Ethical Humanism

Join Champs Within for an energizing lunchtime Boxercise session aimed at promoting a healthier lifestyle and supporting weight loss goals. This event is not only a fantastic way to stay active and fit, but also provides a social opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who are focused on their well-being. Boxercise is not just a physical workout, but also contributes to mental health support by helping you de-stress and boost your mood. Come sweat it out, release some endorphins, and feel the empowerment and positivity that comes with taking charge of your health. Let's punch and kick our way to a healthier and happier you together!

A visually compelling and panoramic analysis of the eclectic culture of shamanism, animism, healing and journeys to the other planes. Entering trance states, healing body and soul, invoking animals as spirit guides and journeying to incorporeal realms – these skills have been central to shamanism over thousands of years and across much of the world, from the Evenki shamans of northern and central Asia to contemporary Neo-Shamans of the West. Join cultural and social anthropologist Max Carocci as he explores an eclectic array of shamanic artefacts and images, decoding the symbolism and explaining their extraordinary shamanic ritual practices. Marvel at the adornments of a Siberian shaman’s coat; examine the prehistoric rock art that depicts mystical transformations of shamans into animals; and discover the psychotropic plants that open our minds to interdimensional journeys of healing and wisdom.

Bring yourself, friend and vibes! Come ready to eat and meet new people!✨

**Scale smarter, not harder.** Most teams stall from hidden bottlenecks—not a lack of hustle. In this **high-impact, 60-minute Vista Masterclass**, you’ll learn the moves founders and execs use to break plateaus—then stay for **cocktails & networking** in a 5★ setting. ### **You’ll learn (fast + practical)** * ✅ The **growth chokepoints** quietly capping revenue—and how to fix them * ✅ Clear plays across **sales, marketing, and financial control** * ✅ Leadership techniques to **scale with confidence** (without chaos) ### **Agenda** Training (60 minutes) → Q&A → **Networking over cocktails** with peers. ### **When & Where** 📍 **National Liberal Club, 1 Whitehall Pl, London SW1 2HE** 🗓 **Thu, Jan 22, 2026** • **6:30–8:30 PM GMT** (+ networking) ### **Host** **Dr. Edward Klinger** — Founder, EdwardKlinger Business & Executive Coaching. ### **Attendee feedback** **\*\*\*\*\* Testimonials \*\*\*\*\*** "Really great evening with Ed, learned more about business planning in a couple of hours than months of studying books. Highly recommend it. Supremely knowledgeable and I’m leaving the course excited to put the teaching into action." Paul C "Edward Klinger’s masterclass was a game-changer. It was incredibly informative, inspiring, and perfectly paced, making complex business strategies feel clear and actionable. Edward’s expertise and engaging style left me motivated and equipped with practical tools to elevate my business. Highly recommend!" Sejal D "I've just attended Edwards's 10x Growth Workshop and I have to say, it was incredible and definitely took away some valuable insights into how to grow my business and take it to the next level. I highly recommend!" Sheila C **Seats are limited.** 👉 **Reserve your spot now** and lock in access to the masterclass + networking. *The* 9-to-THRIVE Growth Lab *supports Meetup’s policies and principles. We make no guarantees and do not offer financial services or assurances. Workshops are free to attend.*

