women changing the world

Today's Meaningful Conversation explores what is required to achieve true and lasting peace. We will begin our exploration of this topic with a selection of passages from the Bahá’í Writings, which will help us consider the following questions: * Is there a greater vision of peace we can aspire to – one beyond just an end to war? * What are the spiritual prerequisites to bringing about true peace? * What role can each of us play in transforming our communities to achieve a higher vision of peace? *“The scope of universal peace must be such that all the communities and religions may find their highest wish realized in it.”*

We all go through times when it feels like the ground is being pulled out from under us. What we relied on as steady and solid may change or even appear to vanish. In this era of global disruption, threats to our individual, social, and planetary safety abound, and at times life can feel overwhelming. Not only are loss and separation painful, but even positive changes can cause great stress. Yet life is full of change: birth, death, marriage, divorce; a new relationship; losing or starting a job; beginning a new phase in life or ending one. Change is stressful, even when it is much desired or anticipated—the unknown can feel scary and threatening. In We Were Made for These Times, the extraordinary mindfulness teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo imparts accessible advice on navigating difficult times of transition, drawing on Buddhist teachings on impermanence to help you establish equanimity and resilience. Classroom 1 and via **[Zoom](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88912244670?pwd=jtR4LLF3bM6YkuFgevZXlJtM9tGZL2.1),** Meeting ID 889 1224 4670, Password 488104

Let's celebrate International Women's Day! Pisco y Nazca offers a wonderful **Prix Fixe brunch**: A THREE COURSE PRIX FIXE MENU for **$34** per person. Also, **option for bottomless** Sangría Blanca, Sangría Roja, Mimosa or Passion Mimosa for **$24** per person. Here is the Prix Fixe brunch **[menu](https://piscoynazca.com/wp-content/menus/washington_dc/PYNDC_Brunch.pdf)**. Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar adds a modern twist to traditional Peruvian cuisine. Inspired by Peru’s top ceviche eateries, this restaurant concept serves up bold-flavored dishes, unique cocktails and a vast selection of local and international beers. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: * Pisco y Nazca offers a payment platform and we can individually pay what we ordered. * **Sign up only if you can commit. Do not sign up if you are a maybe.** * If your plans change, update your RSVP even if you are in the Waitlist. * Individuals that don't show or cancel in the last 24 hours will not be able to join future events organized by me in 2026. * Three or four days before the event, I will ask everyone in the Going list to confirm they are attending. I will ask everyone to confirm by the end of the day. Individuals that do not respond/confirm will be removed from the list and I will ask who in the Waitlist would like to join. * The organizer reserves the right to change, cancel, and/or manage the event as they see fit. Looking forward to seeing everyone at Pisco y Nazca!

Join our women’s BJJ self-defense class in Herndon, VA -- learn real techniques to escape holds, stay safe, and control larger opponents with leverage. 🛡️ In this **hands-on [Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_jiu-jitsu) (BJJ) seminar**, you’ll learn simple and effective [self-defense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-defense) techniques to **escape grabs**, **break free from pins**, and ***stay safe under pressure***. Designed for **women and teens ages 12 and up**, this class offers a **safe** and **supportive space** to **build confidence** and **train at your own pace** with **trusted partners**. This course takes place in Herndon and is also well situated for participants coming from [Ashburn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashburn,_Virginia), Chantilly, and surrounding [Northern Virginia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Virginia) communities who are looking for accessible women’s self-defense training. *No experience or special gear required -- just wear comfortable workout clothes and be ready to move!* This free women's self-defense class is also featured on the [Northern Virginia Martial Arts (NVMA) website](https://nvma.group/2026/01/26/womens-self-defense-class-osma-01-feb-2026-herndon-va/). **About the class instructor**: This class is taught by Eva K. Eva is a black belt under [Professor Pedro Sauer](https://pedrosauer.com/) and has been studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over ten years. Eva teaches both the kids and adult classes, including the [women's Jiu-Jitsu program](https://www.virginiabjj.com/programs/womensbjj/), at [One Spirit Martial Arts](https://www.virginiabjj.com/) (OSMA) in [Herndon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herndon,_Virginia), VA. **Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)** ***What is BJJ?*** **Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu** (BJJ) is a [martial art](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_arts) and form of [submission grappling](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submission_wrestling) focused on using **leverage** and **technique** to **control** and **submit** an opponent through **chokes**, **joint locks**, and **positional dominance**.

