Self-Awareness

🪞 My Inner Mirror – Inner Alchemy Workshop Through Art Therapy 🎨 Immerse yourself in a unique and transformative workshop, blending artistic creation, meditation, and inner exploration. This guided introspective space will allow you to manifest your inner reality through art, shifting perceptions and strengthening your connection with your subconscious. 🌟 Why Join? ✅ Visually express your inner world and uncover its hidden messages ✅ Deepen your connection with your subconscious through guided meditation ✅ Use art as a tool for transformation and self-analysis ✅ Learn interpretation techniques to better understand your creations No artistic skills required – this workshop is accessible to everyone! 🧘‍♂️ Workshop Flow: 1. Breathing Exercises – Mental and energetic preparation for meditation 2. Guided Meditation – Activating the subconscious and awakening intuition 3. Mirror Drawing Creation – Representing your inner reality through art 4. Interpretation & Examples – Understanding the symbols and messages within your artwork 5. Sharing & Q/A – A space for discussion and guidance 📌 Required Materials: 🔹 Paper: Blank sheets (A4 or A3 format, no grid lines) 🔹 Artistic tools: Pencils, brushes, markers, or any medium of your choice ⏳ Duration: 2 hours 💫 Guidance: This workshop is led by Ludovic, exploring inner alchemy through yoga and art therapy. 🪞 Let your true essence emerge, observe your inner reflection, and uncover the secrets your subconscious wishes to reveal. ✅ Reserve your spot now and embark on this transformative journey! **✨ Join Our Wellness Community** More on [https://www.yogasource.org](https://www.yogasource.org)

Welcome ! OM Chanting is a group practice that uses the transformational power of OM to activate the self-healing potential of participants, promote inner peace and purify the environment. OM Chanting is a free practice, however, donations are welcome to help cover the rent of the studio. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- EVENT DETAILS: address: 283 Spadina Avenue; 3rd floor. ( SE corner of Spadina and Dundas). We will start at 6:30 pm. Please plan to arrive 5-10 minutes earlier. We will be sitting on chairs; you can also sit on the floor if you prefer. You are encouraged to bring a bottle of water. Looking forward to seeing you ! For more information about Om Chanting, please visit: [https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/](https://bhaktimarga.org/yoga-meditation/) Much Love, Veda Cell: 416-845-9375

Intimate gatherings, heart-centered workshops, soulful conversations and lots of questions and answers over coffee! I host the Antiquity United Circle regularly, designed to bring back the village in an attempt to fight loneliness. I stress on bringing our community back together again by sharing all our intimate stories with each other - because somewhere we forgot to be raw, open and vulnerable. Somewhere we started hiding our truths that we became too afraid to talk about with our own family maybe because we didn't want to upset them, or maybe because they wouldn't get it - or maybe we have tried and they really just never did - or worse still, maybe we never even learned how to talk to them. Or maybe we just don't have anyone. No family, no "real" friends. Or perhaps these are stories we are too scared to tell others because we are stuck behind the facade of our perfect smiles, stories we bury deep inside of us because we feel no one will understand, nor even care. Stories we keep pushing deep within us just because we have other, "more important" things to deal with- the real life stuff you know! Or other people to take care of rather than our own self. Until those stories become so monumental within every fibre in our bodies that sometimes we want to finish it all I know. Because I am that someone, who wanted to finish it all. But I wasn't meant to. I guess I had to go through decades of loneliness and fight through every battle, while keeping that perfectly happy smile during the day, and thinking of ways and means to end it all by night. And yet, I just kept going, somehow. Today, after going through every battle internally and alone in my life, I am here standing tall and strong. I’m ready to build a community because I know first hand that Second Chances is a real thing because I was finally able to break free from it all. Today I stand tall and strong, ready to share my story, and tell you that it is possible to break free. And I want to also shout out from rooftops that there is no bravado in fighting alone. We NEED each other, that Loneliness can not become the new age epidemic, I refuse to become another statistic, and I refuse to let someone else breaking within become one. Because we matter! You matter. And I matter! Exemplifying through my own story after extreme states of hopelessness and loneliness and extreme final thoughts, Second Chances ARE possible and beautifully so! I have therefore formed The Antiquity United Circle, as part of my not-for-profit venture Vision One World for BOTH Women and Men in our society who are otherwise considered a write-off after a certain age, be it in the work place, be it on the home front, be it a narrative we have convinced our own selves of…But thus far, no further! I know there are people out there at this very moment thinking about how to end it all. But I want to reach out to you that it doesn't have to be that way: that I am one of many examples in this world, here to tell you openly- no more hiding in shame, that I was there. But no matter where you are in life, it’s NOT the end- nothing ever is. So come and join me, form the Antiquity United Circle. Here I will talk to you openly, honestly about my life, no filters, and invite you to share your story- no judgement, only deep understanding of everyone's unique journeys. I am not intending to find solutions to your 'problems' - that is something you must find on your own, but I promise to share things that you perhaps might draw similarities from, and see that you're truly not alone. The Antiquity United Circle will be that family for you, that some of us were never blessed to have. And THAT will make a difference, I promise you So! Let's bring back our village we lost a long time ago and come and join me in my coffee and conversations I host regularly. There will be activities planned throughout the year, so come on, time to live, breathe, and find the one answer that finally set me free!! Just one request please: the gatherings are always free of charge, however, I do require an RSVP please- and also, if you do confirm your attendance, please: show up 😊 Thanks, and see you!

