Betrayal

**👋 Hello Strangers! —** For all players and chess-curious folks out there who want to chill and make friends: We are hosting a daily chess meetup in Mitte / Prenzlauerberg welcoming all experience levels. It doesn't matter if you just watched the Queen's Gambit or if you have been playing regularly for years – join us Daily from 7pm till midnight. **Pics** · [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/strangerchess/) / **Chat** · [Telegram](https://t.me/strangerchess) / **Web** · [Strangerchess.com](https://strangerchess.com/) (No need to bring anything, boards, clocks, etc. are provided)

You've seen them in the book shop. You've seen them in the library. You've seen them online. **The Blind Date with a Book.** Those shelves of wrapped books with little teasers written on them. This is the book trend perfect for Valentine's, and perfect for a swapping group like us! For this special event, please bring a wrapped book. On the front please write: * the language of the book * a few short bullet points about the book. Get as creative (or not) as you like, as long as it's a truthful description. I've seen fascinating paragraph versions and also one liners. * For example: "You will love this book if you love -similar author / general genre / band-singer the book reminded you of / actor who played the lead in the film / etc-". Other examples include writing the first line of the book. Or your favorite line of the book. Beside that, it's just similarly structured as the "classical" bookswap: * We put the book(s) we brought down on the tables. * Each book gets a post-it so people interested would write their names on. * We browse and discuss the books with one another while sipping coffee or hot chocolate, or eating cake. THIS TIME try to avoid naming the book and author. * We write our names down on any books we’d like to take home. * At the end of the evening, negotiate any books that are contended and take a new-to-you book home! I've mostly only seen the trend at book stores and Libraries and when I just Googled it, saw that a lot of people are totally tricking the wrapping out. Please don't bother going that far unless it would give you great pleasure. We'll have some newspaper / paper bags on hand if you don't have any wrapping. ***NOTE - this is NOT a person dating event.*** We tried that once as a very optional part of the event and it wasn't fair to the three confused people who were looking for people and not books. We know of at least one book swap marriage and several other book swap relationships so it happens organically without us pushing for it and making it all awkward :) Similar to our pleasant swapping post-it format, our expectations below apply to this event as well. We look forward to swapping with you! GROUP EXPECTATIONS for PLEASANT SWAPPING * Please bring a book! It's not that you bring one you take one, but do try your best to bring something. * Books stay on the tables, open for sharing, until you are ready to leave so that everyone can have a look. We are notably not first come first serve. Please wait until you are leaving to bag the book. * If two or more people want the only copy of a book, negotiate. Maybe one of you reads it first and then gives it to the others. Or perhaps they have found another book instead. Or leave it to fate and toss a coin. The best part: now you have found somebody whose taste you can really admire. In any case, please don't walk away with a book with several names on it without letting the others know. These negotiations are fun and easy, so don't shy away from a book because there's already a name on it, and feel free to put your name on as many books as you find interesting. It's not that you bring one you take one; you may take as many as you can negotiate. * Political discussions with consent: make sure the people you are talking to would like to have a political discussion with you. * Please respect this space as first and foremost a community for connecting readers over their love of books and reading, stories, and narratives of all sorts. Please be respectful of tastes and opinions. * If something is bothering you, please reach out to the organizers, and we'll do our best to resolve it. * Lastly, don't expect your book back. It will find a new home. If you love it, let it go. **Major LANGUAGES (and genres) of this meetup:** English, German, French, Spanish, Italian; Fiction, Non-Fiction, Serious Reading, Light Fun, “classics", Krimis, Booker winners, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Self-Help and more. You never know who can read what languages, and there's no accounting for taste. We are a delightful and international group of readers. We look forward to swapping with you!

Forge alliances, lay false trails, spin lies and expose them – welcome to the Social Deduction Night at Irrlicht! 7pm til late =) Veterans and complete beginners are welcome! Depending on your experience level, we will choose the appropriate script. Rules will be explained on the spot – for those who dont know the rules, please make sure to arrive 15min before, so we can start on time.