Join LCC as we visit Dirty Looks at The Barbican. We'll meet at 6, but please book the 6:15 slot. From ruined romantic evening gowns to faux-stained jeans, mud-splashed dresses and upcycled outfits, the fashion world has never been dirtier. But where did this idea of getting dirty come from? Where is it going? And, what does it say about fashion's relationship to the earth and to our bodies? Dirty Looks explores how dirt and decay have been used to defy beauty standards, and why it's going through a resurgence in young designers' work. As a counterpoint to glossy digital perfection, these artistic practices point us to a new way of thinking about a sustainable fashion future. Featuring icons like Hussein Chalayan, Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Miguel Adrover and Maison Margiela, alongside emerging designers such as Elena Velez, Yuima Nakazato and IAMISIGO, this exhibition explores fashion's past, present and possible future." Ticket prices are pay what you can, you can purchase yours here: https://share.google/GsYbYmbjMEz0DEeqK Dirty Looks is accessible by the Main Centre Lifts to Level 3. There is a passenger lift (107 x 140cm) inside the gallery to access the upper level. If you have any access requirements that you would like to discuss ahead of your visit, please email access@barbican.org.uk or call 020 7101 1188 (Mon - Sun 10am-4pm).. Please note, we are committed to making every one of our events welcoming and safe for everybody. Our spaces are non-partisan, but not apolitical. Racism, sexism, antisemitism, classism, forms of discrimination based on sexual preference or gender identity are not tolerated. If you are a victim of bigotry or harassment at any of our events, please raise this with an organiser, who will act appropriately. We broadly follow this code of conduct https://wiki.dbzer0.com/the-anarchist-code-of-conduct

Hello there! - We'd like to welcome you to Free weekly meetings hosted by Shalini & Manitu which take place at the: Greenwich West Community & Arts Centre, 141 Greenwich High Rd, SE10 8JA, on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.00pm With Sahaja Yoga Meditation we normally sit on chairs to achieve yoga, effortlessly & spontaneously. So there is no need for mats and no special clothing required. All across the globe, many are seeking new sources of energy. Meanwhile, the most transformative energy of all is hiding in plain sight, within us. It's natural, sustainable, and infinitely renewable. It's called inner kundalini energy. And everyone already has it — everyone!. It is often likened to an inner feminine or motherly energy which automatically knows about us and what is needed to help us restore balance and harmony within our subtle being. It works spontaneously, effortlessly, organically and cannot be paid for. Sahaja Yoga Meditation is a simple time-honoured technique that lets you tap into that energy and harness its power to become better balanced and better connected to yourself — emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually If you're having trouble juggling the challenges in your life, Sahaja Yoga Meditation might well help you manage stress, master your emotions and find solutions to your problems . You may enjoy better health, better focus, and a deeper understanding of the universe and your place in it. Meditation is not just for mystics and monks. Sahaja Yoga meditation is for everyone. Anyone can do it. It's that easy. But with the Sahaja Yoga experience, you'll quickly realise, it isn't your typical Meditations 'R Us type class. It's much more than just feeling peaceful and relaxed. Sahaja Yoga Meditation has many layers, varied and deep. Explore at your own pace, in your own way. Our volunteer experts are always available to help. Ready to plug into your inner energy? A Sahaja Yoga Meditation class is a great way to start. A few minutes of your life may be all it takes to connect to your inner energy and light the path to lifelong transformation. Sahaja Yoga is more than a temporary solution or quick relief — it is a journey, rather than a destination. It's all about energy — guaranteed pure and carbon neutral. You can never have too much of it. The best part? All classes are free. No strings, no catch. Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend, bring your self — all are welcome. We have a web site here in London too which you can visit for more info about weekly meetings: www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk (http://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/) Join us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/London.Free.Meditation) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/SahajL)

'HOW TO FIND YOUR BASIC PURPOSE' A Life Improvement free workshop with Maria Bennett. In this a live in-venue workshop: \- Do you know your basic purpose? \- What makes a person's basic purpose? \- Practical drills to help you define your own basic purpose\. Pen and paper provided,so - let's get stuck in!! Using information taken from the book '*Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health*' by L. Ron Hubbard. *Testimonial:* *"Great seminar. I liked how you took us through step by step and we found our own basic purposes. It is a common basic purpose for all, I believe. I realised that the spiritual is more important to me than anything else. My purpose is to help others and the webinar validated things I do. I liked how the participants feel free to communicate their situations. My win was that I can use your method to help others find their basic purpose too. Thanks!" - VR* Maria: I have worked at the Scientology Life Improvement Centre helping and coaching others for over 20 years. I enjoy this a lot! I have access to tools that anyone can put to use in their life to make the positive improvements that they may be looking for. I look forward to meeting you. What can you do after the workshop? We have various other free services that you could do - such as the free personality test. We also have a lot of Life Improvement Courses. These focus on specific areas of life to help 'unblock' them, put your actual abilities to use!

