Bamboo

**A cacao & drum ritual to nurture your 2026 intentions** ​✨ About the Ritual ​Early February carries a quiet but potent energy. Winter is not yet over — and yet, beneath the surface, life is already moving. ​This ritual is an invitation to **slow down, soften, and consciously nourish the seeds of what you wish to bring to life in 2026**. ​Cacao, as a sacred plant medicine, supports the opening of the heart — not by force, but by gently expanding our capacity for **self-love, compassion, and inner listening**. As a plant, cacao also reconnects us to the Earth, reminding us that growth happens through care, patience, and presence. ​Supported by breath, sound, movement, and community, this ritual offers a grounded space to: * ​reconnect with what truly matters to you * ​clarify intentions for the year ahead * ​embody love not as an idea, but as a lived experience *** ​🌿 What to Expect \| Ritual Flow ​The experience unfolds in a carefully held and progressive way: * ​**Welcoming & arrival** Grounding into the space and the group * ​**Breathing and somatic practices** To calm the nervous system and prepare the body * ​**Guided cacao ritual** Drinking high-quality, ritual-grade cacao, prepared with intention Accompanied by a gentle guided meditation * ​**Drum meditation** A deep, rhythmic journey to support inner clarity and emotional release * ​**Conscious dance** Allowing insights and emotions to move through the body * ​**Closing circle** Integration, sharing (optional), and grounding before returning to daily life ​No previous experience with cacao ceremonies, meditation, or dance is required. *** ​🤎 About the Cacao ​The cacao used in this ceremony is: * ​**100% pure, ritual-grade cacao** * ​ethically sourced * ​prepared slowly and mindfully, with intention for the process and the group ​Cacao is **not** a psychedelic substance. Its effects are subtle, heart-opening, and grounding. *** ​⚠️ Important Health Information (Please Read) ​Cacao is generally safe for most people, but **it is important that you inform the host *before registering*** if you have any of the following: * ​serious heart conditions * ​uncontrolled high blood pressure * ​are taking antidepressants (especially MAO inhibitors) * ​are pregnant or breastfeeding ​If you are unsure, you are warmly invited to contact the host to check whether this experience is suitable for you. ​This helps ensure the ritual remains safe, respectful, and supportive for everyone. ​📩 *Contact:* +32 477 96 78 99 *** ​🍵 Practical Information * ​**Please avoid heavy meals** for at least 2–3 hours before the ritual * ​**Drink water** during the day and bring a water bottle * ​Wear **comfortable clothes** that allow movement * ​Bring anything that helps you feel grounded (warm layers, shawl, notebook) *** ​🎟️ Tickets & Contribution **Places are limited.** Reserve your spot soon! ​**Standard ticket:** On 07/02/2026: 48 EUR Advance ticket (03/02 till 06/02): 44 EUR Early bird (till 02/02) and joining the [whatsapp group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D2jAzaL7MI31z7btdFfDiv): 38 EUR ​**CHB members:** Please check Lu.ma event page **Contribution via bank transfer:** Please transfer your contribution to the bank account below. Your spot is confirmed once the transfer is completed. IBAN BE55 3631 9673 5844 Mara Mendes Message: Cacao + your name ​✨ *Your contribution supports not only this ritual, but the continuity of conscious community events.* ​ *** ​🌕 Who This Ritual Is For ​This ritual may resonate especially if you: * ​are in a moment of transition or re-orientation * ​feel the need to reconnect with yourself after a demanding period * ​want to set intentions in a **felt, embodied way**, not just mentally * ​are curious about cacao, sound, and movement as tools for inner work *** ​💛 Final Note ​This is not a performance. Not therapy. Not self-improvement. ​It is a **pause** — to listen, to feel, and to let love take a more lived form in your life. ​ **About Your Host:** ​​​​This experience is guided by Mara [Regina D’Gaia](https://linktr.ee/reginadgaia), an alchemist, healer, and holistic therapist. Regina holds transformative spaces for inner exploration and renewal. ​​​​📧 Contact: integractiveconnections@gmail.com ​​​​📸 Follow on Instagram: [@reginadgaia](http://www.instagram.com/reginadgaia) ​​​​Come and tune into the rhythms of your soul—align, manifest, and step into your journey! 🌿🌀

