Medieval History

Hi all, Welcome to our March book club! We are a friendly group of avid readers that enjoy a variety of books and great conversation, over a meal. New members are welcome but spaces are limited. The books for Thursday 19 March 2026 are: **Science Fiction** Titanium Noir by Nick Harkaway [Titanium Noir (Titanium Noir, #1) by Nick Harkaway | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62052321-titanium-noir) **Fantasy** Go back and re-read the book that made you fall in love with Fantasy books. Bring the book along and tell us why you loved it when you read it initially, and whether you enjoyed the re-read of this novel. Did it stand the test of time, or was it like going back and visiting some old friends? I can't wait to hear what everyone's starting Fantasy book/series was. 🤓🤓 Over the next 3 meet-ups, we will do this for each sub-genre. **Urban Fantasy** Fated by Benedict Jacka [Fated (Alex Verus, #1) by Benedict Jacka | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11737387-fated) You don't have to read all the books. However, the more you read, the more robust the conversation will be with multiple people discussing each book. Don't forget to bring along some Sci-fi, Fantasy and Urban Fantasy suggestions for the following meet-up! If you would like to see all the books (excluding bonus books) that we have read before, click [here](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1K96OI_w3AIBzkDVWXenQNc6mYbZ2cMvfRnzVehkp9Bo/edit#gid=0) to have a look. Since there are so many authors out there, we try not to repeat authors, however, I am relaxing this slightly moving forward. If you are new(ish) to the group, check out the back catalogue for some inspiration if you are stuck for something to read. Numbers are limited. If you can’t make it, please change your RSVP to a NO as a courtesy to the organiser and to let any wait-listed people into the meet-up. If you have time, stay back for a social catch up with your fellow book club members. Of course, you can go as soon as the book club finishes, but if you have time, then this is a great opportunity to find out all the news and what books people have been reading over the last couple of months. Happy Reading!!! 🤓😊

* This weekly event is every Thursday evening- same time, same place.- Try guided meditation and you will feel relaxed and refreshed. The simple techniques of Sahaja Yoga Meditation discovered by Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi will allow you to unwind wherever you are and whenever you want. Sahaja Yoga meditation involves no 'yoga' postures. Sahaja means 'born with' and yoga actually means 'union'. We are all born with the potential of being in union with the all pervading power of love. In a Sahaja Yoga workshop you will experience several simple methods to easily access and feel the state of your subtle body - your chakras and subtle energy channels. You will then be shown how to realise the potential that lies hidden in you. No special clothes or equipment needed. Free and without any obligation. Experience the inner peace and bring your friends along. [http://www.sahajayogavic.com/](http://www.sahajayogavic.com/) For more info: Colin - 0419 308 212

Presented By Wendy Dixon of the Sydney Blavatsky Lodge **ONLINE COURSE:** Introduction to Theosophy runs yearly for 10 months from 5th February to 19th November on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursday of the month. Our core text is Theosophy: An Introductory Study Course, 4th Edition by John Algeo. It can be downloaded for free from the URL: [https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf)](https://theosophy.world/sites/default/files/studyguides/[theosophyintro.pdf](http://theosophyintro.pdf)) Additional material is provided with slides that are shared after each class via Mailchimp emails. The sessions are all run with questions answered throughout. While it is preferable to attend the whole year, participants are welcome to join at any time - everything is run in monthly modules. **PROGRAM** **February:** What is Theosophy - Fundamental Concepts of Theosophy **March:** Ancient Wisdom in the Modern World/Universal Brotherhood - History of TS/Brotherhood and the Path **April:** Human Beings and Our Bodies (Etheric, Astral, Mental, Causal) **May:** Life after Death - Withdrawal from the Bodies and Devachan **June:** Reincarnation **July:** Karma **August:** The Power of Thought/The Question of Evil - Understanding how we continue to create the world around us **September:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part One - Evolution, 3 waves of Evolution, Individualisation **October:** The Plan and Purpose of Life Part Two - Human Evolution, Seven Rays **November:** The Rise and Fall of Civilisations - Root Races **COURSE LINK** Please click on this link to join: [https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054](https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88329727054) Meeting ID: 883 2972 7054 Passcode: 840346 Admission by Donation: A suggested donation of $5 or more per session assists Blavatsky Lodge to offer online Theosophical courses. Please donate via PayPal here: [https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses](https://tinyurl.com/lodgeonlinecourses) or email [info@tssydney.org.au](mailto:info@tssydney.org.au) for other payment options.