* **read event description before signing up** * **register on Meetup to attend** * **update RSVP if plans change** * **arrive at 2.50pm** * **read the Book before session** * **review the Questions** [Book 3 - In Carnuntum](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Thoughts_of_the_Emperor_Marcus_Aurelius_Antoninus/Book_III) *Reading Time - 15 minutes* *Knowledge of prior Books is not required* [Gregory Hays translation used in session](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meditations-Translation-Modern-Library-Classics/dp/0812968255/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DYZJGWO42PUG&keywords=meditations+gregory+hays&qid=1656706450&s=books&sprefix=Meditations+Gregory%2Cstripbooks%2C91&sr=1-1) Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others. Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries. **Questions we'll explore** 1\. So we need to hurry\. Not just because we move daily closer to death but also because our understanding—our grasp of the world—may be gone before we get there\. \(1\) *How do you feel about this?* 2\. Don’t waste the rest of your time here worrying about other people—unless it affects the common good\. \(4\) *What can you usefully do?* 3\. To stand up straight—not straightened\. \(5\) *How would you go about this?* 4\. Forget everything else\. Keep hold of this alone and remember it: Each of us lives only now, this brief instant. The rest has been lived already, or is impossible to see. *(10)* *What are the implications?* 5\. If you\.\.\.\.—can find fulfillment in what you’re doing now\, as Nature intended\, and in superhuman truthfulness \(every word\, every utterance\)—then your life will be happy\. No one can prevent that. (12) *Do you agree or disagree?* **To fund the costs of** [room hire](https://bunhillquakers.org.uk/files/2025_bunhill_booking_info_trifold.pdf) **and** [Meetup subscription](https://www.meetup.com/blog/new-organizer-pricing-key-improvements/) **£15 is payable** To minimise admin there are no refunds/credits unless the meeting is cancelled. Refunds exclude Meetup/PayPal fees. **If you sign up and can no longer attend, please Edit RSVP asap to "Not going" so someone else can take your spot.** There is no waiting list if the event is full. Please check this Meetup page on the day of the event, as a spot may become available if there is a late cancellation. **If you sign up, and do not Edit RSVP to "Not going", and are a no show, you will be removed from the Group and can rejoin after 3 months.**

You are invited to an informal discussion of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, a work that has guided seekers of wisdom for over two millennia. Join us as we explore the nature of virtue, the cultivation of character, and the pursuit of the good life—topics as vital now as in antiquity. Aristotle teaches that ethical living requires thought, reflection, and friendship. As he writes, “It is not possible to live well without friends.” (Book VIII, Chapter 1) Come converse in the spirit of inquiry, share ideas freely, and take part in the age-old pursuit of eudaimonia—the flourishing life.

