Cognition

People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls.” — C G Jung, CW 12 ¶ 126. Please click link below to book your lecture.. https://www.jungsocietymelbourne.com/june-2026 Allow yourself to Feel into this situation). You are a teenage boy in a Rite of Passage Circle, sitting around a camp fire with 45 other boys. The facilitator asks you to answer the simple question “How are you actually going? Would you prefer to be hunting a lion on the Savannah?!?” … How do you respond? Based on first hand practical experience with this group work, Andrew’s talk will propose ‘The Feeling Body as the organ of Initiation’. He will explore essential questions of our time: “How can we offer modern boys and men of all ages impeccably held Rites, that are able to move them meaningfully beyond performance and disconnection?” What is possible when young boys and men are supported to powerfully inhabit their feeling body? From a larger perspective, how can we support men into becoming agents of meaningful change, and invite them to step up to the huge challenges facing us in this chaotic (individual and collective) moment? The world is calling out for our “lost” boys and men to do so, begging them to step up to the lion, to offer themselves back. Andrew Levitas-Cameron holds a Batchelor of Health & Exercise Science from UNSW, as well as a Batchelor of Paramedicine from UTAS Rozelle. His first “huge” personal initiation occurred in Mexico in 2009 and launched him on his current path...drawing him through 15 years exploring Initiatory Rites the world over. This extensive background places him at a unique axis to offer wisdom on this nuanced and contentious space, in a way few others can. During the last four years, he has facilitated more than 140 Rites of Passage coming into deep contact with nearly 5,000 teenagers! Andrew is well positioned for this vocational work, regarding emotional truth-telling as the modern “ordeal” and “gateway to authentic adulthood.” He is passionate about nestling individuals into a relational system that allows for meaningful thresholds of transformation…at any and all stages of life!