🌟 **Unlock Your Full Potential with CPA Toastmasters!** 🌟 Are you ready to become a more confident speaker and a stronger leader? CPA Toastmasters is here to help you *grow* both personally and professionally! Whether you're looking to improve your public speaking skills, enhance your leadership abilities, or build self-confidence, Toastmasters provides a supportive and encouraging environment for you to thrive. 🚀 **Why CPA Toastmasters?** * **Improve Public Speaking**: Learn how to communicate clearly and confidently in front of any audience. * **Build Leadership Skills**: Develop the tools and techniques to become a stronger leader in your personal and professional life. * **Friendly, Supportive Community**: Join a group of like-minded individuals who are all working toward their personal growth and success. * **Real-Time Feedback**: Get constructive feedback in every meeting to help you continually improve. * **CPD Hours**: As our member, you are eligible to claim CPD hours under CPA for attending our meetings! 📈 **What to Expect at a Toastmasters Meeting:** * **Prepared Speeches**: Deliver speeches on topics you’re passionate about (Members only) * **Impromptu Speaking**: Practice thinking on your feet with quick, fun exercises. * **Constructive Feedback**: Receive valuable tips to help you improve, delivered in a positive, encouraging way. * **Leadership Roles**: Take turns leading the meeting, which helps you refine your organizational and leadership abilities. Come visit us in our next meeting and learn how our club can support your public speaking journey!

Meditation practicing

Develop your public speaking skills in a safe, fun, learning environment. North Melbourne Toastmasters is a place where you develop and grow - both personally and professionally. You join a community of learners, and in Toastmasters meetings we learn by doing. Whether you're an executive or a stay-at-home parent, a college student or a retiree, you will improve yourself; building skills to express yourself in a variety of situations. You'll open up a world of new possibilities - Gain confidence, courage and poise - Overcome nerves - Express yourself in any situation - Deliver engaging presentations - Communicate what you really mean - Enhance your professional and personal development - Learn managerial and leadership skills Join us at North Melbourne Toastmasters for this Toastmasters meeting. This is the perfect place to develop your public speaking skills in a safe, fun, learning environment. Come along for free as our guest to experience a North Melbourne Toastmasters Club meeting. North Melbourne Toastmasters meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays- 7:30pm-9:30pm. Come as a guest and get a feel of Toastmasters and our amazing club!