Philosophy in the Park is a philosophical discussion group. Open to all. No previous philosophical experience necessary. We will meet in the Barbican Centre on Level Minus 1. Outside The Hall. Here's how it works: * At the start of each hour vote on which questions to discuss. You can vote for more than one question if you'd like. The questions with the most votes are the questions we discuss. * We then break up into groups and each group does a different question. The question is just a starting point and it's cool if you go on tangents and up end talking about different things. You're welcome to join in and participate or if you'd prefer you're welcome to sit back and enjoy the conversation. After an hour we all come back together, take a quick break and then repeat all over again. So in 3 hours we go around 3 times. The aim is to have fun, meet new people, generate interesting and thought-provoking conversations, have your horizons expanded, challenge your preconceptions and who knows - you might even learn something? In order to make the conversations as fun, interesting and productive for everyone as possible please follow these simple guidelines: 1. Keep it Philosophical (No Science, no History, no Evolutionary Psychology, no contestable facts, personal anecdotes etc). 2. Think for Yourself (No phones, no looking up definitions, no name dropping Philosophers / books you've read). 3. Tangents are Cool (Don't worry too much if the subject drifts and you don't answer the question). 4. Keep it Succinct (Like this). 5. Be Excellent to Each Other (But of course). Philosophy is about conceptual analysis. It's thinking about thinking. It's not about empiricism or the real world. It's about abstractions, concepts and ideas. To terms of the right attitude: It's not about debating and trying to win - it's about listening to people and working collaboratively to increase our collective understanding. No homework or prior knowledge or reading is necessary - simply come and enjoy the discussions. After the event finishes we have an area reserved in The Shakespeare pub which is just around the corner from the Barbican. You are very welcome to join us if you'd like. If you would like to submit a question please join the Whatsapp group. Question submissions take place on the Thursday before the meeting. We hope to see you there. Nice one. ... To join the Philosophy in the Park WhatsApp Group please click here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK](https://chat.whatsapp.com/CdFaxJHbeOw9UOfuk7spiK) (in order to stop spam bots this will take you to a Waiting Room. Once in please write your name and we will join you to the main chat). If the link doesn't work then please send me a message with your phone number and I can add you directly. Meetup charges subscription fees. If you would like to make a donation please click here: [https://paypal.me/philosophycollective](https://paypal.me/philosophycollective)

Sunday rehearsal with Castellers of London. Meet us at the OBC Community Centre to help build human towers! This get together is a great opportunity for you to meet new friends, socialise and have a go and explore your abilities as a human tower builder a.k.a Casteller! For newcomers we have a team of trained Castellers who will introduce you to the group, guide you through the activity and help you safely take part in this unique Catalan tradition. When you arrive just approach us as we are really friendly! If in doubt ask for Cuss! Please let us know if you are bringing guests. After the rehearsal we go to a nearby pub for social drinks where everyone is welcome :) What do you need? 1. Ideally a cotton shirt: to protect your neck and shoulders, the more durable the shirt/top the better. We do not recommend any thin items of clothing! 2. Jeans: allowing you to move freely without breaking. 3. Mask: We still require the use of a mask as you will be very close to your fellow Castellers - basically you will be hugging people! The rest of the equipment is on us! We take health and safety very seriously, both in relation to COVID-19 and also the activity- please be assured that the safety of all participants is of the utmost importance to us and we take all necessary precautions to minimize the risk, ensuring we all have a great time! Our regular members won't be filling in the Meet Up to say they are going 🙂 So don't be put off if you see only a handful have said they are going. A minimum of 25 on the day is normal. What the Meet Up may show is how many new people like yourself are going.