Sunday service at Unity of Fairfax will leave you feeling inspired, blessed and empowered to experience the fullness of life. **On a Spiritual Journey** Our community is made up of people, like yourself, who have been led to Unity by Spirit. We are all here because we’re on a spiritual journey to become all that we were created to be. **Welcome to Everyone** Unity welcomes people of all religious backgrounds and beliefs. We welcome people of all creeds, sexual orientation and social background. There are no exceptions in our welcome to everyone. **We Offer Tools** In Unity we don't tell people what to think; rather, we offer tools that individuals can use to create lives of meaning and purpose. **What We Believe** To review what we believe, go here: https://unityoffairfax.org/what-we-believe-what-unity

Do you have goals focusing on your health this year? In this group, be de-influenced by internet trends and companies making a quick buck and join fellow pagans, witches, and heathens in creating practices that build your connection to your body and wellness. **The focus of this group:** -Share on your own experiences with health topics, whether that is food wellness, strength building, mobility training, and coordinating group walks and physical activities. -Lean into our spiritual practice as a tool in manifesting our health goals. -Mindfulness activities that can improve your body-spirit connection. -Share your own thoughts and struggles in an advice-centered and solutions oriented space that is respectful, intentional, and empathetic. Have you heard about a new trend you want real life opinions on? Are you looking for strategies **About your facilitator:** Merlin is a local practitioner in Massage Therapy, Reiki, Group Fitness, and is interested in all around wellness. He has focused on his own health and wellness over many years and recognizes how much supportive community and intentional self-love is for finding value in a health journey. If you are seeking a supportive community with the intention of bravely sharing, being heard, and being present with others, please join us!

**This talk has completely sold out in advance and no door tickets will be available. It also is being staged at Penn Social in DC on March 16th and plenty of tickets remain available for that date.** [Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“Terrors of Irish Fairylore,”** an introduction to Ireland’s strange and unsettling folkloric “Good People,” with Brittany Warman, former instructor at Ohio State University, co-founder of The Carterhaugh School of Folklore and the Fantastic, and co-author of the new book *Fairylore: A Compendium of the Fae Folk.* [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-irish-fairy-terrors) .] Today it is common to think of fairies as small, childlike, sparkly creatures with glittering wings and dresses made from flower petals. But the fae of traditional Irish folklore were no such things. Amoral, capricious, even malicious when they chose to be, the too-frequently forgotten fairies of times long past would, more often than not, haunt nightmares. Join Brittany Warman, a folklorist who has earned a devoted following among Profs and Pints fans, as she explores the darker side of Irish fairylore. The figures she'll discuss include: The Leanan-Sidhe, a vampiric fairy who gives artistic inspiration in exchange for your mortal spirit. The Dullahan, a fairy with a human spine for a whip and a habit of hurtling across fields in a death coach made from human skin. The Banshee, a mournful fairy whose cry signals a death in the family to which she's attached herself. Dr. Warman also will examine the surprising impact of fairy folklore on two classics of Irish Gothic literature, Oscar Wilde's *The Picture of Dorian Gray* and Bram Stoker's *Dracula.* It’s a talk that will remind you that the relationship between the Irish and the spooky stretches well beyond Halloween. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: “The Banshee Appears,” an 1862 illustration by Robert Prowse (Wicklow Heritage / Public domain).