AI companions have become increasingly popular. A recent study estimates that around 70% of teens in the US has tried an AI companions in the past year. But is their impact on our lives overall positive? Can they provide true friendship or fulfill any of our social needs? With their popularity on the rise, what are the social and political implications they carry? Come discuss these and other questions with us at the Centre for Ethics. Registration is free and everyone is welcome! Speakers Yiran Hua, Michael Inzlicht and Paul Bloom will discuss ethical questions surrounding AI companions. **About the Speakers:** [Paul Bloom](https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/paul-bloom), Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto * Paul Bloom studies how children and adults make sense of the world, with special focus on pleasure, morality, religion, fiction, and art. He has won numerous awards for his research and teaching. He is past-president of the *Society for Philosophy and Psychology*, and co-editor of *Behavioral and Brain Sciences*. He has written for scientific journals such as *Nature* and *Science*, and for popular outlets such as *The New York Times*, *The Guardian*, *The New Yorker*, and *The Atlantic Monthly*. He is the author of seven books, including his latest *Psych: The Story of the Human Mind*. [Yiran Hua](https://sites.google.com/view/uoftc4e/people), Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Philosophy, Centre for Ethics, University of Toronto * Yiran works on ethics and aesthetics. Before coming to Toronto, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Ethics and the Common Good. She received her doctorate from Brown University, and her BA from UNC-Chapel Hill. When doing philosophy, Yiran thinks about intimacy, love and beauty, and social/political relationships. She also has research interests in tech ethics, feminist philosophy, and Chinese philosophy. When not doing philosophy, Yiran is a creative writer. [Michael Inzlicht](https://utsc.utoronto.ca/psych/person/michael-inzlicht), Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Toronto * Professor Inzlicht uses methods borrowed from social psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience to understand the nature of the mental effort we use to reach our goals and the nature of leisure activities we do for fun. His research includes projects on self-control, motivation, and empathy (work) as well as projects on digital device use, social media, and recreational cannabis use (play). His lab is committed to open and transparent science, which includes publicly posting data and materials, often preregistering studies, and regularly running replication studies. **\* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \* \*** This is a panel discussion with audience Q&A presented by the University of Toronto's Centre for Ethics that is free to attend and open to the public. Please register in advance [here](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ai-companion-event-tickets-1978161502304) to attend. About the Centre for Ethics (http://ethics.utoronto.ca): The Centre for Ethics is an interdisciplinary centre aimed at advancing research and teaching in the field of ethics, broadly defined. The Centre seeks to bring together the theoretical and practical knowledge of diverse scholars, students, public servants and social leaders in order to increase understanding of the ethical dimensions of individual, social, and political life. In pursuit of its interdisciplinary mission, the Centre fosters lines of inquiry such as (1) foundations of ethics, which encompasses the history of ethics and core concepts in the philosophical study of ethics; (2) ethics in action, which relates theory to practice in key domains of social life, including bioethics, business ethics, and ethics in the public sphere; and (3) ethics in translation, which draws upon the rich multiculturalism of the City of Toronto and addresses the ethics of multicultural societies, ethical discourse across religious and cultural boundaries, and the ethics of international society. The Ethics of A.I. Lab at the Centre For Ethics recently appeared on a list of 10 organizations leading the way in ethical A.I.: https://ocean.sagepub.com/blog/10-organizations-leading-the-way-in-ethical-ai

✨ Peace Starts With Me Night ✨ New Year Vision Board Edition 🎨 Join us for our first Peace Starts With Me Night of the year — a fun, creative, and welcoming evening to kick off 2026 together 🌱 This night is all about resetting, dreaming, and connecting as we start a new chapter. Whether you’re big on goals or just curious, come as you are 🤍 📅 Date – Friday, Jan 23 🕕 Doors Open – 6:00 PM 🍽 Dinner – 7:00 PM 📍 Location – 215 Mavety St Here’s what’s waiting for you: 🎨 Vision Board Making 📝 Goals & Bucket List Time 🍱 Japanese New Year–Style Dinner 🎉 Icebreakers & Fun Activities 💬 Short Peace Talk **To confirm your spot and help us prepare materials, please fill out this short registration form:** [Register Here](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeBY0GFw1Lmx4UKb1Ty9kDCaBZQ1W7YXQcorRjkNPe9kegb3w/viewform?usp=header) (This event is organized with the support of Family Church. The event is free to attend, and at the end of the evening, there will be an optional donation for those who would like to contribute.)