Circling is a 'present moment relating' practice, sometimes described as a relational meditation. It’s done in a group or with another person and invites feeling into the subtleties of one’s present experience in connection with others, often using words to share that experience. **There is a beauty and power in the practice of circling and it is not for everyone. The practice may touch on some uncomfortable places, states, sensations or emotions. Circling invites a level of self responsibility and a willingness to set appropriate boundaries. Rather than a safe space think brave space, where we inquire and explore connection together.** **Please contact me if you would like to discuss further whether the practice might be right for you.** Both those new to Circling and those with more experience are very welcome. To reserve your place, transfer £18 via my eventbrite page: **[https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/robyn-wilford-29457876735](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/robyn-wilford-29457876735)** Any questions, please direct message me here or email: [robyncontact365@gmail.com](http://robyncontact365@gmail.com) We’ll start at 7pm (arrive from 6.50pm) and aim to finish at 9pm. Opposite Elephant & Castle tube and Thameslink train station, and numerous bus routes. The practices of Circling and Authentic Relating are often linked or spoken about together. Authentic Relating emerged from Circling and tends to be more structured, with “games” and sentence stems acting like guide rails for connection. Circling in its purest form is an interpersonal meditation and encourages self leadership, and is less facilitated. Both elicit intimacy and you may find quickly creating deep appreciation of the people you’re with and surprisingly meaningful connections. Always hard to define though and much better, in my opinion, to experience them a few times to really get a sense of the difference/overlaps. **More about Circling and Terms of Service** Circling is a practice that involves looking at and being intimate with the structures of one’s personal reality, which includes how we make sense of experience, individually and collectively. We find these practices to consistently deliver deeply meaningful experiences, and believe a few clarifications now will likely make this more accessible to you. Because Circling is unique, carrying over assumptions from other practices can lead to misunderstandings about who we are, what we do, and how you are invited to engage. It is our intention to make it as clear as we can what Circling is and isn’t. **Responsibility** We see you as a free agent capable of honest self-assessment and responsible choice This is an invitation to take responsibility for: \- yourself and your experience \- choices you’re making about what you’re accepting as true and significant \- how you’re participating in and helping to sustain your situation \- the beliefs and choices you’re bringing to the situation \(wittingly or unwittingly\) that are informing your experience\. We refer generally to the willingness to take responsibility in these terms as “owning your experience.” **Not Psychotherapy** Circling as we practice it leads to transformational growth, but we do this through surrender, self-leadership, and interconnection rather than aiming for healing outcomes directly (like many modalities do). While honouring a wide variety of wisdom and psychological discernments from many schools of thought, we do not follow a therapeutic model of diagnosis and treatment. Our method is educational. Our emphasis is connection. We are guides in a journey of presence, connection, and aliveness. We do not prescribe choices or actions. We do not see you as being in a therapeutic relationship with me. We work in the present moment, assuming wholeness that can include greater wholeness, exploring connection, staying mindful to notice the cost of reality choices and labels that too easily lead to misunderstanding or pathologizing. We bring a fresh set of eyes to what is happening, with the aim of understanding how updating our beliefs about what is happening can update our reality. Circling is a practice of connection and meditation \- Focus on the present moment\. \- Maintain a non\-goal orientation that is encapsulated in the principle of “being with the other in their world\." **Is this Right for You?** Our workshops can be intense. People encounter places, states, emotions, beliefs, and sensations in themselves and others that are sometimes unfamiliar. We explore the unknown, the volatile, the ambiguous, as well as welcome emotions many deem as “negative” or “inappropriate” such as feelings of inadequacy, anger, sexuality, and joy. We refer to the willingness to feel difficult and uncomfortable truths as the “commitment to connection,” which of course includes a willingness to set appropriate boundaries, and speak a desire for space, distance, and non-contact. By attending our events you take responsibility for choosing to leave the practice or participate in any given moment—which might include getting intimate with these kinds of experiences. We will often explore multiple sides of seeming opposites at once, such as independence and interdependence, chaos and order, agreement and disagreement. We believe this can reveal an underlying unity of the immediacy of experience. If the above description of our workshops sounds potentially overwhelming or destabilizing for you, if you have mental illness or significant emotional challenges that you feel may be exacerbated by this type of transformational environment, or if you are not sure that you can be self-directed in taking care of your needs during the event, then we advise you not to enrol. **By registering you acknowledge that you have read and agree to abide by these Terms of Service.**

* Are you longing for more confidence to speak up for what's important to you? * Do you find that you know your needs and how to craft them into a language that others can hear, yet in the moment, or with certain people the words just don’t come out? * Perhaps you manage to voice your needs, but find yourself stuck, unable to find a way forward with the other person, leaving you questioning whether this approach to communication really works? **Here’s what you can look forward to learning in this training:** * Discover and express your authentic voice in the moments and relationships that matter most to you. * Recognise and work compassionately with your inner judgments, gaining clarity about your true needs. * Reframe your offering so that the other hears it as a gift and not a punishment. * Gain insights into how our nervous systems shape interactions, and learn how to work with this awareness to foster understanding. * Build confidence in advocating for your needs effectively and consistently. The session will involve reflection, discussion, practice and role play. **Pre-requirements:** Please ensure you have completed a Level 1, NVC Foundation Training before attending this session. **Venue:** The Bridge, 73-81 Southwark Bridge Road, London Bridge **Date & Time:** Saturday 24th of January, 10 am - 5pm **Registration Required** - [https://www.paulinedoohan.com/events/event-one-c8aad-d95ss](https://www.paulinedoohan.com/events/event-one-c8aad-d95ss?fbclid=IwYnJpZBEwWFRNbmVIOXdyT215eUpYYXNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR5CSlwudPfdoUwwIyKHQayaRr2g1J5D1KpHuKArdFrBwFgaBllRVrnXab_3xg&brid=ksFwOMMBxMdEhujFWxXAkA)

