Philosophy Now

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

Greetings, For those in search of classic **NeoSoul, Jazz, & R & B in the DMV** (not exclusive to introverts, empaths, and/or advocates), let's meet again for another Last Saturday of the Month **Advocate's PreGame Dinner** at the Wharf DC SW Waterfront. **This month's theme will focus on the leadership and legacy of the honorable** **Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,** who's dedicated efforts ensured that marginalized individuals could embrace more peace and freedom today. **There is no obligation to dine or spend money if you RSVP as this is a free meet up event centered on building community, project development, purpose, partnerships, promoting advocacy, supporting others in various life goals, and conversing with those who share similar values.** Feel free to attend and share your **New Year's vision and intentions.** Topics include but are not limited to currently reading books, business partnerships, entrepreneurship, finances, relationships, conflict resolution, community service, health (e.g., habits, routines, self-defeating behavior, accountability), philosophy, metaphysics, and spirituality. Restaurants and entertainment venues at the Wharf include but are not limited: * **12 Stories Rooftop Lounge**--Hip Hop & R & B (usually opens at **6:00pm to 2:00am** for drinks, music, & food) * **Officina Italian Cuisine & Lounge** (**Great Energy Group hosts Saturday Night Hip Hop & R & B** weekly from **10:00pm to 3:00am**; **see link below)** * **Restaurants/Entertainment Venues:** Pappanonnock Oyster Bar, Zooz Cocktail Garden (Lounge & Bar), KinFolk Southern Kitchen, Milk & Honey Southern Inspired Kitchen (black/minority owned establishment), Fogo de Chao Brazillian Steak House, Politics & Prose Bookstore, **Live-K Karaoke (open until 3:00am)**, Charlie Whiskey's Lounge & Bar, La Vie Lounge and Restaurant. All are welcome to attend to include those of various backgrounds and ethnicities. **There is no set time to arrive so feel free to come as you please/arrange with others any specific plans.** Parking Garages available, Waterfront Metro within 2 blocks of the Wharf, **ride share encouraged.** If there are any questions or comments regarding this meeting, or if you would like to **facilitate/co-facilitate (optional),** please do not hesitate to message via meet-up messages or phone at anytime, thank you. Note: Feel free to post/suggest, in the event chat/comment section, any **alternative Last Saturday of the Month evening/near future (e.g., January, February) events** (e.g., different dining locations, prescheduled events) if you would like to connect/PreGame with others regarding various activities in the DMV, thank you. **Great Energy Group Saturday Nights at the Wharf DC (25+):** https://www.greatenergygroup.com/ \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Alicia (202) 627-0361 Monday January, 5th, 2026 6:00am (update)