**ORGASMIC MINDFULNESS MEDITATION (OMM)** Orgasmic Mindfulness Meditation (OMM) is sweeping the world as more people awaken to the truth that there is more available when it comes to intimacy, connection, and aliveness in our relationships and lives. The philosophy behind OMM offers a powerful map for how we relate, not only in intimate connection, but in communication, creativity, leadership, and everyday life. OMM teaches us how to bring attention to sensation, listen to desire, and cultivate flow rather than effort or force. Over time, this creates deeper levels of intimacy, clarity, and embodied presence across all areas of life. **People choose OMM because they desire to:** ⚑ Feel more connected to themselves and others ⚑ Experience greater confidence and vitality ⚑ Spend more time in the Orgasmic State ⚑ Feel more comfortable in their body and self-expression ⚑ Cultivate focus and sustained attention ⚑ Have more pleasure, presence, and aliveness in their lives The OMM practice is simple, specific, and repeatable. Each OMM is set up in the same way, creating a consistent container that allows participants to stop analysing and instead follow sensation, listen to the body, and remain present. The practice focuses on the clitoris, often described as one of the female centers of power and pleasure, additionally is where the most concentration of nerve endings exist in either human body, male or female and thus is a super highway for both people when they place their attention there, to flow states and higher states of consciousness. OMM Practitioner Training teaches both the practice and the philosophy of Orgasmic Mindfulness Meditation, offering tools you can apply anywhere connection is present. Upon completion, participants gain access to a worldwide network of practitioners, allowing them to continue their OMM journey wherever they travel and to team up with anyone who has been trained, by simply asking "Would you like to OM?" OMM training is open to both singles and couples. ⸻ **WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TRAINING** OMM Practitioner Training introduces Orgasmic Mindfulness Meditation as both a meditation practice and a way of relating. **For Men** Men often come to OMM training seeking a deeper, more grounded experience of intimacy and connection. The training supports a shift away from performance-based relating and toward presence, sensitivity, and embodied confidence. **Men can expect to:** • Understand the difference between effort-based arousal and the Orgasmic State • Develop greater nervous system regulation and emotional awareness • Cultivate sustained attention through sensation-based mindfulness • Learn to respond to desire without urgency or pressure • Experience a more relaxed, embodied sense of masculinity • Deepen attunement, trust, and connection in relationship **For Women** Women often experience OMM training as a return to the body as a source of wisdom, clarity, and self-trust. The practice supports pleasure without performance, expectation, or self-abandonment. **Women can expect to:** • Learn what supports the body to enter and sustain the Orgasmic State • Build safety and trust with sensation and desire • Increase sensitivity and embodied awareness • Strengthen boundaries and self-expression • Experience pleasure as nourishing and regulating • Reconnect with confidence, vitality, and self-leadership **All Participants Will Learn** • An introduction to OMM philosophy as a way of living in flow and connection • The difference between climax and orgasm • What supports the nervous system to access the Orgasmic State • How to move attention from the head into the body • Female anatomy and how to locate the clitoral focus point • The structured steps of the OMM practice • Foundational stroking technique • How to ask for what you want from the voice of desire ⸻ **HOW THE TRAINING WORKS** The OMM Practitioner Training is delivered over three structured sessions, combining philosophy, practical learning, and integration support. Training is available in person or online. Sessions 1 and 2 are recommended to be completed in close succession, ideally on the same day, to support continuity of learning, nervous system regulation, and embodied integration. **Session 1: Philosophy & Foundations** **120 minutes** \| In person or online An interactive session exploring the philosophy of Orgasmic Mindfulness Meditation and how its principles apply to your relationships, inner world, and life. **Session 2: The OMM Practice** **120 minutes** \| In person or online A practical session covering the steps, structure, and technique of the OMM practice. If you attend with another person, you may choose to be guided through an OMM within a clear, consent-based container. **Session 3: Integration & Coaching** 60 minutes \| In person or online A follow-up coaching session, for your trainer to offer you coaching on how your practice has been going for you since your last session, and to answer any questions that have arisen through your lived experience. ⸻ **INVESTMENT & TRAINING OPTIONS** Hourly Rate: $190 per hour Trainings are paid in full when you book your session times with your trainer. **Baseline OMM Practitioner Training** ✔ Session 1 – 2 hours ✔ Session 2 – 2 hours ✔ Session 3 – 1 hour Total: 5 hours Investment: $850 **Extended Integration Option** ✔ Session 3 – 2 hours Total: 6 hours Investment: $1040 Some participants choose to extend Session 3 to allow additional time for integration, refinement of attention and technique, and two guided OMMs within a supportive, consent-based container. This option is particularly valuable for those who learn best through embodied repetition and spacious integration. Higher levels of training are available following completion of this introductory program. ⸻ FOR MORE INFORMATION Text: 0404 832 141 Email: premkalpa@gmail.com Someone from our team will reply shortly. ⸻ AS SEEN IN • The Today Show • The New York Times • ABC’s Luke Warm Sex • Marie Claire • The Four-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss • Stealing Fire by Steven Kotler & Jamie Wheal • Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott, PhD These references reflect the growing global interest in embodied practices that support presence, intimacy, and expanded states of awareness.

We are back again for some more *conniving*, *falsehoods* and *mischievous antics!* **What to Expect:** Blood on the Clocktower is a social deduction game requiring a storyteller to take a roughly a dozen people through a series of "days and nights" where townspeople try to identify and hunt down a *demon* before they become the hunted. **Beginners welcome!** You don't need to know how to play **AT ALL**, so please bring a friend, we will run a tutorial for those who need it. **NOTE** BOTC requires fluent English, the crux of this game is communication and deception. **2 Strike Policy** Late-leavers: attendees who cancel within 24 hours of the event. No-shows: attendees who mark themselves as “going” but don’t turn up. Someone who does either of these once will be forgiven but flagged. On a second offence, they will be removed. Long-time regulars will be afforded some leniency. Legitimate reasons will be considered for leniency.