IN PERSON SEMINAR - THE PLANETARY ARCHETYPES WITH NIC KOLESTRUM **We'll see how the seven days of Holy Week have a unique meaning for the idea of the 'Incarnation,' whereby eternal divine archetypes became expressed in history. Do we recognise the planetary being of the days in what happened? Although it begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Saturday; the Sunday after, of the Resurrection, has also to be included. He will be arguing that the Last Supper was on Wednesday not Thursday so be prepared to be shocked!** ***Nic spent a couple of years at Emerson College a long, long time ago then of late he has come back to appreciate Steiner's teachings. He was a math school leacher for some years and a research fellow at UCl for fifteen years. He's an author with an interest in Hermetic studies and his book 'Secrets of the Seven Metals' is quite relevant to this talk.*** All Welcome, No Need to Book, No Charge. This event will not be recorded. DONATIONS There is no charge for online or face to face events, except for Workshops involving extra cost. Voluntary donations towards our overheads are gratefully received and can be made either by Paypal or by Bank Transfer to a Nationwide account held for this purpose: PAYPAL: to SUE PEAT at suejoanpeat@gmail.com BANK TRANSFER: ACCOUNT NAME: ADRIAN HOTTEN ACCOUNT NO: 31466776 SORT CODE: 07-01-16 Many thanks.

**What Kind of World Do We Want to Live In? (Free Event)** **In times like these, we can see more clearly the potential for humanity when it works together in unison – as well as the challenges if we don’t and continue to operate as we have been before. If you could design the world of the future, what spiritual values would you want to see in it to help realize those potentialities?** **All of us hope for a better future for ourselves and for our children, but how do we get there? What sort of ideas and behaviors will we need to leave behind – and what values will we need to build the foundation of the future on? And how can we work together to build a future that works for all of us, where each of our fullest potentials as human beings can be realized?** **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 what a future society might look like and the role each of us can play in creating it. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role of spirituality in the unification, peace, and progress of all.** **“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

