group for a dynamic afternoon of B2B networking! This event is perfect for professionals looking to expand their business connections, share insights, and foster collaboration within the community. Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this event offers a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build relationships, and grow your network in a supportive environment. Connect with like-minded individuals, explore potential partnerships, and discover new opportunities for professional growth. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your business network and take your career to the next level with CONNECTED Westerville Mastermind Group! We meet the 4th Monday of every month from 11am-1pm. Welcome and general networking from 11am - 11:30am with core meeting 11;30 - 12:30 and a final round of networking from 12:30 - 1pm.

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Our March speakers are Molly Gaines and Zack Parrish, co-organizers of the Secular Education Association: They will share their story of how a small group of Ohio parents grew into a national organization tracking released-time religious instruction and other church–state issues in public schools. The presentation will cover SEA’s early wins and hard lessons, what we’re seeing nationally right now, and how local advocates can play a meaningful role in protecting public education. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the landscape — and practical ways to get involved. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Connected Westerville Night of Networking flips the script on networking, with surprises and connections that'll make you say, "Who knew networking could be this much fun?!"

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!