**🪷 COST:** You must register with this link to attend- [Register Here!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/woodland-and-water-resonance-a-forest-therapy-and-sound-bath-walk) **🌿 Description:** Early March, by the water, carries a different kind of awakening — **softer, reflective, spacious.** 🌊 Nestled around a 350-acre reservoir, Beaverdam Park offers wooded paths, natural-surface trails, and peaceful lake views. Forest and water meet here, creating the perfect setting to slow down and listen. ✨ We’ll begin with a **gentle, guided forest therapy walk** through the trees, pausing along the way to notice the stillness of the reservoir and the subtle signs of early spring. After enjoying a snack & sipping foraged tisane/tea while sitting near the water, we’ll settle in for an **immersive outdoor sound bath**. 🎶 Singing bowls and resonant instruments will blend with the soft lapping of water, breeze through branches, and birdsong overhead. The lake amplifies and carries sound in a uniquely soothing way — supporting nervous system reset, emotional clarity, and deep restoration. We’ll close with a silent walk back along the trail, taking in the serenity of forest and water. 🌿 **A morning of reflection, resonance, and renewal.** **🥾 What we'll do:** We will walk \~2 miles, depending on timing and the desires of the group. This is an out and back hike with minimal elevation gain or loss. **👋🏼 Meeting point:** Meet at 9:50am in the parking lot. We will start at 10am. **🚙 Parking:** Park by the National Recreation and Park Association building adjacent to Brambleton Community Park West. Google map location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/qBEq9qVXnamC6H6E8 **🚻 Miscellaneous:** We will have access to a bathroom along the way. **🎒Preparation:** * Water * Layers of clothes based on the weather * A snack if you would like * ​Sturdy comfortable shoes * Bug spray * Sunblock & a hat **🪷 COST:** You must register with this link to attend- [Register Here!](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/woodland-and-water-resonance-a-forest-therapy-and-sound-bath-walk) **🌐 WEBSITE: [https://imaginebeingwell.org/](https://imaginebeingwell.org/)** 🌐 **NEWSLETTER:** [CLICK HERE](https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/newsletter-form/sign-up-for-the-imagine-well-being-newsletter) to Sign Up to join Imagine Well Being’s mailing list to stay informed on the latest news and upcoming events. **⭐️ LIABILITY RELEASE:** With my RSVP, I hereby stipulate that I am physically sound to participate in this event. I understand and agree that all classes, gatherings and workshops are undertaken at my sole risk and that Imagine Well Being guides and instructors shall not be liable for injuries or damages to my person or property arising out of or connected to any of these activities. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops. I authorize Imagine Well Being guides and instructors to call 911 in the event that I appear to require emergency medical care, and I assume responsibility for all associated costs. **I have carefully read this agreement and understand its contents. I agree that it is a complete release of liability for any injuries or damage that I may sustain due to Imagine classes, gatherings, and workshops.**

Whether you practice divination, ritual work or more craft related activities… this series of classes taught on two Sundays of each month will help you explore various aspects related to sharing your gifts in the physical and virtual marketplace. This week, we'll briefly review our previous class homework on Marketing & Services, then we’ll jump into this week’s class on Developing & Delivering Content through... * Structuring classes and courses (beginner to advanced) * Creating engaging lesson plans and materials * Pricing group classes and private mentorships * Using online platforms for virtual teaching * Gathering testimonials and feedback Newcomers are encouraged to attend, and individual virtual classes are available for those who may have missed a class along the way by contacting Papa Bones Moon. Cost: $25 / Please check-in & pay once you arrive at Sticks & Stones.

## 🌸 Sacred Bloom: Meditative Watercolor + Soundscape Experience **Sunday\, March 8th \| 5:00–7:00 PM** **Walker Nature Center – Reston, VA** Hosted by Mind Body Paloma & She’s Artsy Studio Step away from the noise and into a space of softness, creativity, and connection. **Sacred Bloom** is a 2-hour immersive experience designed to help you slow down, regulate your nervous system, and reconnect with your inner creative flow. We’ll begin with a **45-minute restorative soundscape**, using layered sound and vibration to gently calm the body and quiet the mind. This portion of the evening invites deep relaxation and grounding, creating space to release tension and settle into stillness. From there, we’ll transition into a **45-minute meditative watercolor practice**. This is an intuitive, process-led approach to painting that focuses on presence rather than perfection. Through guided prompts incorporating breath, movement, and emotion, you’ll allow water and color to move freely across the page. ✨ No prior art experience needed ✨ All materials provided ✨ A welcoming, supportive environment This workshop is not about technique or creating a masterpiece. It’s about expression, reflection, and giving yourself permission to rest and explore creatively. You’ll leave feeling grounded, calm, and gently reconnected to yourself. Spots are limited to keep the experience intimate. We look forward to blooming together. 🌿🌸 Self Investment: $80 Link to register **[HERE](https://www.shesartsy.com/shop/sip-sfx25)**