El libro de enero es ***Antigua vida mía, de Marcela Serrano*** ***.*** De la noche a la mañana, Violeta Dasinsky se vuelve noticia a causa de una tragedia y Josefa Ferrer, su amiga de la infancia, con los diarios de Violeta en la mano, empieza a contar su historia. Es decir, la de ambas. Aunque Josefa, una exitosa y angustiada cantante chilena, es la narradora, a su voz y a la de Violeta se agrega la de «nosotras, las otras», suerte de coro griego y testigo de la experiencia femenina a través de las generaciones. En un vívido contrapunto, el relato irá trazando las búsquedas a un tiempo paralelas y divergentes de Violeta y Josefa, desde la infancia común en el Santiago clasista y turbulento de los años 60 hasta el «viaje terapéutico» a la ciudad de Antigua, Guatemala, apostando a la amistad como una cura posible. El amor y la traición, la sexualidad y el dolor, la utopía y las perversiones de la modernidad, la tensión entre lo público y lo privado. Ser mujer en América Latina cuando muere el siglo XX. As usual for the first Saturday group, you may use both English and Spanish during the book discussion; you just need an acceptable level of oral comprehension of both languages to fully enjoy it. Participar cuesta 1€ (para cubrir el coste de la suscripción a MeetUp). Durante la conversación elegiremos el libro para el mes siguiente, podéis proponer cualquier libro que os apetezca leer o discutir. El número de participantes está limitado. Si no podéis participar, por favor, indicadlo actualizando el RSPV en MeetUp.

What's up Friends! 👋 
Ready for some bouldering fun? Boulder-what? 🤔 It’s climbing (FR: escalade, le bloc) up to 4.5m high without ropes—and in my case, without much hope! 😂✨ It’s a super fun indoor activity, but be warned: it does require a certain level of physical fitness and/or skill. Most importantly, though, it requires awesome company—which we’ve got! 😎
 The Idea: 📍 Meeting Point: For those arriving at 15:00, we’ll meet at the cafeteria (next to the billiards table). Feel free to start earlier or later—just drop me a message or write in the group chat so we can meet up. 💪 Stay & climb as long as you want - venue closes at midnight! 🥤 Recharge: If you’ve had enough climbing for the day (we usually do this after 2 hours of climbing), we may head back to the cafeteria (or to the rooftop if it's sunny🌤️) for snacks, drinks & games. Cafeteria closes at 22:00. Where: 📍Arkose: (Brussels Canal) Rue Willy de Bruyn Straat 52, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgique 🔗 https://arkose.com/

Fees: 🤑Entry fee without shoes: - 18 eur (first-timers 10€ with online promo activated) - reduced rates: students, minors, job seekers, firefighters, military (proof required) 👟 Shoe Rental: 5€ (if you don’t have your own) 🎫 10-session pass: 150€
 Good to Know: ✍️ First-timers need to create an account (takes 5min) - do it in advance and pay online to pay less and avoid wasting time onsite 💦 Hydration is key! Bring a water bottle. 🔐 Lockers available, but bring your own padlock. 🚿 Changing rooms & showers on-site. 👕 Wear comfy sports clothes—it gets intense! 🧴 Only liquid magnesium is allowed (for grip) - in reality most people use powder🤫 👟 Thinking of going regularly? Bouldering shoes are a great investment! (Decathlon: ~45-65€ per pair.)