(2024) by Christof Koch, 288 pages [Psychology] • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=613100 Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review "A wonderful book."―Sam Harris, Making Sense with Sam Harris “a fun introduction to a number of debates… Mr. Koch’s book provokes questions… and counterarguments, but that’s what gives it life.” ―The Wall Street Journal “Easily the most current, thorough, and helpful exploration of consciousness available. Koch’s light, simple, yet authoritative writing style will appeal to general audiences as well as scientists and researchers. An essential, highly recommended purchase.”―Library Journal “magisterial… charming, sometimes beautiful, and almost always illuminating” ―Science Magazine “an impressive and sometimes exuberant work, showcasing decades of [Koch’s] research”―New Scientist “Koch’s adept use of analogies and entertaining anecdotes — complete with his own near-death experience and psychedelic drug trips — make the book a compelling and surprisingly light read.” ―Science News “undeniably compelling… a smoothly written must-read for anyone interested in a detailed introduction to the relationship between the brain, consciousness, and transformative experiences” ―Ars Technica “Expertly weaving in personal experience with science that few, if any, can speak more authoritatively about, Koch leads us on an amazing journey of consciousness—from birth to death. Deeply personal and infinitely digestible, Then I Am Myself the World is a remarkable must read for anyone interested in knowing their mind.”―Judson Brewer MD, PhD, New York Times–bestselling author of Unwinding Anxiety “Koch’s latest book brilliantly navigates the intricate landscape of our mind and our brain, offering insightful perspectives on the nature of conscious experiences, both ordinary as well as extraordinary ones.”―Hartmut Neven, founder and lead of Google’s quantum AI lab “Then I Am Myself the World is the new record of note for the scientific understanding of consciousness. This is an elegant tableau, a travelogue of subjective experience grounded in the latest neuroscience and philosophy traversing religion, science, and a life dedicated to the biggest questions. Filled with crystalline prose, lucid explanation, and revelatory honesty, this book will continue to be read centuries from now.”―Patrick House, author of Nineteen Ways of Looking at Consciousness “What would happen if a hardcore neuroscientist, with encyclopedic knowledge and four decades of experience in his field, were personally confronted with transformative mystical experiences carrying inevitable metaphysical implications? What would happen if the neuroscientist in question were open-minded, humble, but remained rigorously grounded in reason, evidence, and his hard-earned understanding of how consciousness relates to brain structures and function? What would he, the most preeminent professional of his generation, make of his extraordinary experiences? And what if, in addition, the neuroscientist was a modern renaissance man versed in physics, philosophy, the arts, the classics, and could pluck irresistibly evocative metaphors from the Western literary and artistic canon as if leisurely picking apples in early fall? This is what you will find in this treasured book, a whirlwind ride of insight after insight—so many they can’t possibly be all documented in footnotes—that will surprise and delight you from the get-go. ‘Primacy goes to consciousness, not to the objective world,’ he boldly states already on page two, in a prelude of things to come. ‘Everything else follows from there, including the realist assumption of the existence of objects, out ‘there,’ independent of my experiencing them.’ The book embodies the ever-evolving wisdom of a man whose intellectual prowess is only matched by his intellectual honesty. And this man, in the seventh decade of his scintillatingly productive life, has a lifetime of learning to share with you.”―Bernardo Kastrup, executive director, Essentia Foundation “Koch’s first book was entitled The Quest for Consciousness. And such has been Koch’s life, an adventurer’s pursuit of a distant goal, undeterred by the prevailing winds. The reader will learn where this quest has led and, like the author, will be enriched by it. Koch, one of the most accomplished scientists of our time, a mind singularly open to learning and changing, here opens his soul, revealing his vast, scintillating appreciation of nature in all its forms. It is a touching, profound book. Which is as it should be, since consciousness touches everything and is everything we touch.”―Giulio Tononi, University of Wisconsin-Madison ### About the Author Christof Koch is a neuroscientist at the Allen Institute and at the Tiny Blue Dot Foundation, the former president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science, and a former professor at the California Institute of Technology. Author of four previous titles, Koch writes regularly for a range of media, including Scientific American. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

In times like these, we can see more clearly the potential for humanity when it works together in unison – as well as the challenges if we don’t and continue to operate as we have been before. If you could design the world of the future, what spiritual values would you want to see in it to help realize those potentialities? All of us hope for a better future for ourselves and for our children, but how do we get there? What sort of ideas and behaviors will we need to leave behind – and what values will we need to build the foundation of the future on? And how can we work together to build a future that works for all of us, where each of our fullest potentials as human beings can be realized? 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 what a future society might look like and the role each of us can play in creating it. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore the role of spirituality in the unification, peace, and progress of all. *“The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.*” – Bahá’í Teachings \*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.

**Is Love Something You DO? (Free Event)** *** **We all know about love in our personal relationships, that it’s not just something you think or even say but that it’s something you show by putting what you’re feeling into practice. But what happens when we think about love in a wider context? How do we embrace loving those beyond our existing circles? What about all of humanity? Is it enough to simply feel love for all mankind, or do we also have to seek out ways to put that into practice? This can seem like a daunting task, but even coming together with people of different backgrounds and beliefs and exploring these ideas together in an open and respectful setting can help contribute to creating the world we want to see!** **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 perspectives offered by the Bahá’í Teachings on the power of love in action. Join us for a lively discussion as we explore how developing that practice in ourselves and in others can help create the change we want to see in the world.** **“Do not be content with showing friendship in words alone, let your heart burn with loving kindness for all who may cross your path.” – Bahá’í Teachings** **\*\*\* This event is free and open to all regardless of background or belief. Donations will not be accepted.**