The Art of Boredom: Reclaiming Stillness in a Frantic World. We live in a world of constant stimulation, where time often feels like a commodity that owns us. Somewhere along the way, with our pace of life we've lost a vital human capacity: the ability to simply sit with our own thoughts and feel "bored." But what happens to our mental health, our creativity, and our relationships when we never pause! Join us for our next Community Conversation as we explore The Art of Boredom. Our guest sparker will draw on her unique background to help us explore how reclaiming the "unstructured pause" is actually the first step toward building a deeper, more compassionate connection with ourselves and our neighbourhood. Community Conversations is an initiative of the Boroondara Baha'i community, held monthly, to bring like-minded people together to explore themes around current challenges, strengthen connection and understanding. This is a free event and all are invited to attend. Please RSVP to register: https://bit.ly/4tWjlDm

**Board Game Night (Beginner Friendly, Social & Structured)** Meet new people at our host led boardgame night, sit down, learn a game, and start playing within minutes. **Who this is for** - People who work a 9–5 and want to meet people after work or on the weekends doing something fun. - You want something social and structured - You want attend a host guided boardgame night. **The Event** This is a hosted board game night. You don’t need to know any games. We teach everything. provide name tags, and games. Most people are new and come alone. **Small groups (limited spots)** Tables of 4–8 people Usually 30 total spots If you see a spot you can make, take it. They fill. **What happens when you arrive** You don’t need to bring anything You’ll be seated shortly after you arrive A host will guide your table You won’t be left standing around. **Types of games** We run two kinds of games: *1) Social games 🟦* Easy to learn Good for conversation Great for bigger groups *2) Intermediate games 🟥* Strategy games that take at least 1 hour. Many Beginner friendly, but more complex. Recommended for people already in the hobby. Game hosts have some knowledge in both categories, and will spend the first part of the night empowering the social games going, and spend the second half floating or running intermediate Games. **What to expect** Friendly people Small to medium sized groups Clear structure Easy start, even if you are new-You’ll be playing quickly. **Attendance polic** Cancel early if you can’t make i No-shows or late cancels get kicke **Donation** We take donations to support the event and our host, so we can continue running this event to a high standard **Questions?** Message Anna on meetup - check the Meetup event to see the Hosts you can contact **List of banned gam** Monopoly (any version

Join Stephen Fiyalko, President of the Melbourne Theosophical Society for meditation, self attunement, study and discussion on the Laws of the Universe. We welcome all to join at 5:30pm for a 30 min Meditation and will begin the discussion group at 6:00pm. For those who prefer to just attend the discussion group you're welcome to arrive at 6pm. An understanding of and action within the Laws through our choices give practical tools for facing, managing and surmounting with confidence the many challenges we face in our daily lives, in society and the world itself. Ignorance of the Laws can leave us adrift to be buffeted and feel overwhelmed by stormy seas. Each week will look at one of the twelve Laws which are principles, not rules, seeking a deeper understanding of that Law, our and their inter-relationship with the other Laws. Discussion will involve sharing stories from our lives which contribute to a growing understanding and confidence in our lives. Each session is free, but donations are welcome.

Hi Radiant Ladies, Join us for a refreshing Saturday walk at Ruffey Lake Park. 👭 Walk at your own pace 🐕 Dogs welcome ☕ Coffee after 🌦️ We walk every Saturday (unless it’s pouring) New ladies welcome. See you! 