⚠️ Safety First! Bouldering is fun, but safety comes first! Stay alert, know your limits, and don’t take unnecessary risks. Enjoy responsibly! 💪 
📢 Further details may be shared via the group chat or via DM 💬. Make sure to check your messages 👀 at least on the day before the event to avoid missing critical 🙄 announcements. 🐈‍⬛ The Friends Code:
👉Respect and positive vibes, if not 💥🥊
👉Can’t make it? Cancel or drop a message in the chat - helps running things smoothly! 👉 Don't show up if you are on the waiting list or show up at your own risk. 
See you at the walls folks😉

We meet near the kiosk. Full practice including: \- Relaxation \- Stretching \- Basic technique \- Form \- Applications Bring comfortable clothes and water.

Hi everyone, This coffee morning event is @MIR Concept Coffee Store! Saturday, 7 February 2026, from 10:00 - 13:00. MIR opened its doors about 3 years ago, right off Place Jourdan. Doriana, the owner, is a super nice host, and is excited to have our group as her café. The café is very beautiful and has great coffee, andmany yummy food options. Their Instagram channel: https://www.instagram.com/mirconceptstore/ **The address is:** MIR Concept Coffee Store Rue Gray 4A 1040 Etterbeek *** 1. The **prime time** of the event is **10:30 - 12:30**. That's when most people will be there. 2. When you enter the gallery, it's either on the right-hand side or left-hand side of its hallway, depending which entrance you take. 3. If you intend **to join past 12:00** (high noon), then there is no need to register. Just come and join! 4. **DON'T forget to cancel** if you can't join! 5. **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** **As always, feel free to follow us on INSTAGRAM!** [https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==](https://instagram.com/weekendmorningcoffee?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==) **THE STRUCTURE of THE EVENT:** * I will post the event on Saturday/Sunday evening for the following Saturday. * I send out a reminder to everyone on Friday. * There is sometimes a waiting list. * In case RSVP is closed (once there are 10-15 people on the waiting list), I might reopen it on Friday, depending on the number of cancellations in the meantime. * **For everyone on the waiting,** please check your status and messages on Friday evening the latest. I message everyone on the waiting list on Friday. * **Please, move to "not going" AS SOON AS you know that you can't come anymore, that includes everyone who is on the waiting list.** **IMPORTANT:** * **Please, be respectful towards each other during the event. (And after ;))** * When you register yourself, be careful not to register accidentally a +1 guest (unless you bring a guest). It happens very often. * If you have any questions then, message me. *** **A MESSAGE FOR NEWCOMERS:** *In the three years of hosting this coffee group, I have met many people who struggle with anxieties when coming to an event for the first time. Sometimes, it took them more than one attempt before being able to join.* *Occasionally, people reach out to me before the event, and I have always been grateful for that as it offers the opportunity to communicate with each other and to find the best and most gentle way for that person to join the group.* *I would like to encourage everyone who struggles with this to contact me before. It would really be too bad if you can't join us, as it mostly gets better the second or third time you come.* *In addition to that, if you arrive and notice any signs of nervousness or fear, you can always let me know right then.* **THANK YOU AND SEE YOU ALL ON Saturday!**

Enjoy weekly Vinyasa Flow classes and connect to your potential of strength, balance, flexibility, and stability. The flows are sequenced creatively to add variety to your practice. This 90 min class offers a wide range of postures combined with pranayama to contribute towards inner space and peaceful mind. Expect a playful and functional approach with grounding, soothing and energizing flows to create more strength, stability, mobility, and flexibility. All classes include pranayama, meditation and inspirational insights to strengthen your physical and spiritual practice. Classes are suitable for all levels, but a prior knowledge of the basics is appropriate (different options are presented). \- Prices: Trial = 12€\, Drop in = 20€\, 5\-pass card = 80€\, 10\-pass card = 150€ all valid for 6 months\. If you live in 1190 Forest, your first session with me is for free. Please carefully read the instructions before booking your class: \- This is not a standard yoga studio\, but a private venue \- Changing corner is available \- Online Registration for each class is mandatory because of the limited participants per class \- Payment with registration or cash on the spot \- Yoga Mats\, bolsters\, blocks\, straps\, blankets\, eye pillows are on the spot \- Herbal tea and positive vibes Style: Functional Vinyasa Yoga Flow I’m so excited to practice with you, X