*theme:* **Casual Group Psychoanalysis - healthy repression?** Psychoanalysis "unlocks the past, informs the present, and expands the future. video clips: **Psychoanalytic theory in 3 minutes** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucB1b6f750k](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucB1b6f750k) **Psychoanalysis A Curiosity about the mind 6min** [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcmVjQBF4MQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcmVjQBF4MQ) Psychoanalysis = a theory and practice treating symptoms and personality as **disguised compromises** around unconscious conflicts, using a structured relationship (transference) to make those patterns visible so you can **repeat less blindly** and **choose a bit more freely**. "Until you ***make the unconscious conscious***, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." Carl Jung \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Interpersonal Process Group** **Psychodynamic shared exploration, learning and growth** Interpersonal process groups focus on the interactions and dynamics between group members to facilitate personal growth and learning. These groups provide a courageous space for individuals to explore their interpersonal patterns, receive feedback, and develop more effective social skills. **The core principle is that the group itself becomes a microcosm of a member's real-life relationships, allowing for insights and behavioral changes.** Key aspects of interpersonal process groups: * **Exploration of Interpersonal Dynamics:** Members examine their communication styles, relationship patterns, and how they relate to others within the group. * **Feedback and Self-Awareness:** The group provides a platform for members to receive feedback on their behaviors and develop greater self-awareness. * **Development of Social Skills:** Members practice new ways of relating, communicating, and collaborating within the group, leading to improved social skills. * **Microcosm of Relationships:** The group mirrors real-life relationships, allowing members to observe and analyze their patterns in a safe and controlled setting. * **Personal Growth and Well-being:** Through these processes, individuals can experience significant personal growth and enhanced well-being. Benefits of participating in an interpersonal process group: * **Increased self-awareness:** Understanding one's own behavior and its impact on others. * **Improved communication skills:** Learning to communicate more effectively and assertively. * **Stronger relationships:** Developing more fulfilling and meaningful relationships. * **Reduced anxiety and stress:** Finding support and coping mechanisms for social challenges. * **Enhanced empathy and understanding:** Learning to see situations from others' perspectives. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- Join us for an exciting meeting of personal growth as we delve deep into the realm of self-development. This meetup is designed for personal growth addicts like you who are eager to unlock their hidden potential and take charge of their lives. Don't miss this chance to meet fellow personal growth enthusiasts, share experiences, and learn from one another. Step into a journey of self-discovery, empowerment, and transformation. Come prepared to engage in provocative conversations, share your opinions, wrestle with challenging ideas, and leave with a renewed sense of deeper meaning and learning. **Tentative Agenda:** 1:00pm Social, Setup & Introductions, guidelines, terminology; 1:15pm Interactive open dialogue conversation & sharing; 2:45pm debrief, summary, debrief 3:00pm finish **2nd Floor food court dining area** **Whole Foods Boro Tysons Corner** 1635 Boro Place McLean, VA 22102 **Whole Foods** is off Westpark Dr from Leesburg Pike (Rt 7) in Boro Tysons Corner McLean, VA off I-495 beltway exit 47. **The Food Court Dining area** is on the 2nd floor, look for comments for specific table area. Feel free to buy your own snacks or drinks.

### ***Stepping Back from Work to Lean into Our True Self*** In today’s society, retirement is often viewed as a time to slow down, travel, or finally do the things we never had time for. Yet for many, this transition can also bring unexpected questions about relevance, identity, and purpose, just when we have the wisdom, experience, and perspective to make a meaningful contribution. In this engaging and reflective program, **Sister Jenna will interview Michael Skoler**, former journalist and Aspen Institute executive, in a heartfelt conversation exploring what purposeful retirement can truly look like. Together, they will examine how stepping away from a career can become an invitation to step more fully into our authentic self, using our life experience to serve, mentor, and support others. This session offers a fresh perspective on retirement, not as an ending, but as a powerful new chapter of inner freedom, contribution, and conscious living. ***(In person at the Meditation Museum in Silver Spring, MD)*** Sat., Jan. 31st, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm. Held at Meditation Museum, 9525 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/EiM2Z](https://shorturl.at/EiM2Z)

For our January meeting, we will be discussing two works of Greek history, written by the most famous Greek historian of them all: Thucydides! These will be short excerpts from his grand recounting of the war between Athens and Sparta, *The Peloponnesian War.* The first excerpt is "The Funeral Oration" from Book 2, chapters 34-46. The second is "The Melian Debate" from Book 5, chapters 84-116. I will be reading from the modern translation by Martin Hammond, available [here](https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-peloponnesian-war-martin-hammond/c58be36e4fab629a), but feel free to use whichever edition you prefer. As usual, we will meet in the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in the **205-B Accessibility Room**, located on the second floor. Ask at the Center for Accessibility front desk if you are looking for us. See you there!