\*\* Please note that **this event is not open for photographers** (no option to bring Camera/GoPro or tripod). Cameras and tripods aren’t allowed due to past accidents that led to damaged cameras/lenses and injuries in the dark. I will be taking photos of people with the Milkyway with a professional camera/lens. Please carry a jacket as the temperature is expected to be around 14-15 °C. This trip involves a shared uber/taxi besides train. The cost details can be found in the description below. \*\* Please follow these two steps to confirm your spot: Step 1: Please RSVP to this event on meetup. Step 2: Please pay the organizer fee in advance via Trybooking ($20 - Early Bird, $25 - Regular) - [https://www.trybooking.com/DKQUK](https://www.trybooking.com/DKQUK) We will scan Trybooking tickets at the meeting point. Please note that Trybooking tickets will only be refunded if the event is moved or cancelled. Trybooking Tickets are non-refundable. There is no option to also transfer the ticket to a new date. Payments are managed through Trybooking and not Meetup. You will see an **"Unpaid" status on your RSVP**. The only thing you need is the Trybooking ticket which you will receive by email. **Meeting Point**: Let's meet in the Corner of Spencer Street and Bourke Street (Station Side - Near the steps) at 6:30 PM and take the Vline followed by uber. Driving to the destination is not an option for any of our stargazing events. We should be back in the CBD around 12:15 AM on Friday. **Meeting Point Photo**: [https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2](https://bit.ly/2SkyVL2) \*\* Please make sure you bring your Myki. Please ensure that it has atleast $11.40 or have myki Zone 1/2 pass. Please ensure that your myki money is added before coming to the meeting point. \*\* Please carry a warm jacket as the temperature is expected to be around 14-15 °C. Please also carry takeaway food. There are no food options at the destination. Cost: Organizer Fee: $20 - Early Bird, $25 - Regular Transport: Myki Money: $11.40 If you have Myki Zone 1/2 Pass: $0 Concession: $5.70 Shared Uber/taxi - $20-$35 per person total (we will form uber groups at the meeting point) Photos: All the images will be uploaded to our Facebook Group (Explore Melbourne) - [[https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb](https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb)](https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb) and meetup. I take one solo photo for everyone with the Milkyway with a professional camera/lens. These events are not aimed at photographers. Location: For the safety of people attending the event and flexibility to change location at the last minute based on the weather forecast, we will only share the location details with people at the meeting point. For the safety of people attending future events, please do not share the Milkyway location with anyone. Also, please do not tag the location when sharing photos on Social Media. The Milky Way Galaxy is one of the most interesting naked eye sights in the night sky. We live under light-polluted skies, and to see a glimpse of the Milkyway, we need to travel outside the city. We run Milkyway events near Melbourne (40-50km away) and events in premium locations (over 80-100km from Melbourne CBD). Many Solo and some group photos from previous events: [https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1F0fE1-s4mkkNIi1oATIVBE3I5riDTRO3](https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=1F0fE1-s4mkkNIi1oATIVBE3I5riDTRO3) Please follow us on Social Media for photos, videos & updates: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@explore-melbourne) \| [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/exploremelb) \| [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/exploremelb) \| [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/xpmelb/) \| [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@exploremelbourne) \| [ExploreMelbourne.AU](https://exploremelbourne.au/) Explore Melbourne is the largest meetup group in Australia. We have seven simple rules in place to protect our community and for everyone to have a positive experience. ❌ Not a dating group! – We’re here to make friends, not find soulmates. No flirty business, please! 📵 No phone numbers, please! – Feel free to swap social media if both parties are cool with it, but let’s keep our digits private. Please don’t add people to WhatsApp or other groups. 🔞 Our events are only open to people aged 18 and older. 📢 Please do not advertise other events or groups. 😅 Don’t be a social octopus! – Give people space to chat with others. Please don't be clingy. 🚗 We don't allow carpooling due to safety incidents/our public liability insurance not covering motor related accidents. 💰 No sales pitches! – No selling, no MLMs, no pyramid schemes, no “life-changing mentorship” offers—let’s keep things scam-free. By joining this event, you’re giving us a virtual pinky promise 🤝 that you’ll follow the rules. Break them, and—poof!—you’re out for good. No second chances, no do-overs. Let’s keep it fun, friendly, and drama-free! **Liability Waiver:** The organizer of this group cannot accept any liability for any loss, damage, injury, or accident to participants or their property at this event. By participating in this event, you're taking responsibility for your safety and well-being. By joining this event, you agree to the liability waiver mentioned here: [https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/](https://exploremelbourne.au/explore-melbourne-liability-waiver/)

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss Masculinity in the 21st century. This session will be hosted by Jefferson. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of Melbourne Central) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so please buy at least one drink or meal from the bar.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary for this session, 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 others' assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however note these are free-ranging events and the below serve merely as a springboard for the discussion: * What is the Manosphere, and what is Masculinity (both healthy and toxic)? * Are traditional masculine traits healthy for individuals and societies? * Does modern society reward or punish traditionally masculine traits? * What virtues, behaviours, etc. should be prioritized in raising boys? * Are modern educational systems, communities and the economy well-suited to boys’ developmental tendencies? * Is the idea of “healthy masculinity” necessary, or should we move beyond gendered virtue frameworks entirely? * Should boys be raised differently from girls, or should parenting be largely gender-neutral? * What do we make of cultural figures such as Jordan Peterson, Andrew Tate, Stefan Molyneux, and so on? * Does the concept of toxic masculinity unfairly target men as a class? * Does the concept of toxic masculinity itself produce harm by pathologizing male identity? * Is there an equivalent concept for femininity, and should there be? * Is the idea of a “war on men” descriptively accurate, or primarily rhetorical? * Is the perception of a “war on men” driven more by material conditions or cultural narratives? * Are men uniquely disadvantaged in certain domains, and does that constitute injustice? * Is the manosphere a reaction to real socio-economic change or just another identity narrative of victimhood? Feel free to post any questions, comments, videos or links related to the topic in the discussion page below. Hope to see you there!