…Carroll, 304 pages [Physics] • Hardcover • Kindle • Audiobook • Library: https://fcplcat.fairfaxcounty.gov/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.1&pos=1&cn=611358 Check the How To Find Us section for Zoom Link **(Remember, the Zoom Link is different each month, do not bookmark)** ### Review Praise for Quanta and Fields: “Readers will be electrified by his discussion of wave functions, entanglement, fields, and so much more. From the most infinitesimal of subatomic particles to the seemingly vast infinities of the universe’s great expanse, Carroll’s latest inquiry illuminates, well, everything.” —Booklist "In that void between hand-wavy popular science and academic textbook, this modern, informative and engaging account of quantum physics ticks all the boxes. Carroll the Explainer at his very best." —Jim Al-Khalili ### About the Author Sean Carroll is Homewood Professor of Natural Philosophy at Johns Hopkins University, and Fractal Faculty at the Santa Fe Institute. He is host of the Mindscape podcast, and author of From Eternity to Here, The Particle at the End of the Universe, The Big Picture, and Something Deeply Hidden. He has been awarded prizes and fellowships by the National Science Foundation, NASA, the American Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of London, and many others. He lives in Baltimore with his wife, writer Jennifer Ouellette.

Our monthly magical writing workshop is appropriate for writers of all levels and types (poetry and prose). Join TaraTheBard in a guided discussion about magical writing practices, ancestral connection and creativity, seasonal writing practices, publication luck magic, putting craft into storycrafting, and more. Each session focuses on the theme of a tarot card. This inclusive workshop provides support to new and experienced writers, a thematic prompt, in-workshop writing time, and space to share ideas and results. Paper notebooks, laptops, and tablets encouraged. Bring your best writing tools, your favorite blanket, a cozy cup of tea, or whatever you need to connect with the spirits of writing. \*\*New attendees welcome!\*\* This month, we plan to create and enact a group spell, discuss the Wheel of Fortune and luck/fortune theme, and explore how that theme could appear in our writing. FOCUS: March's Magical Writing Workshop focuses on The Wheel of Fortune -- a major arcana card of the tarot. Please bring your favorite tarot deck's Wheel card (though you may also borrow a store deck if needed). Writing Review: February's Magical Writing Workshop focused on the Lovers card and its symbo;s. We will devote part of the time to discussing our Lovers writing.

Join us for conversations that go beyond small talk, diving into topics like the shifting nature of spirituality, the challenges and joys of midlife transitions, the impact of culture and capitalism, and the search for meaning in art, travel, and daily life. Our gatherings are about genuine, thought-provoking dialogue, with no set leader or strict agenda—just an open space to share ideas, perspectives, and experiences that matter to us. The direction of the discussion is shaped by everyone who shows up, making each event unique and enriching. Come ready to share, reflect, and connect with others who are also seeking deeper conversations. Let the conversation flow from topic to topic. Optional questions are listed below.
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Optional Questions: Life Stages & Transitions
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1. What did you think you'd have figured out by now that you're still completely winging?
2. When did you realize your parents' advice was for a world that no longer exists?
3. What are you finally old enough to stop pretending to care about?
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Optional Questions: Identity After the Roles
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4. Who are you when nobody needs anything from you?
5. What dream keeps resurfacing even though the "practical" time has passed?
6. How do you handle having the freedom you always said you wanted?
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Optional Questions: AI & Being Human
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7. What human experiences will AI never truly understand?
8. If machines handled all your have-to's, what would you actually do?
9. What becomes more precious as everything becomes automated?
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Optional Questions: Belief & Meaning
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10. What certainties have you given up, and what rushed in to fill that space?
11. How has knowing someone who died changed how you live?
12. What do you believe now that would shock your younger self?
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Optional Questions: The Modern Psyche
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13. What anxiety do you carry that previous generations didn't have?
14. Which of your survival strategies are you ready to retire?
15. What uncomfortable truth about happiness did it take you years to accept?
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Optional Questions: Work & Purpose
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16. When did you stop believing that your job would complete you?
17. What would you do for work if money and status weren't factors?
18. How has your definition of "making it" changed over the years?
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Optional Questions: Relationships & Connection
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19. What relationship dynamic do you keep recreating, and why?
20. When did you realize your parents were just people trying their best?
21. What kind of loneliness doesn't go away even when you're with others?
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Optional Questions: Time & Mortality
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22. What are you running out of time to say or do?
23. How differently do you spend your time knowing it's finite?
24. What will you regret not trying, even if you fail?
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Optional Questions: Society & Culture
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25. What social convention do you follow even though it makes no sense?
26. Which generation do you understand least, and what might you be missing?
27. What aspect of how we live now will seem insane in 20 years?
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Optional Questions: Personal Philosophy
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28. What rule for life did you create after learning something the hard way?
29. When did you stop believing that everyone else had it figured out
30. What paradox about life have you learned to live with?