***Journey to the far reaches of beautiful Norway in Winter to witness one of the most spellbinding phenomena in the natural world by night.*** **HOW DO I JOIN THIS TRIP?** **For more detailed info & to get entry for this trip, click on link below 👇🏽:** [https://www.eventbrite.de/e/norway-northern-lights-dancing-auroras-ancient-culture-tickets-1589618474649?aff=meetup](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/norway-northern-lights-dancing-auroras-ancient-culture-tickets-1589618474649?aff=meetup) **If you have WhatsApp, please do join this WhatsApp group below to further discuss about this trip:** [https://go.unt.global/Aurora_Europe_Trips](https://go.unt.global/Aurora_Europe_Trips) **Note: Flights inclusive price can be provided on request from any European city, so you can either join the Whatsapp group to further discuss this or post a comment here in order to get more details on it.** **WHY GO?** What better way to experience the Aurora Borealis aka Northern lights than in the city of northern lights, Alta. In Norwegian, Eventyr means both 'adventure' and 'fairy tale.' This is the perfect word to describe Alta, as it is a perfect place for active adventures in the mountains, forests and fjords that are reminiscent of fairy tale landscapes. The cold and long winters provide excellent conditions for dog sledding, skiing, snowmobiling, and other adventure activities. A modern city in Northern Norway surrounded by the arctic tundra and mountains, Alta is the ideal combination of natural and urban elements. The celestial dance of lights, known as Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a phenomena as old as Earth’s atmosphere. The first record of Aurora Borealis is believed to be in a 30,000-year-old cave painting in France. Since then, cultures around the world have marveled at its magic, giving rise to many fascinating legends and folklore. In Norway alone, symbols linked to the northern lights are found on the Sámi shamanistic drum. They call it “Guovssahas,” i.e. “the light that can be heard.” During the Viking Age, the northern lights were said to be the armor of the Valkyrie warrior virgins that shed a strange flickering light. Today, locals respectfully refer to the lights as “the green lady.” Please do join our Whatsapp / Telegram channel for updates about our future trips including possible early bird discounts, contests etc. 1. [Whatsapp Channel](https://go.unt.global/travelgroup) 2. [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/urbanaturetravel)

**Radical Empathy – Queer Storytelling for Connection** host by **Neo Seefried** guest: **Sarj Lynch** event for **LGBTQIA+** **[Free event with registration](https://wearevillage.org/en/shop/radical-empathy/w07-2026)** Conflict is everywhere: in our inner lives, relationships, workplaces, communities. Instead of seeing it as rupture or failure, Radical Empathy explores how exchange can transform conflict into queer creativity, resilience, and solidarity. This intimate closed group of 25–30 queer participants will explore how storytelling can hold, transform, and reimagine conflict – personal and collective. We will create a space where queer voices meet – not to erase differences, but to live them and to seek new forms of connection. **Calling in Care When Harm Happens** In this session, we’ll explore some of the ways that our bodies react in moments of rupture, as well as strategies for how we can activate our values to guide our responses when the going gets tough . We’ll learn a simple care protocol that can be applied when painful moments arise in our relationships — whether we are the one experiencing harm, perpetuating it, or witnessing it (or, as so often happens, some combination of the three). **Guest facilitator for this session is Sarj Lynch**, facilitator, community care organizer and co-initiator of aequa. **Sarj Lynch** (they) is a very curious facilitator and community care organizer based in Berlin. They are co-initiator of aequa (2017), aequa Workshops Collective (2020), and Berlin Collective Action e.V. (2020). Together with Bryony Beynon, they run Big Beef and Beyond — an ongoing series of trainings on transformative approaches to tending to harm in our communities, which focuses especially on conflict, harm and abuse in collective, cultural and social movement and organizing work. **General information** **Participant**: this workshop series is open to LGBTQIA+ people, with particular encouragement for those holding multiple marginalizations. **Language**: Depending on the group’s needs, sessions will be held in German and/or English. **Cost**: Free of charge, registration required. 🔵 Konflikte sind allgegenwärtig: in unserem Inneren, in Beziehungen, in der Arbeit, in Communities. Anstatt sie als Bruch oder Scheitern zu sehen, erforscht Radical Empathy, wie Austausch Konflikte in queere Kreativität, Resilienz und Solidarität verwandeln kann. Diese intime, geschlossene Gruppe von queeren Teilnehmenden wird untersuchen, wie Storytelling persönliche und kollektive Konflikte halten, verwandeln und neu imaginieren kann. Wir schaffen einen Raum, in dem queere Stimmen einander begegnen – nicht, um Unterschiede aufzulösen, sondern um sie zu leben und neue Formen der Verbindung zu suchen. In dieser Session werden wir einige der Weisen erkunden, wie unsere Körper in Momenten des Bruchs reagieren, sowie Strategien dafür, wie wir unsere Werte aktivieren können, um unser Handeln zu leiten, wenn es schwierig wird. Wir werden ein einfaches Fürsorge-Protokoll kennenlernen, das angewendet werden kann, wenn schmerzhafte Momente in unseren Beziehungen auftauchen — ganz gleich, ob wir diejenigen sind, die Verletzung erfahren, sie verursachen oder sie bezeugen (oder, wie so oft, eine Kombination aus allem). **Gast-Moderator\*in bei dieser Session ist Sarj Lynch**, Facilitator und Community-Care-Organisator\*in, Gründer\*in von aequa. **Sarj Lynch** (they) ist ein\*e sehr neugierige\*r Vermittler\*in und Organisator\*in für Community Care mit Sitz in Berlin. Sarj ist Mitinitiator\*in von aequa (2017), aequa Workshops Collective (2020) und Berlin Collective Action e.V. (2020). Zusammen mit Bryony Beynon leitet they Big Beef and Beyond – eine fortlaufende Reihe von Schulungen zu transformativen Ansätzen für den Umgang mit Verletzungen in unseren Communities, die sich insbesondere auf Konflikte, Gewalt und Missbrauch in kollektiven, kulturellen und sozialen Bewegungen und Organisationsarbeit konzentriert. **Hinweise** **Teilnehmende:** Die Reihe richtet sich an queere Menschen (LGBTQIA+). Wir empfehlen insbesondere die Teilnahme von Menschen mit mehrfachen Marginalisierungen. **Sprache:** Je nach Bedürfnissen der Gruppe auf Deutsch und/oder Englisch\*\*.\*\* **Kosten:** kostenlos mit Anmeldung. **Mit Unterstützung der Senatsverwaltung für Inneres und Sport – Landeskommission Berlin gegen Gewalt**