Escape the city bustle and join us for a magical evening walk from the royal gardens of Tervuren, through the ancient Sonian Forest, ending at the picturesque Rouge Cloître. This hike is perfect for anyone looking to unwind after work, breathe some fresh forest air, and enjoy the golden hour colours that fade into twilight as we approach the destination. 🗺️ The Route We will start at the Tervuren Station (terminus of Tram 44). We’ll begin by walking through the formal gardens and ponds of Tervuren Park, enjoying the open views and the sunset light reflecting on the water. From there, we will dive into the Sonian Forest (Forêt de Soignes), walking under the canopy of the majestic beech cathedrals. The path will lead us gently downhill towards the historic Rouge Cloître (Red Closter), a 14th-century Augustinian priory nestled on the edge of the forest. 🕒 The Plan * Meeting Time: 15:20 * Meeting Point: Just outside the Tervuren Station (Terminus of Tram 44). * The Walk: We depart at 15:30 sharp. * The End: We aim to arrive at Rouge Cloître around 18:00. * Après-Walk: We can grab a nice hot or chill drink at the brasserie in Rouge Cloître (open until 7pm). 📋 Practical Details * Distance: Approximately 9 km. * Duration: \~2.5 hours walking time. * Pace: Casual to moderate. We wait for everyone, but please be comfortable walking this distance. * Terrain: Mostly flat/downhill with some unpaved forest paths. 🎒 What to Bring * Comfortable Shoes: Walking shoes or sneakers (trail runners are great if it has rained recently). * Water: Stay hydrated! * Layers: Evenings can get chilly in the forest. 🚇 Getting Home The walk ends at Rouge Cloître. From there, it is a short 10-15 minute walk to Herrmann-Debroux metro station (Line 5), Bus and Trams stops, which connects you easily back to the city center. Note: This event is free of charge. Participation is at your own risk. Please RSVP only if you intend to come so we don't leave anyone behind! See you on the trail! 🌳✨