Leanne & Lyn 💕

A painting that brings a person to tears. A banana worth 6.4 million dollars. A photograph ending a war. What is behind these phenomena? Please join us this Sunday to discuss the Philosophy of Art, where it comes from, what makes it powerful and why it is a universal across time and cultures. We will meet at the Captain Melville at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp. **Please note the new $5 mandatory donation entry fee** (cash or transfer on day) to help with MeetUp subscription costs, venue costs, etc. There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. This event is also posted to the Philosophy Circle group. We will explore the topic through a range of questions, including: **What is Art?** * What comes to mind when we use the word ‘Art’? What are the categories of objects or activities that you would consider to be art? * Which of these are art?: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1_1nl2_GKbGzzSbXsRRsnAZlkmNVqWPjm **Emotion** * Is art a luxury or necessity in life? Is it essential to happiness? * Why is art so effective at making us feel powerful emotions, even when we know it doesn’t represent reality? Are these ‘true’ emotions, or somehow different / simulated? * Why do we sometimes seek our art that makes us feel sad? **Objectivity** * Is there such a thing as objectively bad art? * Are there intrinsic properties that make something aesthetic (beautiful)? Are they universal? * Are there objective standards of ‘taste’? Can one person be said to have better taste than another? If so, on what basis or criteria? **Value** * What gives art its value? Why do we consider replicas differently? Is naturally occurring beauty different to art? * What compels humans towards art? Is there an evolutionary / biological explanation for the seemingly wasteful expenditure of resources on outputs that have no practical function? **Creativity** * Are only humans able to appreciate art? * Are only humans creative? * Is there such a thing as something truly new, or is every idea or expression a recombination of existing inputs into a different configuration of outputs? * Can a machine be creative? If not, what is the constraint? * Could we ever regard AI-creativity in the same way as that of a human? Hope to see you there!

**What if psychical abilities (psi) can be cultivated in earlier life?** What are the implications for modern society and our perception of the world? A new theory based on entropy and perception may hold the answers... After 70+ years of controlled studies into psychical phenomena, scholars still lack a cohesive theory of what makes them possible.... **In this presentation, Dr Alex De Foe** draws on his 15+ years of research to model psi as an emergent lifespan experience - understanding it in relation to neural development and entropy, experiences often reported by children. Drawing upon the "free energy model" in perception and social neuroscience, Alex will make the case for cultivation of psi in pivotal states of consciousness. Part 2 will focus on experiential analysis to support the argument, including case studies and a short practice task called 'Image Streaming' that engages aspects of the mind at the periphery of experience. **Image Streaming** is a technique that bridges the divide between the conscious, unconscious, and super-conscious mind, related to Michael Thalbourne's concept of 'transliminality', in which material flows between these dimensions of mind seamlessly. **Case studies will be presented from:** * Research into out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and lucid dreams * A new theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious * Speculative accounts at the bridge between spiritual emergence and spiritual 'emergency' **About Dr. Alexander De Foe (PhD, M Couns):** * Academic at Monash University (2021-2026). * Runs a research program on mindfulness/consciousness * At RMIT University (2016-2021), he managed a virtual reality lab focusing on embodied cognition and social neuroscience. * Published over 30 peer-reviewed studies/papers on consciousness, perception, and general psychology. * Chair of the Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies * Committee Member of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research * Associate Editor at the Anthropology of Consciousness Journal. **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** NOTE: TRYING OUT NEW LUNCH VENUE... Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Gopal's Restaurant** (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs.

A painting that brings a person to tears. A banana worth 6.4 million dollars. A photograph ending a war. What is behind these phenomena? Please join us this Sunday to discuss the Philosophy of Art, where it comes from, what makes it powerful and why it is a universal across time and cultures. We will meet at the Captain Melville at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp. **Please note the new $5 mandatory donation entry fee** (cash or transfer on day) to help with MeetUp subscription costs, venue costs, etc. There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. This event is also posted to the Socrates Cafe group. We will explore the topic through a range of questions, including: **What is Art?** * What comes to mind when we use the word ‘Art’? What are the categories of objects or activities that you would consider to be art? * Which of these are art?: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1_1nl2_GKbGzzSbXsRRsnAZlkmNVqWPjm **Emotion** * Is art a luxury or necessity in life? Is it essential to happiness? * Why is art so effective at making us feel powerful emotions, even when we know it doesn’t represent reality? Are these ‘true’ emotions, or somehow different / simulated? * Why do we sometimes seek our art that makes us feel sad? **Objectivity** * Is there such a thing as objectively bad art? * Are there intrinsic properties that make something aesthetic (beautiful)? Are they universal? * Are there objective standards of ‘taste’? Can one person be said to have better taste than another? If so, on what basis or criteria? **Value** * What gives art its value? Why do we consider replicas differently? Is naturally occurring beauty different to art? * What compels humans towards art? Is there an evolutionary / biological explanation for the seemingly wasteful expenditure of resources on outputs that have no practical function? **Creativity** * Are only humans able to appreciate art? * Are only humans creative? * Is there such a thing as something truly new, or is every idea or expression a recombination of existing inputs into a different configuration of outputs? * Can a machine be creative? If not, what is the constraint? * Could we ever regard AI-creativity in the same way as that of a human? Hope to see you there!