We are starting a new Bible study series where we explore Scripture together in an open and thoughtful way. Our first topic asks an honest question: **Whose prayers does God answer?** * What does the Bible say about prayer? * Does faith or attitude matter? * What does it really mean for a prayer to be “answered”? During the evening, we will read selected Bible passages and reflect together, open to believers, seekers, and anyone curious about the topic. Snacks and drinks on donation base. \*\*\*\*\* Wir starten eine neue Bibelstudien-Reihe, in der wir gemeinsam und offen die Schrift entdecken. Unser erstes Thema stellt eine ehrliche Frage: **Wessen Gebete erhört Gott?** * Was sagt die Bibel über Gebet? * Spielen Glaube oder innere Haltung eine Rolle? * Was bedeutet es eigentlich, dass ein Gebet „erhört“ wird? An diesem Abend lesen wir ausgewählte Bibelstellen und tauschen uns aus. Offen für Gläubige, Suchende und Neugierige. Snacks und Getränke auf Spendebasis.

Single am Valentinstag? Nicht dieses Jahr und nicht mit uns. Statt allein auf der Couch verbringst du den Valentinstag in einem großen, wunderschönen Haus im Harz – mit mindestens 20 Singles aus deiner Altersklasse. Drei Tage voller Leichtigkeit, Nähe, Spaß – und echter Chancen auf Liebe. 🐦 **Early Bird**: Das Angebot deines Lebens **👉** Jetzt Ticket sichern: **nur 222 €** **statt** **444 €** Wenn du dir 2026 eine Sache gönnst, die wirklich was verändern kann – dann diese. **👉 Sichere dir jetzt dein Early-Bird-Ticket für 222 €** **♥️ Haus der Singles – was erwartet dich:** 👥 mindestens 20 Singles aus deiner Altersklasse ⏱️ Speed Dating & Kennenlernspiele 🥾 Wandern, Yoga & gemeinsames Kochen 💃 Tanzkurs (Discofox, Salsa, Walzer) 🎉 Party mit DJ mit Charts der 90er, 2000er und von heute 💪 Single-Coaching zum Thema Selbstvertrauen von unserem Gründer und Geschäftsführer Unsere Unterkunft in St. Andreasberg vereint Komfort, Stil und Platz für echtes Miteinander – perfekt fürs „Haus der Singles“. Alle Altersklassen finden hier statt. **🌤 🏡Outdoor-Bereich & Garten** Eine großzügige 150 m² große Dachterrasse sowie ein weitläufiger Garten. **🚗⚡ Parken** Kostenlose Parkplätze direkt an der Unterkunft & Ladesäule für E-Autos verfügbar **🔖 Leistungen im Überblick:** ✅ 2 Übernachtungen im „Haus der Singles“ ✅ 2× Frühstücksbuffet ✅ 2× Mittagsbuffet ✅ 2× Abendbuffet ✅ Deutschsprachige Reiseleitung & Single-Coaching Wir freuen uns auf dich! Dein You and Mee Team 🖤 Tickets & Infohotline: [www.you-and-mee.de](https://www.you-and-mee.de/) [0152 5450 2766](tel:+4915254502766)