**PLEASE READ THE ATTENDANCE POLICY (below) IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME** **SUNDAY COFFEE & JAPANESE CONVERSATION** 日曜日のコーヒー＆日本語会話 Our "Japanese/English Conversation Exchange" offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese culture and language, all while helping native Japanese members to learn their target language. 私たちの「日本語/英語会話交流」は、日本の文化と言語の世界に没頭しながら、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学ぶのを手助けするユニークな機会を提供します。 **Date: /** 日付：**(almost) every Sunday** **Time: /** 時間：**from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm** **Location: /** 場所：**Cafe Caberdouche - Place de la Liberté 8, 1000 Bruxelles** **Venue Note: /** 会場の注意：**The manager of the cafe kindly accepted us to book a table on a regular basis. To thank him for his kindness, please order AT LEAST ONE DRINK**. カフェのマネージャーが親切にも私たちに定期的にテーブルを予約することを承諾してくださいました。その親切に感謝の意を示すために、少なくとも1杯のドリンクを注文してください。 **Location Assistance: /** 場所の案内：**If you can't find us, ask one of the waiters. They know where we are :) You can also send us a message.** 私たちを見つけられない場合は、ウェイターの一人に尋ねてください。彼らは私たちがどこにいるか知っています :) メッセージも送っていただけます。 **Event Agenda: /** イベントのアジェンダ： * **4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: JAPANESE CONVERSATION** \- Join us for the Japanese conversation and cultural exploration\. Beginners are welcome / 日本語会話 \- 最初の30分は日本語の会話と文化探求に充てられています。初心者も聞くだけでも歓迎です。30分後に参加しても構いません。多言語交換 \- ベルギーの多様性を体験し、ネイティブの日本人メンバーが英語、フランス語、またはオランダ語を学びたいと熱心に待っています。さまざまな言語で異文化交流の会話に参加しましょう。私たちの日本の友人にベルギーの文化、伝統、生活を紹介しましょう。 * **6:00 PM: EVENT CONCLUSION** \- Please respect the event's start and end times to maximize your language exchange opportunities\. Your participation and enthusiasm are appreciated\! イベントの終了 \- イベントの開始時間と終了時間を尊重して、言語交換の機会を最大限に活用してください。参加と熱意に感謝します！ **Attendance Policy: --->** 以下の日本語 * We're excited to have you join our events and appreciate your commitment to learning and growing together. To ensure a productive and enjoyable experience for all participants, please take note of our attendance policy: 1. **Punctuality:** Please arrive on time for scheduled events. Late arrivals can disrupt the flow of the event and may miss important information. 2. **Language Commitment:** If you sign up for language-specific sessions, such as Japanese conversation or language exchange, we kindly request your commitment to actively participate in that language for the designated duration. 3. **Respect:** Treat fellow participants, organizers, and cafe staff with respect and courtesy. Harassment or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. 4. **Removal Policy:** A participant who is not respectful towards other members will be removed from the group and blocked, with no warning. This point is not negotiable. 5. **Cancellation:** If you are unable to attend an event you've registered for, please let us know as soon as possible. This helps us plan accordingly and allows others to take your place if there's a waitlist. 6. **No-Show Policy:** Three no-shows (failing to attend without prior notice) may result in restrictions on event registration to ensure fairness to other participants. By attending our events, you agree to adhere to these guidelines. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can learn and connect. Thank you for being part of our community! **出席ポリシー：** 私たちは、イベントに参加していただけることを楽しみにしており、皆さんが一緒に学び成長することに取り組んでいただけることを感謝しています。すべての参加者が生産的で楽しい経験をするために、出席ポリシーにご留意ください： 1. 時間厳守：予定されたイベントには時間通りにお越しください。遅刻はイベントの流れを乱し、重要な情報を見逃す可能性があります。日本語のみのセッションは午後4時、全言語のセッションは午後4時30分開始です。 2. 言語へのコミットメント：日本語会話や言語交換など、特定の言語のセッションに登録された場合は、その言語での積極的な参加をお願いします。 3. 尊重：他の参加者、主催者、カフェのスタッフには敬意と礼儀をもって接してください。嫌がらせや迷惑行為は許容されません。 4. 退場ポリシー：他のメンバーに対して敬意を持たない参加者は、警告なしにグループから削除され、ブロックされます。このポイントは交渉の余地がありません。 5. キャンセル：登録したイベントに参加できない場合は、できるだけ早くお知らせください。これにより、他の人があなたの代わりを取ることができます。 6. ノーショーポリシー：事前の通知なしに3回のノーショー（欠席）がある場合は、他の参加者に公平になるようイベントの登録に制限がかかる場合があります。 私たちのイベントに参加することで、これらのガイドラインに従うことに同意するものとします。私たちはみなさんが学び、つながることができるように歓迎される包括的な環境を作り出すことを目指しています。コミュニティの一部としてご参加いただき、ありがとうございます！ **Note: Please stay tuned to our event page for updates and schedule changes. We can't wait to see you there and exchange languages, cultures, and stories!** 備考：更新やスケジュールの変更については、イベントページをご覧ください。そこで皆さんにお会いして、言語や文化、物語を交換できるのを楽しみにしています！

Please [register yourself on the website](https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/booking/wDqTeK0i6shJrDmzmCjQ) to receive the full details. Pranic Healing invites Pralaya Yoga* with Alexander Odent This SPECIAL EVENT will work on aligning the spine to decrease or remove back, neck and shoulder pain. Sunday 8th February 10:00 to 12:00 At Av Louise 505, Brussels Ring "Espace de Ressourcement" Price: 30€ The class will be in English. *Pralaya Yoga is a gentle and intelligent yoga practice that helps bring balance back to the body. Stress, injuries, bad posture, or daily habits can create pain and limit movement. Pralaya Yoga helps correct these imbalances, strengthening weak muscles and relaxing tense or overworked areas. Alexander's website (in Dutch): pralaya.be You can send us and email to juliana@praniclight.be or alexander@pralaya.be. With kindness, Juliana