Join us in our cosy new centre in Carlton North. Whether you are new to meditation or an experienced practitioner you are welcome at these relaxed and informal sessions. Simple instructions are provided and you can sit in a chair or on a cushion. Masks optional but not mandated. Bring your own sealed drink bottle. $10 for workers or $5 for concession. Find out about our Centre's activities Browse our bookshop for books, incense and dharma items. 803 Nicholson Street, Carlton North. Website: https://melbourne.rigpa.org.au/

Please join us this Sunday as we discuss Masculinity in the 21st century. This session will be hosted by Jefferson. **We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of Melbourne Central) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.** **We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so please buy at least one drink or meal from the bar.** There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary for this session, 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 others' assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged. Find below some questions to consider, however note these are free-ranging events and the below serve merely as a springboard for the discussion: * What is the Manosphere, and what is Masculinity (both healthy and toxic)? * Are traditional masculine traits healthy for individuals and societies? * Does modern society reward or punish traditionally masculine traits? * What virtues, behaviours, etc. should be prioritized in raising boys? * Are modern educational systems, communities and the economy well-suited to boys’ developmental tendencies? * Is the idea of “healthy masculinity” necessary, or should we move beyond gendered virtue frameworks entirely? * Should boys be raised differently from girls, or should parenting be largely gender-neutral? * What do we make of cultural figures such as Jordan Peterson, Andrew Tate, Stefan Molyneux, and so on? * Does the concept of toxic masculinity unfairly target men as a class? * Does the concept of toxic masculinity itself produce harm by pathologizing male identity? * Is there an equivalent concept for femininity, and should there be? * Is the idea of a “war on men” descriptively accurate, or primarily rhetorical? * Is the perception of a “war on men” driven more by material conditions or cultural narratives? * Are men uniquely disadvantaged in certain domains, and does that constitute injustice? * Is the manosphere a reaction to real socio-economic change or just another identity narrative of victimhood? Feel free to post any questions, comments, videos or links related to the topic in the discussion page below. Hope to see you there!

Beloved Friends , You are warmly invited to join **Osho Dynamic Meditation** — a powerful space to release stress, let go of built-up tension, and breathe freely again. Through movement, breath, and silence, allow the mind to unwind and the body to relax. No experience is needed — just come as you are and reconnect with your true nature, with awareness, aliveness, and inner peace. We would love to share this meditative journey with you. http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/e/e/0/600_453663808.jpeg When : Every Saturday , 7:30am to 8:30am Where : Elwood Angling Club, Foreshore, Elwood Contribution : $15 "Just to be is such a great celebration if you know how to take the conditioning off. This 'taking off' you will learn through Dynamic Meditation. it will not be caused; it will come to you uncaused. Meditation will create a situation in which you will come to the unknown; by and by you will be pushed from your habitual , mechanical, robot-like personality. be courageous: practise Dynamic Meditation vigorously and all else will follow. it will not be you doing, it will be a happening" OSHO - Meditation the art of ecstasy With Love and Hugs, Bodhiprem * If you are coming along for the first time, please arrive 10 minutes early for instructions, Please see below a link for the Dynamic Meditation Instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjxr9MySioc&feature=youtu.be

Join us for a unique workshop hosted by Jenny Kuznetsova on Curative Eurythmy: Movement for everyday wellbeing, an introduction. Held over three consecutive Saturdays, 14th, 21st, 28th March 2026, 11am-12pm, the participants will have an opportunity to experience this extraordinary modality. Curative Eurythmy is a movement modality that creates harmony in the whole being. Through specifically curated movements, our three bodies, physical, emotional and mental are moved into incredible balance. The movements work strongly on the circulatory system and as such create organic deep activation of the breath. As the movements activate circulation in the body as well as flooding it with the health giving breath, the after effects create feelings of inner nourishment, strength and vitality. Curative Eurythmy is able to help with physical, emotional and mental imbalances as well as provide a general boost to our overall wellbeing that is so vital in an age where the nervous system is constantly overwhelmed with the pace of life. You are invited to try this unique and potent modality and experience the benefits firsthand. Tickets obtainable via the link below: https://events.humanitix.com/introduction-to-curative-eurythmy-3-session-experience