Please join us in closing out [Veganuary](https://veganuary.com/en-us/) with a delicious brunch at the all-vegan Pow Pow's H Street location. To secure your seat, you must [reserve your time slot here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/veganuary-close-out-brunch-saturday-131-tickets-1981245108453)--space is limited. *Note: RSVP'ing on this meetup page alone does not get you a seat at Pow Pow.* We will celebrate while enjoying classic American diner favorites—reimagined 100% plant-based by Chef Riccio. **Get ready for:** * Fluffy Pistachio and Nutella Creme Pancakes * Crispy Fried Chick’n & Belgium Waffles * Classic Diner “Egg, Bacon & Sausage” Sunrise Breakfast * Home Fries & Crispy Hashbrowns * Loaded Breakfast Burritos * House-made Egg Breakfast Sandwiches * Bubbie’s famous Milkshakes * Drip Coffee, Juice, Hot Chocolate and Nitro Cold Brew Lattes * Bloody Mary Mocktail Bar * Plus more Space is limited & they do sell out → **[RSVP REQUIRED](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/veganuary-close-out-brunch-saturday-131-tickets-1981245108453)** Reserve your spot now! ***Everyone will order what they want and pay the restaurant directly.*** **About [Veganuary](https://veganuary.com/en-us/)** Since Veganuary was started in 2014, millions of people have [signed up ](https://veganuary.com/en-us/try-vegan/)to take the vegan pledge for the month of January, and now Veganuary has participants in almost every country in the world. Throughout the year, Veganuary encourages and supports people and businesses alike to move to a plant-based diet as a way of protecting the environment, preventing animal suffering, and improving the health of millions of people. [Signing up](https://veganuary.com/en-us/try-vegan/) provides a celebrity cookbook, 31 days of recipes, and vegan coaching emails! Please share with friends and family. **Update Your RSVP** Out of respect for the restaurant and others interested in attending this limited-space event, please update your RSVP promptly as your schedule changes.. **VSDC: More Than A Meetup** We are delighted to have you as part of The Veg Society of DC Vegan Meetup group, and we look forward to seeing you at our events. Did you know that [VSDC](https://vsdc.org/%20) is a nonprofit organization with membership benefits? With VSDC membership, you will save money at area restaurants and businesses, attend VSDC member-only events, and, most importantly, support us as a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. The membership fee is minimal, but the impact is significant! [Join today](https://vsdc.org/membership/)! **Ways to Stay In Touch with Us** Thank you for being part of our Meetup presence and bringing like-minded people together. We invite you to: * Become a [VSDC member](https://vsdc.org/membership/) to save money at area restaurants and support us in being a clear and consistent voice for improving the lives of all beings through community building and education centered on the benefits of a vegan diet and lifestyle. * Sign up for our[ monthly e-newsletter](https://vsdc.org/about/newsletter/) to hear more about our activities. * Follow us on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/vegsocietydc/) or [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/vegsocietydc/) to engage with us. **Interested in Volunteering with VSDC?** VSDC offers many events each month, thanks to the dedication of our event planning team. Would you consider volunteering? To learn more and get started, [please visit our website](https://vsdc.org/volunteer/). **Only Vegan Food, Please** While VSDC welcomes people wherever they are on the path to an all-plant, vegan diet and lifestyle, it is our policy that only vegan food be served and consumed at our events. If you would like to [explore a vegan diet or get support in making lifestyle changes, consider these resources](https://vsdc.org/exploringvegan/). **Liability Waiver and Code of Conduct** When you sign up to attend, you automatically acknowledge [VSDC's Liability Waiver](https://vsdc.org/activity-waiver/) and commit to follow the code of conduct found at [Policies - VSDC - Veg Society of DC](https://vsdc.org/policies/). **VSDC. Creating communities. For your health, the animals, and the planet.**

NOTE: This is a Saturday event! We hope to see you at the next open community meetup for the MoCo Psychedelic Society, on Saturday, Jan 31st at 1 pm. All are welcome at this event: no prior psychedelic experience is necessary, and you need not have been to one of our prior events to attend. The location will be Meeting Room 1 in the Bethesda Public Library, at 7400 Arlington Road. Parking is available in the lot outside the north door to the building, and the meeting room is the first room on your left as you pass through that door. If travelling by Metro, a red line stop [is a short walk away.](https://duckduckgo.com/?q=red+line+stop+bethesda&atb=v417-1&iaxm=directions&end=what%3AConnie%2520Morella%2520Library%2Cwhere%3A7400%2520Arlington%2520Rd%252C%2520Bethesda%252C%2520MD%2520%252020814%252C%2520United%2520States&transport=walking&start=what%3ABethesda%2520Station%2Cwhere%3ABethesda%2520Station%252C%2520Bethesda%252C%2520MD%252C%2520United%2520States) This meeting will feature a fascinating talk by neuroscientist, Bradley Cooke: **How Psychedelics Affect the Mind: A Neuroscientist's Perspective**. We'll provide tea and light snacks, and there will be ample time after the talk for questions and general psychedelic discussions.