Dear Friends, Let’s watch a queer movie together and share our thoughts afterward. 😊 Please book your ticket before you sign it up! Thanks https://galeries.be/en/skiff/#title-wrapper ## Synopsis Fifteen-year-old Malou grows up in a small town where she stands out at the local rowing club. Her mother is often absent, and she feels left out within the team. Only her brother Max allows her to truly be herself. When Malou develops feelings for Nouria, Max's girlfriend, she finds herself caught in a confusing love triangle. During a summer marked by desire and rivalry, Malou is torn between family ties and the search for her own identity. To fully accept herself, she will have to make choices that could jeopardise her relationship with Max. We will meet up at the cinema entrance at 15h30, and then sit together. Please be on time. Cheers, 🌈 Brussels Sprouts 🌱

🧘‍♀️ Je vous propose un cours complet de Yoga Hatha de 75 minutes complet, adaptés à tous les niveaux. Dans cette pratique, nous explorerons des postures et des exercices respiration qui vous permettront d'étirer et de libérer votre psoas et toutes les tensions qui s'y trouvent. 🎶 Ensuite, je vous emmène dans un voyage sonore et vibratoire, un moment de relaxation profonde qui va également vous permettre de relâcher les blocages et tensions, qu'elles soient émotionnelles, mentales ou physiques. 🫖 Nous clôturons l’atelier autour d’une tisane et d’un petit goûter. 🌱 Découvrez le merveilleux studio La Vallée, entre les étangs d'Ixelles et l'avenue Louise. Un havre de paix lumineux et chaleureux. ✨ Programme ✨ \* 14h : Yoga Hatha, cours complet avec petite méditation initiale, postures et pranayama (exercices de respiration) \* 15h15: Voyage sonore \* 16h: Clôture, tisane et petit goûter ✨ Prix ✨ 35 € / pers. 65 € / 2 pers. ✨ Yoga Vallée ✨ Rue de la Vallée 51, Ixelles ​ ✨ Inscriptions & informations​ ✨ Pour réserver votre place ou pour plus d'infos, contactez-moi ! \> info@eliserousse\.com \> WhatsApp: \+32 497 299 808

Welcome to our weekly event in the upstairs room of The Sister Café, rue Chair et Pain 3, one block from the Grand Place. Please get there early enough to order your drink at the bar first. Thank you! After introductions we will collect questions from the group participants, choose one by voting then discuss it for an hour. Then most of us stay for drinks and bizarre conversations. Past questions have been wide and not confined to academic philosophy: What is a genuine friend? Is social media turning us into emotional zombies? Do we lose some of the experience of things by defining them? Are we driven by sex? Is loneliness a personal failure? Is morality relative? **Crucially, be kind and respectful and generous** in your disagreements; remember how much you personally enjoy someone else proving you wrong before celebrating your cutting counterexamples.