Join us the 4th Friday of every month at 6 pm at Cherie Bistro for another Toronto Humanist & Atheist get-together! Catch up with friends and welcome new people.

​(This will take place shortly after our weekly morning walks, the mindful miles.) ​Welcome to the Foodcourt Fairgrounds. ​We gather as a group in the basement food court of the Aura Concourse Shopping Mall, where a series of hosts will run low-key activities (writing, chats, hobbies, etc.). ​It’ll be a lovely time, especially cause you'll be there.

🥋 **Krav Maga (15+) at the Miles Nadal JCC** Build confidence, improve fitness, and learn practical self-defence skills in a safe and supportive environment. This dynamic program introduces the core principles of Krav Maga with a focus on real-world scenarios, situational awareness, and mental resilience. Through guided instruction and hands-on training, you’ll develop effective techniques for striking, defending, and reacting under pressure — all while enhancing strength, coordination, and conditioning. No prior experience necessary — just bring a willingness to challenge yourself and grow. Join our welcoming community and start your Krav Maga journey today! *** 📅 **Event Details** 📍 **Location:** Miles Nadal JCC — 750 Spadina Ave. (enter through Spadina doors) 📅 **Dates & Times:** Spots are open in upcoming sessions — join anytime! Late registration is welcome, and your fee will be automatically prorated. Drop-in options available. 💻 **Registration is required in advance** > Please note: RSVP’ing on Meetup does not reserve your spot. > 👉 [Register online](https://app.amilia.com/store/en/miles-nadal-jcc/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=kLGOdGA) > ☎️ Or call 416-924-6211 *** 🎟️ **Fees** • Full-session registration available (prorated if joining late) • Drop-in spots available *** 💥 **What to Expect** ✔️ Practical, real-world self-defence skills ✔️ Striking, defending, and reacting under pressure ✔️ Improved strength, coordination, and conditioning ✔️ Supportive, beginner-friendly instruction ✔️ A focus on confidence, awareness, and resilience *** 🎉 Come ready to move, learn, and empower yourself. We can’t wait to see you in class!

**Please note the time change to 7pm** Join me for an hour of getting worked on. Once a month, on the last Friday of the month, I will be hosting an online group event where I will clear you of energy you have picked up that does not belong to you. It is so easy to pick up energy (vibration) that does not belong to you. If you: work in a stressful job situation, spend time with people who are stressed, fearful or angry, take the subway or are a practitioner and work with people on a daily basis you may have attracted some of it. Just by the fact that it is not yours, it is non beneficial, but some of it can be painful or disorienting. Some of the signs that you have some "company", or energy that is not yours, are: feeling spacey, not able to focus being very tired for no apparent reason, mood shifts and sharp jabbing pain. Join me once a month to get clear.

SPACE IS LIMITED! This is a much smaller class than our 7:30 pm event and we can only accept a limited number of students. Key areas of focus: Practicing oral communication (speaking languages), for conversations, presentations, interviews and job skills Schedule: 1. 6:45- 7:15 pm : 30-minute language conversation class with certified award-winning language teacher John Dias. 2. Language exchange social (7:30-11 pm): includes Free access to the Toronto's BIGGEST Language Party and Social Party also in the Madison Pub led by teacher John Dias (same location) Cost: just $ 5 while we have this promo. **PROMO (Limited Time): $5 fee will give you access to both events (usual rate: $15 total)** Feel free to message us if you have any questions!

**An opportunity to serve the homeless and those at risk as a group.** During our recent sessions, we served meals, chopped veggies, made sandwiches, and helped prepare pasta. Each session is similar; however, tasks may vary depending on the need at hand (e.g., sorting food). *We had a great time serving together with lots of smiles and good energy.* **Only 6 spots available. If you’re planning to attend, please RSVP to reserve your spot and help us plan.** When you arrive at **Reception**, the staff will guide you to the volunteer room, where you can place your belongings in a locker and meet the group. Below are simple guidelines from the Ministry on what to wear, safety, etc.: **Guidelines (what to wear, safety, etc.):** [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1piAyloECv9YUDkPJuoJBdCmh3x8n1un1rGvJSFIkbs4/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1piAyloECv9YUDkPJuoJBdCmh3x8n1un1rGvJSFIkbs4/edit?usp=sharing) **Good to know:** * Closed-toe shoes are required. * Tie back long hair; minimal jewelry. * Please arrive 5–10 minutes early so we can start together. * **If something urgent comes up and you can’t make it, please send a quick message when you can 🙏** Grateful to serve alongside you.