Join us for a relaxed and welcoming gathering of Women’s Life & Money Conversations. This meetup is a casual discussion circle where women can connect, share experiences, and enjoy thoughtful conversation about life and the role money plays in our everyday journeys. There’s no preparation needed — just come as you are. The focus is on friendly conversation, meeting like-minded women, and creating a supportive space to connect. This is a social discussion event only. No financial advice or recommendations will be provided.

The equality of women and men has shaped conversations about justice, opportunity, and human dignity across cultures and generations. In this discussion, we’ll explore what equality means in practice—socially, culturally, and personally. How have ideas about equality evolved over time? What progress has been made, and what challenges remain? How do we create communities where everyone’s contributions and voices are valued? Join us for an open and respectful conversation where participants can share perspectives, experiences, and insights. Whether you come to speak or simply to listen, all thoughtful voices are welcome. **All are welcome.**

We will meet in the Janney parlor.

Women are constantly giving, at work, at home, in relationships, and in service to their communities. But who supports the woman behind it all? This session invites women to pause, reflect, and reset. We’ll explore how to move beyond burnout and into balance, not by doing more, but by being more intentional. Together we will: * Identify hidden stress patterns and energy drains * Learn mindfulness practices to restore calm in real time * Create a personalized “inner balance” plan Join us to celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring your own well-being! Leave feeling clearer, lighter, and empowered to thrive, not just survive. Sunday, March 15th, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Held at Brahma Kumaris Center, 14020 Thunderbolt Pl, Suite 200, 2nd Floor, Chantilly, VA. | | | --- | |

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“A Practical Guide to Social Change,”** a research-based look at how communities bring about reform and progress, with Marissa Robinson, founder of Real Health Impact LLC and an adjunct professor at George Washington University who teaches courses focused on public health leadership and social change. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-social-change](https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/profsandpints/nv-social-change) .] Systems built on inequality rarely transform without deliberate pressure from the people most committed to justice, because progress takes coordination, conviction and willingness to change what has always been accepted. Real change starts when people choose to move together. Learn what research and experience say about how to make real social progress with Dr. Marissa Robinson, a public health practitioner who previously worked in federal agencies coordinating global and national public health initiatives focused on infectious diseases, HIV, and health equity. Among the key questions she’ll tackle: How do communities overcome barriers to create real change? When should evidence guide decisions and when does context matter more? She’ll discuss established frameworks for moving from intention to measurable progress and talk about the importance of building coalitions that actually work and of making decisions grounded in real data. You’ll learn about the importance of testing ideas on a small scale before going big, as well as how to use rapid feedback loops and continuous improvement cycles to refine approaches and scale what truly works. Dr. Robinson will share stories of ordinary people and communities who refused to accept the status quo and pushed through real barriers to achieve breakthrough results. She’ll talk about practical strategies, usable frameworks, and evidence-based examples that people can apply immediately in their own communities and organizations to support change that lasts. If you have dreamed about bringing about progress in your world, this talk will give you the clarity, direction, and confidence it takes to turn such dreams into reality. ( Door: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. The talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image by Canva.

Welcome all beautiful Bitcoin curious or serious women. We will have a discussion on Fiat vs Bitcoin, a little bit of learning and discussions that are important to the group. This a social group so bring your questions and curiosity, prepared to listen and share. Too often, women are left out of the conversation while they prepare to live longer, care for more people and are the heart of any community. Wouldn't it be great if we could be more educated on ways to beat inflation, have more choices, and be prepared for the changes to come? Please bring your questions, so that we can plan topics for future meet-ups.