**To confirm attendance, please also register on Luma: [https://luma.com/fwvre5x3](https://luma.com/fwvre5x3)** Let's discuss this classic movie Groundhog Day on the day before the Groundhog Day of 2026. **Please watch this movie before joining the discussion:** [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107048/) If more than 6 people join the discussion, we will break out into smaller groups. **(max 6 people per group)** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 1. **Phil's character changed through accumulated daily choices over time. How do our repeated small decisions shape who we ultimately become?** 2. **Phil's pursuit of pleasure without consequence left him feeling empty. Why might selfish gratification fail to provide lasting fulfillment?** 3. **Phil's lowest moments became the catalyst for his genuine transformation. How can a crisis serve as a turning point toward growth?** 4. **Phil found meaning through learning skills like piano and ice sculpting. What makes skill-building fulfilling even when external rewards are absent?** 5. **Phil's calculated attempts to win Rita failed until he became genuinely good. What distinguishes authentic connection from performed affection?** 6. **Phil transformed by memorizing the town's needs and serving others daily. How do small acts of service shape both individuals and communities?** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events: 1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question) 2. Listen to understand, not to respond. 3. Be open-minded and value differences.

📚 Do you love reading, but wish you had a structure and a community to share your insights with? Join our small circle of curious minds (just 4 members per gathering) as we come together for an hour of focused reading—in the calm setting of a library or the cozy atmosphere of a café. Here’s how it works: First part: Quiet reading on your own—bring a book you’re exploring, whether it’s philosophy, history, psychology, literature, or anything meaningful to you. Second part: We regroup and each person shares key takeaways, insights, or questions sparked by their reading. This sparks a structured yet free-flowing conversation around ideas, perspectives, and personal reflections. Why join? Add structure to your reading habit. Discover new books, authors, and ideas through others’ choices. Build real connections by sharing and listening deeply. Socialize around something meaningful instead of small talk.

This meeting will be dedicated to talking about the entirety of “No Longer Human” by Osamu Dazai We will be meeting in the National Portrait Gallery Atrium. To stay up to date with events and discuss meetings or books, you can join our Whatsapp group. Please message me to get added.

Every Sunday afternoon before church, one of the Covenant Life Church prophetess' hosts a prophetic training class that activates participants in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. During this class, participants will be provided opportunity to be taught how to use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and will have opportunity to ask questions and talk with someone who has been used in the Gifts during ministry. Teaching is provided on the gifts with emphasis on the Gift of the Prophecy. A combination of lecture and experiential learning is employed to teach, guide and instruct the participants. Everyone is welcome, all classes are free. Childcare is not provided.