* **[Unlock the hidden meaning of your dreams.](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/dreams/ "https://www.eckankar.org/experience/dreams/")** Soul never sleeps. Your nightly dreams are real experiences in other worlds. * **[Discover your past lives](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/past-lives/ "https://www.eckankar.org/experience/past-lives/")** and how they affect your life today. * **[Consciously expand your awareness via Soul Travel.](https://www.eckankar.org/experience/soul-travel/ "https://www.eckankar.org/experience/soul-travel/")** Experience proof of your eternal nature. * Find inner peace and love amid the apparent chaos of life. Discover how you are creating your own reality every moment. In a Pew Research Center study, almost 50% of North Americans said that they've had a religious or mystical experience. Profound spiritual experiences may include: * a sense that you have lived before or a past-life memory * coincidences and amazing connections * dèjà vu * dreams with a departed loved one * flying in your dreams * guidance or protection from an angel or spiritual guide * hearing an inner sound * intuition or direct knowingness * miracles or healing * near-death experiences * out-of-body adventures * seeing an inner light * vivid or prophetic dreams It is actually possible to understand and cultivate such spiritual experiences. **[ECKANKAR: The Reality of Spiritual Experiences](https://youtu.be/6ZAFB431-1g?si=iyzIknUy1lAC65Uj)** (Video - 4:55) Spiritual experiences are part of everyday living for millions of people. **[THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ECK](https://www.eckankar.org/engage/develop-a-daily-practice/)** Conscious experience with the divine within you is exhilarating, subtle, profound, and life-changing. Learn the secrets of tuning in to inner guidance. Explore the adventures of your nightly dreams, the realities of Soul Travel, and your karmic history. Gain prophetic insights into daily living. "*Soul Travel means moving into a new, higher state of consciousness. Its result is always of positive effect. By sprinkling light on darkness, Soul Travel brings love, wisdom, and freedom to all it touches*." —Harold Klemp,[ ](https://www.amazon.com/ECKANKAR-Key-Soul-Travel-ECKANKAR-Key-Book-ebook/dp/B0BRD9R1ZL)*[ECKANKAR: Key to Soul Travel](https://www.amazon.com/ECKANKAR-Key-Soul-Travel-ECKANKAR-Key-Book-ebook/dp/B0BRD9R1ZL)*, p 98 Every [spiritual exercise ](https://www.eckankar.org/engage/develop-a-daily-practice/)offers a key to unlock your highest potential. We invite you to come and share your insights, experiences, any questions on this topic, and hear others' experiences. You will also have the opportunity to try a [spiritual exercise](https://www.eckankar.org/engage/develop-a-daily-practice/) that can open your heart to the Light and Sound of God. Click the ATTEND button at the bottom right to join us! More resources: * [Eckankar Soul Adventure](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6cP91Kqu6mEfRtL74Z3ZWKS6irEcZ6tC) Podcast * *[ECK Soul Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/ebooklets) eBooklets* * [Soul Adventure](https://www.eckankar.org/eck-soul-adventure-magazine) Magazine *Graphics courtesy of* [Eckankar](https://www.eckankar.org/)*, The Path of Spiritual Freedom* Sponsored by [Eckankar Canada in Ontario](https://www.eckankarcanada.ca/ontario-spiritual-events.html)

Bring any piece of music in any form. We'll deconstruct it's musical elements and share with each other what the music evokes and what insights arise. Then, consider how this musical work fits into the broader world of music and sound. After a break well do a musical exercise together and end with a short slent meditation. Advance registration with pay pal $20. Please call Gary to confirm your registration. 647 292 5415 Generosity policy: limited spots available for no or low charge fir those who need it.