This Weekend Morning Coffee Meeting - Sunday Edition - will take place at Bar Mazette, in the heart of the Marolles, and will be hosted by Emilia and Adriano. Newbies welcome! 🗓 **Sunday, 8 February** ⏰ **from 10:30** 👥 **limited to 12 people only** **Address:** **Bar Mazette** **Place du Jeu de Balle 4** **1000 Brussels** This is one of our Sunday editions, which are usually meant to test new places outside our usual coffee locations. These editions are smaller and more experimental, and focus as much on the place and the neighbourhood as on the group itself. *** ### ⏰ Timing The **core time** of the event is **10:30 – 12:00**. That’s when everyone should be there. Because this is a **very small group (12 people maximum)**, **registration is obligatory**. *** ### ⚠️ IMPORTANT — please read carefully Places are usually **very limited** on Sundays. Please **do not register if you are unsure you can come**. If you register and later realise you can’t make it, **cancel as soon as possible, latest on Saturday afternoon.** There is often a **waiting list**, and it’s only fair to give people on it a real chance to join. Registering and not showing up means someone else stayed home for nothing. Thank you for being fair and respectful. If you’re on the waiting list, please **check your status on Saturday evening at the latest**. See you on Sunday ☕ *** ### 📍 The place & the area Mazette is located right next to **Place du Jeu de Balle**, where Brussels’ best-known flea market takes place every Sunday morning. The area is busy, sometimes messy, full of objects with past lives and people just passing through. It’s a very typical Marolles atmosphere. Mazette opened in 2022 as a **cooperative project**. It was created by people who wanted a place that belongs to the neighbourhood and works with it. It’s not only a bar, and not only about beer. Part of the beer is brewed on site, with the tanks located below the bar. The food follows the same logic: bread baked in-house, a short menu, seasonal ingredients, and dishes that are simple and meant to be shared. Nothing complicated, nothing rushed. The place also works as a neighbourhood meeting point. Locals come in after the flea market, others stay for events or just to sit for a while. Conversations overlap, people stay longer than planned, and the space naturally shifts between café, bar and meeting place. For a small Sunday morning coffee meeting, it’s a very fitting setting: informal, local, and closely connected to the Marolles around it

**Gathering in community is an essential part of being human.** When we sing, share, play, dance, hold rituals, eat together… We move beyond dogma. The Gathering is about the simple yet radical choice to gently ease open our hearts and trust the voice of love to guide the way. * REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/Szo2ffdEs5ti147P9 Many of us have become isolated in our spiritual journeys, atomised by our individual interests, unaware of the mycelial network that connects us and the abundance of resources available to help us flourish. **The Gathering is about remembering the sacredness of life, our belonging in a wider community and that our soul-given gifts are designed to be lived and shared.** The Gathering takes place in Brussels once or twice a month on a Sunday afternoon. Starting with a **singing circle** and a moment of **contemplation**, participants then choose between **practices exploring different aspects of connection - to self, to other, and to life**. We finish the afternoon together with a **potluck meal**. * REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/Szo2ffdEs5ti147P9 * VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO >>> https://bit.ly/4iFjoiU **\*\~\*\~\*\~\*\~\*\~PRACTICAL INFO\~\*\~\*\~\*\~\*\~\*** **{ TIMING }** * \~ Please arrive between 13:45-14:15 so we can start together. The doors will close promptly at 14:15. * \~ The circle and activities will last until 18:00, so please make sure you are able to be present until then. * \~ Everyone is welcome to stay afterwards to share food until 19:00. **{ BRING }** * \~ a meditation cushion or a pillow (there is nothing provided in the space!) * \~ your water bottle * \~ clothes you can move comfortably in * \~ a blanket, warm socks and/or sweater (optional, if you easily get cold) * \~ a yoga mat (optional, for extra cushioning) * \~ food to share (optional, for potluck) **{ ACCESSIBILITY }** * \~ The event will be mainly in English, but some practices may be proposed in other languages. * \~ Children are very welcome! There will be at least one children-friendly practice available. * \~ The space is wheelchair-accessible, although for practical reasons please indicate it on the registration form. **{ GIFT MODEL }** The Gathering is experimenting with a gift model, meaning that everyone is invited to contribute as they can. Gifts can take many different forms. Time, energy, experience, food, knowledge, wealth, skills, creativity, love… This does not mean that money is ignored. There are costs associated with renting the space and money is needed in order to further develop the project. **We will ask participants during the afternoon to contribute consciously and according to their means. However, money should not prevent anyone who wants to join, to be able to join.** How would you like to contribute? There are infinite ways to share your gifts, from helping with the costs, to helping with the set up, to guiding a practice, to cooking a group meal... And if you don’t feel like you are able to contribute anything right now, you are still welcome. * REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/Szo2ffdEs5ti147P9 * VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO >>> https://bit.ly/4iFjoiU