WHERE: Karakas Comedy Club, (yes, a real basement comedy club!) WHEN: Doors 10pm (grab a drink). SHOW: We'll start between 10:15-30 [BOOK A SEAT HERE. ](https://www.eventbrite.de/e/dark-hearts-english-comedy-valentines-day-special-the-best-worst-night-tickets-1981584734283?aff=oddtdtcreator)Pay Online to save or pay at the Door if you prefer. Late plans? You slacker!! Your Valentines Day Antidote! Bring your besties, Situationship, spouse you are on the rocks with — and let’s have the BEST WORST night of our lives! We’ll celebrate love, fails, betrayals — and being too complicated to date! Nothing will be taken too seriously but we will laugh about it! The comics this evening are either chronically Single, S1uts or long time Married, so everyone’s failing! TONIGHT? Comedy wins! Online Pre-Paid Tickets: 10. Book Online, Pay at the Door: 13 Just Show Up: 15. HOST: TERA KILBRIDE [CHECK MY WEBSITE]( https://terakilbride.com) [CHECK MY INSTA ](https://www.instagram.com/teracomedy_/) AND 3 OTHER GREAT COMEDIANS! Show runs 75 minutes.

This group is for everyone who is interested in drawing portraits! For me, drawing has been a wonderful way to gain a new perspective on the world and the people within it. Whether you are just starting out or have been drawing for ages — all levels are welcome :) How it works: 1\. We meet at The Castle pub in Mitte and do short sittings of 15 minutes for each other\. The first sitting is divided into 3 warm\-up sketches\, 5 minutes each\. 2\. Before we start\, everybody writes their name on a blank card \(provided by the organizer\); these cards are then used to randomly pick the model every 15 minutes\. 3\. Usually we do 8 sittings\, with a 15\-minute break in the middle \(so after 4 sittings\, or 1 hour\)\. -> The participation is free, but it is expected that everybody orders something from the bar to support the lovely location. Get out your pencils and let's start! Please bring your own art supplies!

Hi, dieses Mal besprechen wir „Karnak-Café“ von Nagib Machfus (1974) Hier der Link zum Inhalt und Buch : https://www.unionsverlag.com/info/title.asp?title_id=3934 Wir treffen uns diesmal im Café Chagall nahe U-Bahnhof Senefelder Platz. :)

PLEASE NOTE: This is an event \*\*not in the Northern neighborhoods of Berlin\*\* as is most often the focus of our meetup group. We commit to doing this only selectively, but wanted to share this special, free event in Kreuzberg with you. The Erotic Album ([FLORETS](https://linktr.ee/florets.mag), 2025) is a unique photo-/poetry-book made to pair with a musical album. The multimedia collection by Berlin-based creatives Madhvi Ramani, Lutz Gallmeister and Monika Kozub will connect you to the pleasure, tenderness, and creative power of the erotic through 11 poems paired with vibrant collaged visuals. Join the faces behind this project for a special listening session with a listening session and artist talk in the warm space of Ivallan's Books, one day after Valentine's Day. We'll explore the making of this project, the power (and accompanying stigmas) of erotic writing and how each artist was able to explore it through their own unique creative talents. This is a free event, with the option to purchase the book exclusively stocked at ivallan's. By purchasing this book, you are supporting three individual artists as well as independent publishing, so bring your friends and spend your Sunday sundown with us!