**Description**: Join me to knit or crochet in the warm, friendly environment of Kindred Studios where we can share our skills and ideas. Knitters, crocheters and crafters of all abilities are welcome. The conversation is relaxed as we work on our projects together and it's a great way to make new friends. The Bass Note Cafe is within the studios and will bring great coffee and delicious snacks to our table. **Agenda**: I'll meet you at 10.00am inside Kindred Studios at the large table near the tiered seating. We have the space available until 12.00pm. **Location**: Kindred Studios 3 Harris St Yarraville Street parking is available nearby in Harris, Cowper, Hyde and Whitehall Streets. There are large red signs on the footpath to guide you to Kindred Studios. If you are coming by train take the Williamstown/Werribee line to Seddon Station. It's then about 10 minutes to walk to the Studios. When you RSVP please click attend on the Event Page and I will be in touch via direct message. I will also be available on the Events Comments page on the day. .

Weather looks reasonable on Sunday. Participants are invited to join us for a walk and talk about science, philosophy, AI and emerging technology. **Schedule** * **10.30** am – Meet outside the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre (near the Observatory House, and a walk away from the Shrine of Remembrance) * **11.00** am – Venture into the gardens and walk the outer path anticlockwise, spiralling inwards towards the lake * \~1.00 pm – (optional) Lunch by the lake, (BYO or there are Terrace Café options) **Getting there:** If coming by **tram**, get off at Stop 19 - Shrine of Remembrance/St Kilda Rd **Parking** is free on Anderson St far side of the Botanic Gardens ([near eastern gate B and Tecoma gate C](https://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/melbourne-gardens/interactive-map/)) subject to time limits in some stretches (mostly 3 hrs) - which is the only free parking area near the gardens that I can find. Check signage on the day. See this [PDF for more detail](https://athsvic.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/The-Tan-Parking-Map.pdf). **Possible discussion topics** * Latest AI models - Anthropic's Mythos and Fable blocked after US bans foreign use * AI Pause / Stop - will it work? (Regulatory catch-up, xrisk, global-coordination & geopolitical arms races, enforcement & logistics, existing capability overhang) * Technical AI safety - Mechanistic interpretability, linear probes, RLHF, behavioural evals * General AI alignment approaches: control vs motivation: \- control \(External Constraints\) focuses on building walls *around* the AI to restrict what it can do, trip wires etc. \- motivation \(Internal Alignment\) focuses on changing the AI’s inner desires so it *wants* to be ethical/help humans/act in accordance with the well-being of all sentience * AI ethics: how is it related to AI safety? What should be the target for AI alignment? Should the target be aggregate human preferences, religious doctrine, moral naturalism or something else? * Metaethics and ethics * Moral realism: a stance-independent moral ontology, useful for capturing non-arbitrary moral choice * Moral anti-realism: error theory, non-cognitivism, moral relativism etc * Can AI be fault-tolerantly aligned to moral realism or anti-realism? * Is sentience required for moral reasoning or moral deliberation? Can it be a hindrance? * Moral progress and indirect normativity * AI safety, automated persuasion, the orthogonality thesis * How epistemics (including science) makes progress * Health, wellness, and how to live a good life * Latest trends in AI: ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude * Economic impacts of AGI, automation, and unbounded inequality * UBI and universal wealth redistribution * The likelihood of future doom or utopia * Human augmentation and hacking human potential * Plato's cave * Fun theory and value theory "All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking." - Nietzsche, *Twilight of the Idols* Philosophy discussions can feel quite sedentary - hence our experiment in cross-pollinating exercise with engaging discussion. Exerting mind and body together may produce a fascinating dynamic. A sedentary lifestyle (and, by association, philosophy) has been linked to depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Ease the anxieties of the armchair philosopher engaging in mental gymnastics with minimal muscle movement - join our raggle-taggle crew of aspiring philosophers walking the talk. Healthy body, healthy mind. Bring elemental protection (umbrellas, sunscreen, etc).

**What if psychical abilities (psi) can be cultivated in earlier life?** What are the implications for modern society and our perception of the world? A new theory based on entropy and perception may hold the answers... After 70+ years of controlled studies into psychical phenomena, scholars still lack a cohesive theory of what makes them possible.... **In this presentation, Dr Alex De Foe** draws on his 15+ years of research to model psi as an emergent lifespan experience - understanding it in relation to neural development and entropy, experiences often reported by children. Drawing upon the "free energy model" in perception and social neuroscience, Alex will make the case for cultivation of psi in pivotal states of consciousness. Part 2 will focus on experiential analysis to support the argument, including case studies and a short practice task called 'Image Streaming' that engages aspects of the mind at the periphery of experience. **Image Streaming** is a technique that bridges the divide between the conscious, unconscious, and super-conscious mind, related to Michael Thalbourne's concept of 'transliminality', in which material flows between these dimensions of mind seamlessly. **Case studies will be presented from:** * Research into out-of-body experiences (OBEs) and lucid dreams * A new theory on archetypes and the collective unconscious * Speculative accounts at the bridge between spiritual emergence and spiritual 'emergency' **About Dr. Alexander De Foe (PhD, M Couns):** * Academic at Monash University (2021-2026). * Runs a research program on mindfulness/consciousness * At RMIT University (2016-2021), he managed a virtual reality lab focusing on embodied cognition and social neuroscience. * Published over 30 peer-reviewed studies/papers on consciousness, perception, and general psychology. * Chair of the Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies * Committee Member of the Australian Institute of Parapsychological Research * Associate Editor at the Anthropology of Consciousness Journal. **Post-Event Social Lunch Hangout (12.45 - 1.45pm)** NOTE: TRYING OUT NEW LUNCH VENUE... Afterwards, you are invited to lunch with everyone at **Gopal's Restaurant** (5min walk from the venue) **PLEASE NOTE:** * **11AM Start -** Please be considerate and arrive early. * **$10 Cover Charge:** Room hire, facilities, and running costs. **The MTS is committed to providing events that align with and further The three objects of The Theosophical Society:** * To form a nucleus of the universal brotherhood of humanity, without distinction of race, creed, sex, caste or colour. * To encourage the study of comparative religion, philosophy and science. * To investigate unexplained laws of nature and the powers latent in the human being. However this being stated, the MTS does not endorse any health, spiritual, science-related, philosophical or theological /other assertions or claims made by any facilitator we host.

Welcome to Drunken Philosophy, a casual, curious, social discussion club. Come grab a drink and a seat at The Oracle. **Optional topic for this meetup: Where is everybody?** In 1950 the physicist Enrico Fermi was talking about aliens over lunch and asked a question that still has not gone away: if the universe is so vast and so old, and even a fraction of those billions of stars have planets, where is everyone? By the numbers the galaxy should be crowded with civilizations. Instead we look up and hear silence. That gap between "they should be everywhere" and "we see no one" is the Fermi Paradox. One of the most unsettling answers is the idea of a **Great Filter**: somewhere on the road from dead chemistry to a galaxy-spanning civilization, there is at least one step that is almost impossible to get past. Maybe the filter is behind us. Maybe life starting at all, or simple cells becoming complex, or intelligence ever evolving, is the freak accident, and we already cleared the hard part. Or maybe the filter is ahead of us, and advanced civilizations reliably wipe themselves out before they spread. Here is the part that messes with people. If we ever found life somewhere else, even pond scum on Mars, most people would call it the greatest discovery in history. But it might be the worst possible news. It would mean life is common, the early steps are easy, and the hard step is still in front of us. So the eerie silence overhead might actually be the best sign we could ask for. **Questions to wrestle with:** * Is it better to be alone? Would you rather we find alien life and learn we are not special, or find nothing and quietly improve our odds of surviving? * Where do you bet the filter sits, behind us or ahead of us, and why? * If it is ahead of us, what is it? Nuclear war, climate collapse, AI, something we cannot even picture yet? And can we do anything about a filter we cannot see coming? * Two principles pull opposite ways here. The principle of mediocrity (the Copernican principle, Sagan's "no privileged place in the universe") says we are ordinary, so what happened on Earth probably happened everywhere, which makes the silence scream louder. The anthropic principle says of course we find ourselves somewhere life was possible, since we could not observe anything else, so our being here may say almost nothing about how common life is. Which lens do you trust, and does the silence still demand an answer once you account for observer selection? * And if we did confirm life out there and had to accept we are not special, what would that do to belief in a higher power, and would shedding (or keeping) that belief help or hurt our odds of pulling together as one species? * Does any of this change how you live, or how humanity should be spending its time and money right now? As always the prompt is optional. Come for the conversation, stay for the drinks, and bring your own questions.

**Men of Unity** is a safe, welcoming space for men to connect, share, and grow together. In this circle, we explore what it means to live with purpose, integrity, and spiritual awareness in today’s world. Through open dialogue, reflection, and mutual support, we learn to balance strength with compassion, confidence with humility, and action with mindfulness. Whether you’re seeking deeper spiritual connection, personal clarity, or simply a supportive brotherhood, this group invites you to bring your authentic self and grow in community. This week the Men's of Group will meet at Scrambler's - the North Hamilton Road location: 5729 North Hamilton Road Columbus, 43230

**How to take control of your subconscious and harness its power!** Join us for an eye-opening lecture where the speaker will break down complex ideas in a clear and practical way. You’ll gain insights into: ✅ The true definition of the subconscious ✅ How it generates unwanted emotions ✅ Its real purpose and function ✅ What determines the pressure it exerts on you And the most important topic: **How do you take control of your subconscious!** But this isn’t just another lecture where you sit and listen passively. It’s interactive and engaging—you can ask questions at any time. 📅 Reserve your spot now! Seats are limited, so don’t wait too long to sign up. Location: 1266 Dublin Rd, Columbus, OH 43215 Hosted by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation

At Unity of Columbus, our Youth and Family Ministry nurtures the spiritual growth of children and families through love, joy, and practical spiritual teachings. Each Sunday, children explore timeless spiritual principles through stories, creative activities, music, and group sharing in a safe and welcoming environment. Our program encourages children to discover their own inner light, express kindness, and develop a personal connection with God. Together, we celebrate diversity, cultivate understanding, and inspire each child to live with purpose and compassion. Parents and families are invited to join in this uplifting journey of learning, laughter, and spiritual connection.

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

Join us every 3rd Sunday of the month right after the Sunday Service for our Potluck Fellowship — a warm and welcoming time to connect, share, and celebrate community together! Bring your favorite dish to share (homemade or store-bought — all are welcome) and enjoy a delicious meal with friends old and new. It’s a wonderful opportunity to relax, laugh, and deepen your connections. Come hungry for good food, uplifting conversation, and heartfelt fellowship!

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