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation as we discuss ***Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World* by Naomi Klein** Here's the summary: What if you woke up one morning and found you’d acquired another self―a double who was almost you and yet not you at all? What if that double shared many of your preoccupations but, in a twisted, upside-down way, furthered the very causes you’d devoted your life to fighting against? Not long ago, the celebrated activist and public intellectual Naomi Klein had just such an experience―she was confronted with a doppelganger whose views she found abhorrent but whose name and public persona were sufficiently similar to her own that many people got confused about who was who. Destabilized, she lost her bearings, until she began to understand the experience as one manifestation of a strangeness many of us have come to know but struggle to define: AI-generated text is blurring the line between genuine and spurious communication; New Age wellness entrepreneurs turned anti-vaxxers are scrambling familiar political allegiances of left and right; and liberal democracies are teetering on the edge of absurdist authoritarianism, even as the oceans rise. Under such conditions, reality itself seems to have become unmoored. Is there a cure for our moment of collective vertigo? Naomi Klein is one of our most trenchant and influential social critics, an essential analyst of what branding, austerity, and climate profiteering have done to our societies and souls. Here she turns her gaze inward to our psychic landscapes, and outward to the possibilities for building hope amid intersecting economic, medical, and political crises. With the assistance of Sigmund Freud, Jordan Peele, Alfred Hitchcock, and bell hooks, among other accomplices, Klein uses wry humor and a keen sense of the ridiculous to face the strange doubles that haunt us―and that have come to feel as intimate and proximate as a warped reflection in the mirror. Combining comic memoir with chilling reportage and cobweb-clearing analysis, Klein seeks to smash that mirror and chart a path beyond despair. Doppelganger What do we neglect as we polish and perfect our digital reflections? Is it possible to dispose of our doubles and overcome the pathologies of a culture of multiplication? Can we create a politics of collective care and undertake a true reckoning with historical crimes? The result is a revelatory treatment of the way many of us think and feel now―and an intellectual adventure story for our times. **Let’s meet at Caboose Commons in Fairfax to enjoy some good discussion and meet new friends.**

**NOW ONLINE** The weekly Sunday morning (10:30 am to 12 noon) class begins with a welcome, short reflection on an aspect of the teachings, and includes an arriving meditation (15 minutes) that will often incorporate poems and may end with a reflection or question. The opening meditation is followed by an invitation to each person to share their name and a few words (for example, what is alive for them right now or what their intention is for the class or the day). The sharing has been a powerful support to help welcome new people, get to know each other, and build community/sangha. Following a brief period of mindful stretching/movement, we finish with a longer meditation (25-30 minutes) and final reflections on the teachings, sharing, Q&A, and announcements. Class participants are welcome to stay and engage with other members of the community or adjourn to a neighboring restaurant or coffee shop. This space is inclusive, everyone is welcome, and we invite you to bring with you all aspects of yourself. Learn more here: https://imcw.org/Calendar/Event-Calendar/EventId/3686/e/drop-in-class-livestreamed-19-apr-2020

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

I love my job and one of the main things I do is help customers get going with any of the data technologies at Microsoft. Right now there are a lot of my customers asking about Microsoft Fabric. It's hard to weave across all the shiny new options across the Fabric landscape, let alone figure out where it fits into your organization. In this session we'll focus on answering one question - how can I get data into Fabric? We'll talk through the "it depends" options and see some of the options in live demos.

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Joanie Shell and Lindsay Thomas of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, will be representing the Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) program, and will explain what this program can offer to persons ages 55 and older. As taken from their website, the ILOB program can help Ohio’s aging population face the many challenges of vision loss and maintain their independence. Target audience for this group is persons who are visually impaired, especially those who have experienced recent loss, however, all are welcome, including family members and supports. Light refreshments will be served. You can also join the meeting by Conference Call at (518) 263-8851.

**First Gathering: Love as Transformation** Reading: **The Forty Rules of Love** by **Elif Shafak** We begin Men, Meaning, and Madness with a novel that treats love not as sentiment, but as a force that disrupts, humbles, and reshapes the self. The Forty Rules of Love explores love as discipline, surrender, and moral risk. It asks what happens when certainty breaks, when the ego is wounded, and when meaning is found not through control, but through transformation. This gathering is for men interested in serious literature and honest inquiry into how love shapes character, responsibility, and the inner life. Discussion will be guided by questions rather than summaries. The aim is depth, not debate. Come having read the book or engaged with it seriously.

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

We may pick a specific topic and post in advance or may discuss current events and various ad hoc topics . We would love to spend time hanging out and getting to know one another. Atheist, agnostics, other non-theists, and atheist-friendly people are welcome to join us. Note: COUNT operates a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions (http://www.facebook.com/groups/COUNT.discussions/) to promote discussions among members and visitors.