🤫 Shhh… Berlin’s Darkest Secrets are out. Got a secret too wild to share with your friends? Write it down anonymously and watch comedians confess it for you—live on stage. From filthy regrets to unhinged stories, nothing is off-limits. Your host Maya Upchurch(@mayacomedian), plus a rotating lineup of killer comedians, turn your secrets into wild punchlines. Add in their own stand-up sets, and you’ve got a night of comedy chaos. Kind of like church—only funnier, filthier, and with more booze. And don’t worry… your secret’s safe with us. Pinkie promise. 🤭 🤐 Where? Beetroot bar skalitzer str
🕚 When? 10pmdoors / 10:30 show — every 2nd & 4th Saturday
💸 Tickets? Free reservation, donate after the show. Reserve here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/berlins-darkest-secrets-comedy-confessions-tickets-1627872744199?aff=ebdsshios

Meet up and join other people in Berlin this Saturday! Whether you're a long-time resident or just travelling through, come and meet new people to have fun, make new friends and enjoy your Saturday evening in a safe and welcoming environment at one of Berlins fantastic bars. This week we're heading to Nachtvogel (see link to location). Looking forward to seeing you there! Look out for the "Sip Happens" signs on tables. We always have several organisers there (male and female), so come say hello to us! We care to make sure that everyones enjoys themselves and we have **no tolerance for bad behaviour or creepiness.** **Follow us on Insta:** @siphappens.berlin **Join us on Telegram:** t.me/siphappens_berlin **👉 Other important notes:** \- 🍸 The locations we visit are bars and clubs\, they are businesses and we are able to keep these events free ONLY if people buy drinks\. Please respect the locations and the event by making purchases \- 🦹‍♂️ Remember to keep an eye on your belongings and prioritize your own well\-being\. We are not responsible for any lost items or personal issues\. \- 📷 By attending our events\, you consent to being photographed or filmed\. Photos and videos taken during the events may be shared on our social media\. If you do not wish to appear in the photos or if you appear in a photo that we post that you would like removed\, please send us a private message as soon as possible on Instagram \(@siphappens\.berlin\)

This is a free, in person meeting. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

Do you want more motivation and confidence to build Lasting Relationships? This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Are you burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival, while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This class is held at the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center.

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

As you may or may not know--I didn't until late last year--Aristotle wrote extensively on "friendship" in the Nicomachean Ethics. After 69 years the concept of friendship still creates questions and uncertainty. I had close friends in high school and for a few years after high school but our interests diverged and people moved all over the country so it was hard to maintain connections. * So if I/you haven't talked with a friend for several years, are you still friends? Are we friends who meet at Drunken Philosophy or Omnipresent Atheists? * Can you be friends with someone with whom you have virulently divergent political views? Sartre and Camus could not. * Aristotle regarded friendship as essential to a good life, not merely an added "bonus." Do you agree? * In the Nicomachean Ethics (Books VIII and IX), he claims that wealth and power are meaningless without friends. Trump has wealth and power but seems to have no real friends, but wealth and power seem meaningful to him in perverted ways. Can you have meaning in your life without friends? * Do men and women view and maintain friendships in different ways? * Aristotle categorizes friendship into three types, based on what forms the bond: * **Utility**: Based on mutual benefit, but this type is fragile and ends when the usefulness ceases. * **Pleasure**: Based on shared enjoyment (e.g., humor, hobbies). Common among youth but fades as interests change. * **Virtue (The "Complete" Friendship)**: Based on mutual respect for each other's character and goodness. You wish good for the other for their sake, not yours. * **Key Principles of "True" (Virtuous) Friendship:** * **Permanence**: Virtuous friendships last a lifetime whereas those based on utility and pleasure are fleeting. * **Reciprocity**: Requires mutual goodwill; secret or unreciprocated affection does not qualify. * **The "Second Self"**: A true friend is "another self"—their virtue helps you understand and improve yourself. * **Time and Intimacy**: Deep ("complete") friendships are few, built on time and shared experiences. * **Self-Love and Friendship:** * Good friendship starts with being a friend to yourself. * They distinguish shallow egoism (chasing honors) from real self-love (pursuing virtue). * A virtuous person’s pleasant self-company allows them to be a stable, good friend to others. * Aristotle argues that one's social circle ultimately reflects one's character—a view with striking relevance today. Well--the Drunken Philosophy social circle certainly reflects good character!

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This month we’ll be reading Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan