Stateless Society

The world is in crisis and many people think we've gone past the tipping point and the planet is doomed. However, there are those who have hope and faith in science that some can survive the polycrisis and get to live in a sustainable society and planet. But there's a problem... **There's no clear vision of what a sustainable society and planet should be**, and without that destination, how can we set out on the journey to get there? Please join like-minded people to discuss this. We'll agree an agenda at the start of the meeting. Bring an open mind, suggestions and perhaps a pad of paper. **Here are some topics to be covered.** Please use the comments/chat to suggest other areas for consideration *Depending on the mood of attendees, the frequency of further meetups can be agreed.* **WHAT DO WE WANT A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY AND PLANET TO LOOK AND FEEL LIKE?** · A planet with clean atmosphere, oceans and soil with systems in place to keep them that way · The abolition of poverty and hunger · Equality of opportunity for all to achieve a peaceful and contented life without fear of physical or other violence · Access to healthcare, hygiene and sanitation for all · Access to quality education for all · A more responsible system of financial structures which embraces the best of co-operative production, capitalism and other systems · A safe justice system for all · Societies which respect for the diversity of opinion, ethnicity, sexuality, religion · Respect for the natural resources and fragility of Planet Earth and their finite capacity · Societies where the more fortunate, stronger and healthier help those less strong, less fortunate or less healthy. · Peaceful co-existence between the varying communities of the planet **What Freedoms ?** · Freedom to travel anywhere · Freedom to worship (should there be limitation such as worship should not be based on destroying the existing system…??) · Freedom from violence · Freedom from hate · Freedom from poverty (how define?) · Freedom of speech · Freedom from anxiety about the future · Freedom from concentration of power · Freedom to preserve culture and arts · Freedom to make decisions about one’s body · Freedom to seek representation and to represent others · Freedom to be different · Freedom to be heard

A monthly gathering in Central London to talk about the Equal Satisfaction idea (see "About us...." section for a description of this). Anyone welcome and other topics may also be discussed. Due to low attendance it's currently merged with a more general meeting in which Equal Satisfaction is discussed alongside other ideas intended to make the world better, e.g. citizen's income and land tax.

**games · drinks · easy social energy** free event **·** max 24 players **·** 2 hours a proper afterwork social at a cool venue for people to actually mix we've booked 1 oche for 2 hours, for a social darts night with easy rotations, drinks and a good crowd **what this is** a social darts event at flight club **the vibe** fun, active, no awkward standing around **what’s included** social darts group rotations bar/table space to mix before, during & after **who this is for** people who prefer a social with something to do **how it works** join in, rotate through the games, meet people naturally **why this one matters** activities make it easier to talk and easier to connect **final note** arrive from 6pm to mingle, playtime is 7pm-9pm with time to socialise after max 12 players per 1hr round come solo or with friends see you there 🎯 p.s. by attending, you agree to our [event terms & conditions](https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vS3p3ZAhIoCyq3kHFEliu2NCaT8iHfz5E_nUxcUTr7rsDufU7x5BNB_Ta2BWqtTYX72rEAjBG2nOcze/pub)

Time is precious. Here we value non-boring valuable chats and interactions that are fully engaging, soulfully enriching, inspiring, and leave you a bit wiser than when you arrived. In that spirit (mind the pun!), today’s fully hosted laid back social coffee chat will offer a perfect haven for the inquisitive & curious - those drawn to the mysteries of the universe, life and everything in between. A tasty caffeine infused fun afternoon of thought-provoking causal chats exploring spirituality/consciousness and related interconnected topics spanning **philosophy,** **neuroscience**, **parapsychology,** **paranormal.** **cosmology** and **noetic sciences** over a mug of sweet coffee (or amazin value Chardonnay!) Chaired by me - a former Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher exploring spirituality topics in pursuant of the "truth" since a teenager, there'll be no strict structure - a relaxed friendly space to openly chat, exchange ideas & experiences without judgement, but I'll preside to promote inclusivity and zone in on specifics to avoid people digressing onto unrelated tangents to ensure like all of our events - particpants derive maximum utlity and engagement from attending. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using practical fun exploratory divination practices drawing on elements of **psychology, metaphysics, epistemology** and **statistical** **probability** of rare events as we do so. Whether you're a practicing "spiritualist", a curious skeptic, or just someone who loves deep conversation on **life’s big questions**, you’ll hopefully walk away more enlightened with some practical tips you can start applying and inspired to explore more! As well as illuminating chats to guide self-reflection, obviously no sprituality event woul be complete without practical tools so there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate super powerful gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun, laughter & intrigue! **Sample of conversational threads** might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains peoples' paranormal experiences? What would reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show that as as well as mind control experiments, the US govt employed mediums and remote viewers. If all mumbo jumbo then why? Is Nirvana just a fantasy of deluded people? Does everything happen for a reason? To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns and undiscovered aspects of reality, NOT religion. After all, as my philosophy professor once rightly postulated to me: "If God created Adam, who created God Lucas?" Yep - that inconvenient flaw **debunks every fairytale religion** out there including the oldest religion of them all - paganism - so why is witchcraft still practised outside of **Hogwarts** today? I may also share the latest peer reviewed empirical evidence surrounding **paranormal** and **consciousness** phenomena. **=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===** 1. Does consciousness survive death or is Cambridge Astrophysics Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if **ghosts** existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Are Poltergiests 100% hoax? Brain scans indicate thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive **consciousness -** so how can spirit/mind live on after **brain death**? 2. Is **synchronicity/coincidence** simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it? Molecular Biologists have shown that just like plants - our cells give off resonant frequencies between 10 & 180 kilohertz - could this be a source of non-verbal communication like telepathy? 3. Given **neuroscience**'s infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta brain wave states? Can **Kundalini yoga** boost **DMT** (dimethyltryptamine) naturally vs drugs like ayahuasca, mushrooms, LSDand if so by what mechanism? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them? Is the Maharishi Effect real? 4. Are clairvoyants and mediums just good people readers or are they really able to access time and space in non-linear ways? Is Tyler Henry the real deal or just faking it? Was **Abraham Lincolm** precognizant when he dreamt his own fatal assignation? 5. The laws of statistical probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there is other non-microbial life out there. So what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was that 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star or Oumuamua/Atlas interstella object that has just entered our solar system? 6. Could metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs theories from the **psychology** literature (Mandela Effect?) or do we just live in a **simulation** as **Elon Musk** proposes? 7. **Stephen Hawking** once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If matter only manifests when observed as the double slit experiments shows, does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery of *quantum superposition /* disappearing neutrons imply **parallel universes**? 8. Do NDEs suggest something beyond physicality? Were Steve Jobs final words "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow" before he died (New York Times) visions of an afterlife or just neurochemical changes / drugs playing tricks? 9. Can photons omitted by our bodies explain auras that people see? 10. Could limits in our understanding of quantum physics, space and time explain paranormal experiences? 11. What existed before the **big bang** \- how do you get something from "nothing"? I believe our reality is the product of a black hole\. What you reckon? ***So how do we get to the "truth"?*** Both in my journalism days and applying the most advanced empirical research techniques in my client consulting work - it becomes clear the truth is often elusive. No matter how much we triangulate evidence - we can only provide part answers. "All models are wrong, but some are useful" George Box What we think we know and reality diverge leading to that great **paradox of knowledge.** And as the boundary between knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and more questions. In that spirit - every credible philosopher & scientist acknowledges - we'll never get to the complete truth but could **experimental methods** get us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? How about the **"spirituality"** toolkit? **=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===** We will meet inside the pub upstairs - located in Islington, 4 seconds walk from Highbury & Islington station or 12 mins from Angel station. l I'll be wearing a **Starwars identifier** and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number/location. For stargazing we will walk to park 5 mins away around 7.30pm Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answer

Come along to BFI bar this Easter Monday for a relaxed sit-down social - Starting 7pm. (1st Monday every month). An informal meetup/drinks open for anyone pursuing or developing personal film-making goals. **Format / Schedule** This isn't a formal networking event: it is for newcomers and outsiders, to be able to meet and chat socially. Also a chance to share personal input about different events and resources we have found useful. Or would help others find what they need. (Nothing beats word of mouth.) ..... 7.00pm-7.45pm - Arrive / Get drinks or food. 7.45pm-8.30pm - We will take some time to speak as a group and share (if you are comfortable): -To say what we're most looking to find, from networking. -What we've found most hard to find, so far. -What we've found most easy to find. -To take the opportunity to exchange personal information, and share any resources we’ve come across which would be useful to others. 8.30 - 9.30 You're welcome to stay on longer and keep chatting, no pressure to stay, we'll be meeting every month. .... Free to attend- No expectation of professional background, or active projects - just interest! To connect with others, creatively or socially. We don't have set activities or pressure to pitch. Just space to discuss any personal interests or goals, with new faces; or catch up with ones you already know. We'll have a table in main downstairs bar, from 7pm. Look out for a sign. Make sure to RSVP/update if you can't attend, so we have an idea of numbers. And message on here if you have queries before attending. **Access** Venue has step-free access via more than one entrance. Accessible and private toilets, on ground fl

**Join us for another LoMAZ Unlimited event, this time visiting the 'Sufi Life and Art' free exhibition at the British Museum.** **Unlike our regular events (which often have waitlists), our Unlimited ones have no cap on numbers. They're a social for everyone, and a great way to see what we're about.** **❓ How do our Unlimited events work?** * We **meet in the museum cafe** first. * Then we **look** **around 1-3 rooms in the museum for around 50 minutes.** * You're free to wander around the rooms at your own pace or explore with other members of the group. * **This isn't a guided tour of the rooms.** We simply limit the number of rooms we visit so it's more manageable with a larger group than usual. Each event we choose a different theme or time period to explore. * **After this, we head to the pub!** **THE PLAN:** **2:00-2.40pm: MEET AND GREET IN BRITISH MUSEUM COURT CAFE** Look for the hosts wearing LoMAZ badges. **2:40pm-3.30pm: GO TO 'SUFI LIFE AND ART' FREE EXHIBITION, ROOM 43a ON UPPER FLOOR** This can be found within The Albukhary Foundation Gallery of the Islamic world: *'This display will explore Sufi life and art through a selection of objects that represent Sufi communities in the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, and northern India. This mystical movement, which first appeared in the Islamic world during the eighth century AD, has been defined as a pathway to a personal experience with God.'* **Read more** **[here](https://www.britishmuseum.org/exhibitions/sufi-life-and-art).** **Find the museum map** **[here.](https://www.britishmuseum.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/British_Museum_map.pdf)** **3.30pm: LEAVE MUSEUM TO WALK TO PUB** **3:45pm: PUB SOCIAL** We'll head to the The Penderel's Oak pub. Address: 283-288 High Holborn, London WC1V 7HP. We were not able to reserve tables this time, unfortunately. [https://maps.app.goo.gl/1PF1LDymBw8Jcabn9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/1PF1LDymBw8Jcabn9) **TICKETS:** **⚠️ ⛔️ There are now no more tickets left for this date.** The museum reached full capacity when we last visited and staff stopped anyone without a ticket entering. ***As we are attending on Easter Monday, if you don't have a pre-booked ticket or are not a member there is a good chance you won't be let in. ⚠️ ⛔️*** **GETTING THERE:** **Address:** British Museum, Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG Find more information **[here.](https://www.britishmuseum.org/visit#getting-here)** **EVENT WHATSAPP GROUP:** As our Unlimited events can get quite busy, we'll have a WhatsApp group for this event to help you find the group on the day. ***See Event Comments for the link.*** **FINALLY:** **Please change your RSVP to 'no' if you can no longer attend, so the hosts know who to look out for.** **Thank you for your interest in the group & being part of LoMAZ.** Image: Ceramic tile, Türkiye, around 1700, from the collection.

📍**Meeting Point** 👎 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ihS5SSz5Yb1uNQgA6 **About** 🍎🍉🥝🍒🍓🍑 🧺Pack food and a blanket for an afternoon of friendly conversations with like-minded people in a beautiful outdoor setting. ✨️ **What to expect** Join us for a social meetup to one of the most beautiful parks of the Royal London Parks - and also get a chance to meet open-minded, international friends. Whether you’re new to the city or just want great conversation, World ! We'll do a little picnic to celebrate Easter Monday, and perhaps explore a few pubs for some extra drinks... or eggs? 🐰

Social Fitness is a small-group functional fitness throwdown designed for people who train hard and enjoy doing it with others. For the third Social Fitness event, this month we will be teaming up with **Bad Boy Pizza Society** to bring you some **epic large New York style pizzas** to refuel post workout. Your **entry cost for the event is £30**, which includes pizza at BBPS! Expect a **functional fitness–style workout**, completed in teams, with enough structure to challenge you and enough atmosphere to keep it fun. You’ll work hard, train alongside like-minded people, and then stick around afterwards for **food, conversation, and a proper social**. This isn’t about elite qualification or ego lifting — it’s about **good training, good people, and shared effort**. **Workout level:** Intermediate **Format:** Team-based **Vibe:** Competitive, friendly, social Train hard. Have a laugh. Leave with more than just a sweat.

Welcome back to *No, Really: What Is to be Done?*, our deep-dive series on Lenin, Leninism, and the theory of the revolutionary party. You may be wondering when and if we're ever actually going to read WITBD itself, the actual text. Rest assured we will. For now, we're going to keep on psyching ourselves up with another one of the foundational documents of Leninism, one which feels grimly relevant right now: *Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism.* Find the text here: [https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/) Feel free to read as much as you like, but we'll focus on the **Preface and Chapters 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8. These are:** [I. CONCENTRATION OF PRODUCTION AND MONOPOLIES](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch01.htm) [III. FINANCE CAPITAL AND THE FINANCIAL OLIGARCHY](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch03.htm) [VI. DIVISION OF THE WORLD AMONG THE GREAT POWERS](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch06.htm) [VII. IMPERIALISM AS A SPECIAL STAGE OF CAPITALISM](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch07.htm) [VIII. PARASITISM AND DECAY OF CAPITALISM](https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1916/imp-hsc/ch08.htm) It's often claimed that Lenin's identification of imperialism as capitalism's "highest stage" is a textbook example of Marxist hubris. How can capitalism have reached its highest stage in the year 1916, when Lenin was writing? Surely technofeudalism, or neocolonialism, or monopoly corporatism - take your pick - represents a higher stage? Without giving too much away, let's say this much, at least by way of starting a debate: the confronting truth is that capitalism did indeed reach its highest stage with the exact kind of monopolist, oligarchic, feudalistic (when *Imperialism* was published, literal crowned heads still ruled much of Europe by decree), militarised imperialism Lenin describes in this work. If that suggests that nothing has really changed in the 100+ years since, except perhaps to get worse, it's because nothing has. A century of "progress" and we haven't progressed at all. Still wage slaves, still debt peons, still cattle for a rapist ruling class. And it all still runs on the blood and oil of the Global South. So let's not kid ourselves: *Imperialism* is as relevant today as when it was written. Don't believe me? Join us and see for yourself! We'll discuss Lenin's framework of analysis, his concrete conclusions and strategic recommendations and break down whether we think these insights are applicable to our times in all their brutality. Take care and happy reading! \-\-\-\- A bit about the *NRWITBD* series: [Fade in] The year is 2026. Picture this: industrial-scale war on multiple continents. Cities in ruins, millions dead and millions more made refugees - starvation, disease, mutilations, deportations, pogroms, genocides, dispossessions. Across every land, a working class on its knees before an ever-shrinking class of oligarchs with an ever-growing pile of treasure, weapons and slaves - determined to pit brother against brother in endless wars for resources that can only end when the whole earth is a toxic wasteland. And what they call "peace" is not much better. This is the brutal present, a [Second Gilded Age,](https://fortune.com/article/gilded-age-coming-back-layoffs-pay-inequality-labor-unions-ceos-billionaires-worker-pay/) but we could travel back a hundred years and describe more or less the exact same scene. In the century since Lenin lived and walked the earth, less has changed than the eternal optimists - Panglossian techno-liberals like Steven Pinker and the other intellectuals of the Epstein class - would like us to think. Really, we're back where it all began in the *First* Gilded Age of the late 19th and early 20th century: on the outside looking in, asking the age-old question: what is to be done? Things are really getting quite bad. No, really - what is to be done!!? In our gatherings of late, we've been tinkering around the edges of a few answers. Prior Lenin readings as well as our exploration of the Yan'an Forum and our whistle-stop tour through the last twenty years of street protests with Vincent Bevins have given us some things to chew on. Now there's been a clamour from plenty of regulars, as well as a few newcomers, that we continue to pull at the vital thread that seems to be running through all our discussions and see where it might lead us: namely, the revolutionary theories of Lenin. This will be a series of readings running every other Thursday night in Whitechapel. With *No, Really: What is to be done?,* we'll be taking a deep dive into revolutionary Marxism with a read-through of texts like Lars Lih's *Lenin rediscovered: what is to be done? in Context,* non-standard biographies like Carter Ellwood's *Non-Geometric Lenin: Essays on the Development of the Bolshevik Party 1910-1914* as well as some articles, essays and discussion prompts which most readers likely won't have encountered before.

Have you ever wanted to be immersed within either the city or nature in the form of a walk and socialise at the same time? If so, this may be the right walk for you. Welcome to another one of the WALK events where you have the opportunity to explore all the scenic routes I’ll execute whether there’s nature within, whether we get immersed within the city and feel great about yourself. 



With this particular walk, we will be walking from Elephant & Castle to Brixton. It’s a high road & transitional walk from south east to south west. We get immersed with the Latin American ambiance & culture in the south east and transition to the Afro Caribbean culture in the south west. The best of both worlds I’ll say. After this walk, we will be heading to pop Brixton if you wish. Pop Brixton is another box park which includes so many food vendors, entertainment, music and a wide chill out area. Their food is really good and you can say it outclasses some of the box parks out there. To check out more, here’s their website: https://www.popbrixton.org My fellow explorers, if you enjoyed the event, I’m more than happy to accept any donations which of course are optional but will go a long way to help me unlock and deliver even more exciting and engaging events and resources: https://www.paypal.me/calvinjoy 



Starting point: Elephant & Castle
Ending point: Brixton
Walking length: 2.4 miles
Duration: 1 hour +
Required clothing: Smart casual, comfortable shoes and a jacket in case it gets cold
Departure: 20 minutes after the meeting time. 



WHAT - Walk from Elephant & Castle to Brixton
WHERE - Elephant & Castle/Brixton
WHEN - 6:30pm - 9pm
MEETING POINT - Outside Elephant & Castle Station
NEAREST STATION - Elephant & Castle Station
REQUIREMENTS - Just your good behaviour is all and whatever is listed above for the walk. Disclaimers: Please be on your best behaviour and respect one another. This group doesn’t tolerate any misbehaviour and misconduct. Should such a thing take place, you will be removed. If you ask a question that either already has the answer to it or doesn’t relate to the event at all, I won’t respond. Whenever an event takes place, I will cut off contact 20 minutes after the event commences. If you message even 1 minute after the cut off time, I won’t be available as I’m conducting the event. There will be photography and videography by myself so if you are photo conscious and/or do not want to be in the video, do kindly inform me and I’ll try my utmost best to not involve you in the picture. This walk may involve passing through some certain areas so if you do feel uncomfortable and/or uncertain in partaking in the walk, I totally understand. Let’s all be responsible but please be aware you come at your own risk. Do be mindful of your possessions, belongings and most importantly, your safety. The ‘London society of explorers’ accept no risk of liability at this event.

**Dead Product Society \| After Work Drinks** Come along, bring a friend/colleague or two and join us for a relaxed evening of informal product and tech chats over a few drinks and doughnuts. We aim to connect everyone without awkwardness or LinkedIn spiel, and value good conversation over boring presentations. **Who is welcome?** Product Managers, CEOs, UX/UI Designers, Developers, Scrum Masters etc. We welcome anyone who works in, with or wants to break into product. *Note: We intentionally keep our After Work Drinks on the smaller side to allow for more in-depth conversations.* **The Bike Shed** We'll be hanging out in the lounge area (behind the area with all the tables, next to the store). \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Dead Product Society** Dead Product Society is a collective of like-minded professionals sharing real-talk and joining forces to navigate the twists and turns of the product world. Our down-to-earth community is for anyone who works in, with or wants to break into product teams regardless of their background or experience. **Our Sponsors** Shout out to our generous sponsors at Waggel Pet Insurance; Lifetime pet insurance, simplified. With their support we are able to host these events for you and create a space for those important, honest conversations.

Every day you look at the news on your phone and you are shown a perspective on multiple events, vivid pictures, videos, and explanations that decide for you what to think. When you come out of your bubble and try to talk to others, you realise they have the wrong perspective. You assumed they saw the same undeniable evidence you did, with the same explanations. But each person is shown a perspective tailored to them, believable and convincing from where they stand. We moved from relying on our own eyes, to gossip, to the printing press, to radio and TV, and now to news customised to each individual. We moved from Plato's Cave, where we were all chained side by side experiencing the same shadows, to isolation, each of us with our own unique shadows. In Plato's Cave they were wrong together. Are we more lost being wrong alone? Is your bubble protecting you or trapping you? Can we build a shared world if we can't share a shared reality? Learn more about [the allegory of the cave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_cave). \*Please do your own research and share resources related to this topic in the comment section\* #======# Donation! Thank you for being a member. I have made a donation page for those who want to help with the costs. [https://examinedlife.uk/donation/](https://examinedlife.uk/donation/) #======# Group chat We have a telegram group chat and here is a link for the front door: [https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk](https://t.me/+o9T9DL5u6AcwMmRk) #======# The Examined Life, "Let's Discuss..." session is an open discussion. The format of this event will be: 13:15 - Free flow group discussion about the topic. 14:00 ish - We will be splitting into smaller groups for more engaging discussion about what interests each of you. 16:00 - End of the official meetup. Most often attendees stay and continue discussing up to around 18:00. #======# Please RSVP if you can commit to attending and change your RSVP if something comes up. Inaccurate RSVPs can keep potential attendees on the waiting list and makes it difficult to plan for room sizes and bookings. Art work: Platos Allegory of the Cave 1604 by Jan Saenredam

The Humanist Monthly Program is our longest running event and still a community favorite. In the old days it used to be called "Going to HCCO" and we still like to think of it as our flagship event. We will be hearing from Becca Powell, Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Unchained At Last, an organization whose mission is dedication to ending forced and child marriage in the United States through direct services and systems change. Unchained At Last's mission clearly meshes and addresses several of our Humanist Ten Commitments. Becca will educate us about an issue many of us may not be familiar with--but should be. 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

This is an in-person meeting. At this meeting you will get answers to depression and anxiety. Find out the source of them and how to get rid of them. Did you know that unwanted emotions like anxiety, depression, unhappiness, loneliness, hopelessness, anger, fear, or feelings of irritation don’t just fall on you for no reason. They are not random occurrences that simply happen to people's minds. They are definitely not due to a chemical imbalance in your brain from some nebulous chemical reaction "by chance". Your negative emotions are the symptoms of the painful experiences that you have which are not healed, and which are still affecting you. The effects of these painful experiences are exacerbated by the pressures or difficulties of the other problems in your life. 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. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Hubbard Dianetics Foundation of Central Ohio and Church of Scientology of Central Ohio.

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

Come attend a free in-person seminar where you will find out why you: -Feel isolated -Can't express yourself openly -Get nervous or anxious in front of people -Run out of things to say or feel tongue-tied -Feel introverted -Don't feel comfortable in any social setting -Can't make more friends -Are shy and miss opportunities to connect in a meaningful way And we cover what you can do about any one, some or all of the above. This seminar is the weapon against loneliness, isolation and boredom, come join us! COME TO THIS SEMINAR AND LEARN THE SECRETS TODAY This seminar is brought to you by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center. 1266 Dublin Road, Columbus, Ohio 43215