**Natural History Bar** has eclectic decor and drinks specials! Come along to hang out, chat and see which dancefloor we head to later in the night. Natural History Bar takes inspiration and references from museums worldwide and pairs them with a classic yet casual venue. **Drinks specials - all day:** Two for $20 drinks: · Peach Bellini · Endless Sauvignon Blanc · Endless Shiraz · Angel in the Room Prosecco · House Spirits (vodka, gin, bourbon, whiskey) · 4 Pines Japanese Lager · 4 Pines Hazy Pale Ale 📍 Location: Natural History Bar, 401 Collins Street, Melbourne Vic 3000 Events are also on: Raiders of the Lost Bars https://www.meetup.com/barraiders/ Bartopia https://www.meetup.com/bartopia/ Bartopia https://www.facebook.com/groups/bartopia/ **How often do we have events? Weekly!** Join us at a different bar/pub each week to meet new people and see the familiar faces of the regular members. Most people come along by themselves so don't worry if you don't know any of the other members. Come along for relaxed socialising and making new friends in a change of scenery. New people are always welcome. We have all been the new person at some point in time. Follow us on Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/](https://www.instagram.com/bartopia.melbourne/)

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!

So this month's prompt is more general. I think we can all agree that we are living in "unique" times that require coping skills. I think that one role and/or purpose of philosophy is to help us deal with our daily lives and our "unique" times. So, let's share our feelings and thoughts about which philosopher/philosophy we turn to in order to deal with our crazy events. Who/what helps you stay focused in your daily life and helps you sleep at night. I find that Stoicism with a little philosophical pessimism mixed in goes a long way in helping me deal with what I see as very destructive, fearful and mean spirited public policies at both the state and federal levels. Hope to see you on March 28th!

This month we’ll be ready The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin. Feel free to come even if you don’t finish the bookk!

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! The idea behind improv is to create entire scenes from scratch based on a suggestion from the audience. This can be done in game form, like *Whose Line Is It Anyway*, *ComedySportz*, or *Wild 'n Out*; it could also be done to tell stories, like *Middleditch and Schwartz*. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

Whether you've never done improv before, or you've done it for so long you knew Del Close on a personal level, or anywhere in between, come join us! Swing by *Gresso's* for the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup** for some fun and games! Tonight's a special one; this is "Long form" night! Most nights here at Improv Meetup, we play "short form" games, where the host has established rules that the players must adhere to. These scenes frequently do not tell a connected story and are focused on following those rules; games such as "Alphabet Game" where every next sentence needs to start with the next letter of the alphabet, or "Interrogation" where it's a guessing game. Tonight is focused on "long form", where we will see groups of people come up and do a sort of improvised play. There may be rules to the structure itself to adhere to, or it may be more free form, but doing this allows players to establish a shared world, and to establish characters and callbacks. While your average game may last 2-3 minutes, a long form set will last much longer, and have 4+ people involved. This may be a more complicated night, but we will make sure you feel supported to try this out. Our meetup, which is central Ohio's longest running (and free!) weekly comedy event, brings the games (and occasionally different forms) for you to play in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment. Not only is it a lot of fun, but you get to work on thinking faster on your feet, plus it's an excellent way to meet new people and make friendships that'll last a lifetime! Ask yourself if you want to join the **Columbus Improv Comedy Meetup**, and say "Yes, And" that you'll have fun!

**Important time note:** Please plan on arriving between 5:30 and 6:00 as the elevators lock after 6 and you'll need to message us and we'll need to come get you. The building address is 4450 Bridge Park The entrance is 6620 Mooney St, Suite 400 **Abstract** Web Forms gave .NET developers a powerful abstraction for building reusable UI controls long before design systems were a thing. Web Components finally bring that same idea to the browser natively. This session explores how the Web Forms mindset translates into Custom Elements, Shadow DOM, and HTML templates. We’ll examine how Web Components enable design systems that work across frameworks, how they differ from server‑driven controls, and why they’re becoming a foundational layer for modern UI. Whether you’re maintaining legacy apps or building greenfield projects, you’ll leave with a practical understanding of how to apply familiar patterns in a modern, standards‑based way. **YouTube Link** TBA