## **Moving Beyond Us Versus Them with Sister Jenna** **Join renowned speaker, Sister Jenna, at our new Brahma Kumaris location in Chantilly, VA for this powerful event!** ## ***Beyond sides. Beyond stories. Into connection.*** In a world increasingly shaped by polarization, uncertainty, and “Us versus Them” thinking, many people are feeling weary, guarded, or disconnected, sometimes without realizing how deeply it has affected them. *Moving Beyond Us Versus Them* offers a timely and healing invitation to step out of division and into understanding. In this reflective session, Sister Jenna guides us to examine how labels, opinions, and unconscious biases quietly shape our perceptions and reactions. Rather than engaging in debate or blame, this session creates space to rise above conditioned thinking and reconnect with our shared humanity, where compassion, dignity, and mutual respect naturally emerge. This session is not about choosing sides, it’s about choosing consciousness, connection, and the courage to see one another anew. ***Sister Dr. Jenna*** *is a spiritual mentor, author, radio and TV personality, renowned speaker, and the founder of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum located in Maryland. She hosted the popular America Meditating Radio Show and is a recipient of the President’s Lifetime National Community Service Award. Sister Dr. Jenna is a member of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle, a group of thought leaders from diverse disciplines in service to conscious evolution and was selected by Empower A Billion Women 2020 as one of 100 most influential leaders of 2015.* *She is the author of “[Meditation: Intimate Experiences with the Divine through Contemplative Practices](https://www.amazon.com/Meditation-Experiences-Contemplative-Practices-Sentience/dp/194502691X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3A4J9WRQ16QAJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.va3qPnUsFjEWH641OraGTqBHm8wDhdhrTu3hpjHufKo.7mA_AgIvDXQuQ9_Uu4ucZgQIOKmCfKb6yBHsIqamhPY&dib_tag=se&keywords=Meditation%3A+Intimate+Experiences+with+the+Divine+through+Contemplative+Practices&qid=1753065633&sprefix=meditation+intimate+experiences+with+the+divine+through+contemplative+practices%2Caps%2C232&sr=8-1),” a profound compilation featuring insights from over 30 contributing authors and she contributed to “[Mr. President – Interfaith Perspectives on the Historic Presidency of Barack H. Obama,](https://www.amazon.com/Mr-President-Interfaith-Perspectives-Presidency/dp/1939774306/ref=sr_1_1?crid=38LXE3LGDPJ6C&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lSb0fzkCXPXp-Gf4ReVNoA.5hIb1TKNvtmLu65w2R4-l13WjyXAzF-rRFtQzDsRTcg&dib_tag=se&keywords=Mr.+President+%E2%80%93+Interfaith+Perspectives+on+the+Historic+Presidency+of+Barack+H.+Obama%2C&qid=1753065692&sprefix=mr.+president+interfaith+perspectives+on+the+historic+presidency+of+barack+h.+obama%2C%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1)” offering her unique spiritual insights on leadership and unity.* Sunday, Feb., 8th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/fTuNz](https://shorturl.at/fTuNz)

Sunday service at Unity of Fairfax will leave you feeling inspired, blessed and empowered to experience the fullness of life. **On a Spiritual Journey** Our community is made up of people, like yourself, who have been led to Unity by Spirit. We are all here because we’re on a spiritual journey to become all that we were created to be. **Welcome to Everyone** Unity welcomes people of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. We welcome people of all creeds, sexual orientation and social background. There are no exceptions in our welcome to everyone. **We Offer Tools** In Unity we don't tell people what to think; rather, we offer tools that individuals can use to create lives of meaning and purpose. **What We Believe** To review what we believe, go here: https://unityoffairfax.org/what-we-believe-what-unity