Start the year surrounded by Love From the Earth—with delicious vegan eats, sweet treats, artisan goods, and a chance to win one of our raffle baskets filled with plant-based goodies. Support small businesses, enjoy great food, and spend a cozy day with the community. We will reserve a table for this group if there is enough interest. Just comment "interest" below. Don’t miss out—see you there! Check [event page](https://www.facebook.com/events/893838639773267/) for a vendor list.

**Our February novel is: Julia by Sandra Newman** **This month is a classic, dystopian, fiction, literary fiction, women’s fiction, and science fiction novel. The book is 394 pages in print and 14 hours and 20 minutes on audiobook.** **An imaginative, feminist, and brilliantly relevant-to-today retelling of Orwell’s 1984, from the point of view of Winston Smith’s lover, Julia, by critically acclaimed novelist Sandra Newman.** Julia Worthing is a mechanic, working in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. It’s 1984, and Britain (now called Airstrip One) has long been absorbed into the larger trans-Atlantic nation of Oceania. Oceania has been at war for as long as anyone can remember, and is ruled by an ultra-totalitarian Party, whose leader is a quasi-mythical figure called Big Brother. In short, everything about this world is as it is in Orwell’s 1984. All her life, Julia has known only Oceania, and, until she meets Winston Smith, she has never imagined anything else. She is an ideal citizen: cheerfully cynical, always ready with a bribe, piously repeating every political slogan while believing in nothing. She routinely breaks the rules, but also collaborates with the regime when necessary. Everyone likes Julia. Then one day she finds herself walking toward Winston Smith in a corridor and impulsively slips him a note, setting in motion the devastating, unforgettable events of the classic story. Julia takes us on a surprising journey through Orwell’s now-iconic dystopia, with twists that reveal unexpected sides not only to Julia, but to other familiar figures in the 1984 universe. This unique perspective lays bare our own world in haunting and provocative ways, just as the original did almost seventy-five years ago.

Our group, KIND MEALS, will be picking up the tab for pizzas, at MIKEY'S LATE NIGHT SLICE, on Sunday, February 8th from 12-2pm. We will be trying out MIKEY'S Vegan Fake-ass BBQ Chick'n pizza and Vegan Fake-ass Pepperoni pizza, as well as some other special vegan pizzas that are served there. All the vegan pizzas are covered with Selfish Cow vegan cheese. The pizza is free, drinks on your own. Join us to learn more about **[KIND MEALS](https://kindmealscolumbus.org)** (a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Cols. Ohio, providing hunger relief services to those in need). All of the food we serve is fresh and vegan! If you love working with community, being of service, looking to hang with some fun like-minded people, and just love to socialize on a Sunday afternoon, join us for some FREE vegan pizzas at MIKEY'S LATE NIGHT on 4th and Main. Mikey said the more the merrier!

**I’m planning future book club meetups and would love your input. Please choose your top three from the list below—your picks will help decide what we read next!** **Book Options** *The Hong Kong Widow* – Kristen Loesch *American Spy* – Lauren Wilkinson *God of the Woods* – Liz Moore *Listen for the Lie* – Amy Tintera *The Swallows* – Lisa Lutz *The Drowning Kind* – Jennifer McMahon *The Eights* – Joanna Miller *The Quiet Librarian* – Allen Eskens Thanks so much for sharing your pick! Please **reply in the comments** with your top three. I can’t wait to see which books rise to the top and to discuss them together at our next meetups.

We will have lunch at Cap City Diner in Gahanna at 12:00 then walk over to the theater afterwards. The Movie Solo Mio starts at 1:20.It will be posted when tickets available to purchase probably the week before then we’ll post our seat number so we can all sit together 😎

Join us for our February Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *A Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.