We are recruiting new group leaders for virtual men's groups! Our primary groups are outdoor movement groups, but we are launching virtual groups for the state of Ohio and beyond and the groups will move outside in the spring, creating room for men's groups, women's groups and coed groups all over the country. Read below to learn about our groups and click the links at the bottom to apply. ### **What is an Outdoor Empowerment Group?** Our Outdoor Movement & Community Empowerment Groups are simple, guided experiences designed to help people reconnect with nature, themselves, and others. We combine some form of movement (hike, walk, run, bike, yoga, workout) and meaningful conversation within a simple community circle to create a space where individuals can support each other while prioritizing mental and physical well-being. Whether you’re seeking stress relief, personal growth, or community, our groups offer everyone a unique and welcoming environment. ## **Why Join?** * **Improve Mental & Physical Well-Being** – Movement, nature, and supportive conversations reduce stress and promote balance. * **Feel Less Alone** – Build genuine connections with like-minded people in a safe, welcoming space. * **Gain Clarity & Perspective** – Step outside daily routines and into a space designed for personal growth and reflection. ## **The Ideal Group Leader** The ideal group leader * Has a born-in passion for mental health, movement, connecting with nature and building community. * Has 5 extra hours per week to dedicate to a meaningful cause for at least one year. Yes, you can leave any organization at any time and we can also ask you to leave, but we are building with legacy in mind and we need people who can commit and be ALL IN on this mission to build with us. * Is independently financially stable with the ability to volunteer with no expectation of pay. This is a deeply beautiful journey of service that all participants commit to at Speak Your Mind. * An ability to manage groups with high emotional intelligence and desire for human connection. * An ability to self-motivate and market/promote their group on Facebook and other social platforms. * Nature informed therapy or clinical therapists/psychologists a plus. ## **Our Impact**  Since launching, we have helped thousands find support, connection, and healing through our Outdoor Movement Groups. 100% of participants surveyed have reported: * A noticeable improvement in mental clarity and emotional well-being. * An increase in social connection and a sense of belonging. * Said they would return again. We believe mental health should be accessible, community-driven, and rooted in nature. Join us and take the first step toward a more connected, grounded, and supported version of yourself. ### **Why Our Groups are Donation-Based** Our Outdoor Movement Groups are made possible through a donation-based model. This approach allows us to keep our events accessible to everyone, regardless of financial circumstances, while also ensuring that we can continue expanding our reach. It’s a great way to pay it forward and support the growth of this beautiful mission! Every contribution helps us: * **Cover Essential Costs** – Donations allow us to pay essential legal, marketing, insurance, and admin costs as well as nourish the important people who run the organization. * **Grow Our Mission** – With your support, we can bring these healing experiences to thousands more people in the future and execute our long term plan to expand across the USA, affecting up to 500,000 people per year. By choosing to contribute, you’re not just leading an event—you’re helping build a mental health movement that supports long-term well-being and connection for all during a severe mental health epidemic. ## **Come Join Us!** We’d love to have you be part of this growing community of people prioritizing their mental health, movement, and connection. 🔹 **Visit Our Website to Learn More:** https://speakyourmind.men/joinusoutside 🔹 **Apply Here to Lead Your Own Group!** – https://form.jotform.com/taketimespeakyourmind/sym-group-leader-application 🔹 **Support the mission**: If you resonate with the mission and want to support, feel free to join a group before applying or donate to help us reach our goals to help more people! You can donate here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/angels-for-angels/speak-your-mind Please text Mario with any questions: (808) 855-8831

Come assist Van Buren Shelter (https://ymcacolumbus.org/locations/vanburen) staff in serving dinners and cleaning up on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Dinner for the women is 5-6 pm and for the families is 6:15-7:15 pm. There is ample free parking available in the shelter's lot. The recommended area to park is in green in the image above. There will be a new entrance for the time being. We are asking all volunteers to enter through the Donation Dock door, the orange mark on the image above. This door is located between the Single Adults and Family Shelter. You will see 2 large garage doors with a large green trash compactor in the center. Please head to the closest garage door to the building wall, with a ramp leading up. There, you will see a door with a sign stating instructions on how to enter the building. Please ring the doorbell, and a staff member will come and escort you into the building. If a staff member takes longer than 5 minutes, please call the front desk at 614-689-2020. This is a new process for us, and we do not want to keep you waiting! We appreciate your patience as we navigate this temporary change. The shelter needs a volunteer count the day before the event so sign-up ends Monday at 4:50 PM. Afterwards some of us go to the Omnipresent Atheists Weekly Meetup in progress to have a bit to eat or drink (http://www.meetup.com/omnipresentatheists/). Volunteers must be 14 or older. Since we will be working around families, the YMCA does not permit volunteering by individuals with convictions for violent or sexual crimes. The YMCA reserves the right to run background checks on volunteers. For questions, comment on this page or contact: Andrew, awhit12@yahoo.com, (614)937-5802 (cell). Please let Andrew know if you volunteer anytime other than our COUNT events so that he can count your hours toward our service record.