**Unlock Inner Peace and Power: Join Our Raja Yoga Intensive - Discover Meditation, Self-Realization, and Spiritual Wisdom!** Raja Yoga is an ancient system of meditation and spiritual understanding. It enables us to return to a state of inner peace, personal power and self-worth through re-kindling the soul's original qualities and virtues. At its deepest level, Raja Yoga Meditation is taught as a method of self-awareness, leading ultimately to self-realization. **This in person meditation course Includes:** * Thought Process Connecting to the Soul * Understanding the nature of the self and God (Supreme Soul). * The philosophy of karma and the cycle of time * The 8 Spiritual Powers **Advance Registration is Required** Class will meet on Monday – Friday for two weeks beginning on Monday, February 2nd – Friday, February 13th. Mon., Feb. 2nd, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/ZcRkE](https://shorturl.at/ZcRkE)

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

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

**✅ First class is FREE – only 10 spots available!** Learn real self-defense skills in a small-group setting. No experience needed, open to all adults. 📲 RSVP now and text Jim at **301-326-9146** to confirm—once spots are gone, they’re gone. ## **Free Intro Self-Defense Class – Maryland Systema** Want to learn how to protect yourself while also improving your health, focus, and confidence? Join us for a free first class at **Maryland Systema**, a unique approach to self-defense that blends both physical and mental training. *** ### **Why This Class is Different** Unlike most programs that only teach physical moves, Systema trains your body **and** your mind. You’ll explore: * **Structure** – staying balanced under pressure * **Breathing** – keeping calm and controlling fear * **Relaxation** – avoiding panic and wasted energy * **Movement** – adapting naturally to any situation You’ll also learn to read an attacker’s intentions and respond proportionately—aligned with Maryland’s self-defense laws. *** ### **What You’ll Gain** ✔ Practical skills you can use right away ✔ Better stress control and awareness ✔ Improved strength, mobility, and coordination ✔ Confidence in handling real-world situations *** ### **Class Info** 📍 **Location:** Woodley Gardens Park in the brick building (free parking) 🕒 **Length:** 1.5 hours 👥 **Small Group:** Max 10 students for personalized guidance 👖 **What to Wear:** Comfortable long pants and clothes you can move in 💵 **Cost:** Free for first-time students *** ### **How to Join** RSVP here on Meetup to save your spot, then text Jim at **301-326-9146** to confirm. Spots are limited—once the group fills, we close registration. *** **Maryland Systema** Real-world self-defense training for adults—helping you stay ready, stay calm, and stay safe.

**Planting Seeds of Peace** What happens in this theater of life is the result of actions planted in the past. Let us now plant seeds of peace to create a life of serenity. Wed., Jan. 28th, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. Held at the Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl., Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/OelS7](https://shorturl.at/OelS7)

Discover the path to stress management, life's tranquility, and self-improvement through Heartfulness Meditation. Embrace relaxation, meditation, and emotional detoxification practices to unlock your best self. Join our free sessions every Sunday at 8 AM at VA. Experience the profound benefits of these simple yet powerful practices. Commit to a few months of meditation and witness the transformative impact firsthand. We eagerly await your presence at these enlightening sessions.

**Join globally respected cardiologist , Dr. Mohit Gupta, as we explore how our thoughts impact our physical health and overall well-being.** Our thoughts are far more powerful than we often realize. A single thought has the capacity to influence our emotions, shape our health, strengthen or strain our relationships, and quietly guide the course of our lives. The Power of One Thought is an insightful session that explores how conscious and intentional thinking impacts the brain, heart, and overall well-being. Through a thoughtful blend of scientific evidence and meditative practice, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how thought patterns influence stress, emotional resilience, mental clarity, and long-term health. In this session, Dr. Mohit Gupta seamlessly integrates modern neuroscience and cardiology with the wisdom of Raj Yoga meditation, offering practical insights into emotional regulation, cardiovascular health, and the slowing of biological aging. He uses his own life stories of Belief and Resilience. The experience is designed to be reflective, engaging, and immediately applicable to both personal and professional life. This session is ideal for individuals seeking inner clarity, emotional balance, and a deeper understanding of how one consciously chosen thought can create lasting transformation. **About Dr. Mohit Gupta** *Dr. Mohit Dayal Gupta, MD, DM, FACC, FRCP, is a globally respected interventional cardiologist and Director–Professor of Cardiology at GB Pant Hospital, New Delhi, and serves as Cardiologist to the Parliament of India. A four-time TEDx speaker, he has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed scientific publications and is a Fellow of leading international cardiology institutions.* *A distinguished clinician–scientist, Dr. Gupta’s current research focuses on the effects of Raj Yoga meditation on biological aging and cardiovascular resilience. Associated with the Brahma Kumaris since childhood, he is widely known for his rare ability to bridge cardiology, neuroscience, meditation, and spirituality, offering a compelling perspective on holistic health and conscious leadership.* Fri., Jan. 30th, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2ndFloor, Chantilly, VA. Free Event – Register at: [https://shorturl.at/wt8yd](https://shorturl.at/wt8yd)