The purpose of this MeetUp is to encourage business interaction among members and to improve networking skills through idea sharing and social interaction. The goal is to build a network of energetic business members who participate actively on a regular basis and who have a genuine interest in helping one another explore business ideas, solve problems and expand networking opportunities for the purpose of professional growth. Strategy is to have fun, meaningful, scheduled, monthly meetings and …

Many changes are happening in the Wiccan and Pagan communities these days. Years ago, Covens were the main way to be involved with a few Solitary Practitioners to be found. As the Craft has "come out of the broom closet" more information is available than ever before. What does not seem to be there is the sense of Spiritual Community we had all those years ago. We have many wonderful social outlets these days. They serve a tremendous purpose and it is a blessing they exist. However, as times evo …

Meet other local atheists and freethinkers. Gather to discuss beliefs and philosophies, and make new friends. Discuss contemporary issues regarding hispanics/latinos and the predominance of religion in our culture. Make atheists more visible in our local communities by promoting education, community service, secular religious education and upholding the separation of church and state.

Discourse cheers us to companionable reflection. Such reflection neither parades polemical opinions nor does it tolerate complaisant agreement. The sail of thinking keeps trimmed hard to the wind of the matter. -- from "On the Experience of Thinking," Heidegger "Philosophy is not a theory but an activity." -- from "Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus," Wittgenstein Join us soon for friendship, cooperative discourse and mental exercise, all organized around an interest in our own engagements …

Interested in re-examining fundamental concepts concerning faith and religion? If so, then welcome to the Philosophical Sunday School Meetup. This group concerns itself with the study of religion, and other matters of faith, from a philosophical perspective.  Philosophical here means that our primary concern will be asking questions, our secondary concern will be trying to understand our questions, our tertiary concern will be seeing what types of conclusions can draw, and if we are incredibly …

This Active and Lucid Dreaming group is a circle in which we explore the lessons and adventures of dreams.  Dreams are fascinating when you pull back the layers.  Let us familiarize ourselves with the furniture of the mind, uncover personal symbols, and find the great freedom that comes from truly knowing the lifeworld of our inner selves. You should join this group if you are actively involved with your dreams or are interested in exploring lucid dreaming!

Art Appreciation is the understanding of the timeless qualities that characterise all great art. So too is philosophy concerned with universality and truth. What is your relationship to art? Why is art meaningful to you? This group explores the great world of art, aesthetic experience, and its relation to philosophy.  We will be looking at all types of media from painting to music, poetry and film. Also see these other philosophy groups in Chicago: Greek Philosophy: http://www.meetup.com/So …

We are a group of Students, Alumni and prospective students enrolled in, graduated from and/or is intersted in the Institute of Integrated Nutrition. This is a great way to Network with each other and get together to explore ways that we can help each other succeed in powerfully helping others heal and live their best lives! What is IIN? Teaching the Future of Nutrition Are you ready to transform your mind, body and career with a world-class education that supports you on every level?If it …

"The purpose of this meetup is to provide a venue for individuals who walk the esoteric/inner path but also strive for a balance with their more exoteric & worldly nature. I seek others like myself who walk the inner path and have experienced inner transfigurations and can examine these powerful, spiritual experiences from a scientific & psychological lens, who introspect ruthlessly, who are open to exploring the inner realms of self-identity, and who value knowledge and wisdom above all.  I hav …

Group members are taught the essentials of mindfulness and how the process relates to their feelings. The technique teaches them to be aware of what they are feeling in the moment, which allows for a deepening of the way they relate to their thoughts and patterns. Unwanted patterns of relating and behaving discovered during the sessions can then be shifted. Using both avenues of psychology and mindfulness allows patterns to shift more rapidly as cognitive work helps people to understand the issu …

This is a group of individuals who are fascinated by the amazing and thought provoking ideas shared on TED.com and wish to delve further into discussion for deeper understanding and exploration.

The Goal: A community of people dedicated to consciousness elevation in all aspects of life, individual, communal, social, political, scientific, and beyond. We each have the potential to each a unique level of "Human Optimization".  Attention, communication, intelligence, thoughtfulness, balanced emotion and speech and action, empathetic, beautiful, kind. To achieve this peak potential and manifest it into "life as we know it" including the status quo, we effectively change the whole system in …

This group started in May 2011, and we've read novels by Joyce, Malraux, Kafka, Wright, Mishima, Faulkner, Nabokov, Unamuno, Ellison, Hamsun, Woolf, Biely, Gide, and many others.  We try to have a good time discussing the books without descending to small talk, think critically without descending to pedantry, etc. Also, as the title shows, we've expanded our reading list since the group started.  We don't really want to title the group something as vague as "Chicago Literature Group," etc., and …

The Nimatullahi Sufi Order is a spiritual discipline dedicated to the selfless service and love of all human beings. The foundation of our spiritual endeavors rests upon the practice of ceaselessly remembering God in thought, word and deed. Our guiding principles are firmly rooted in the tradition of chivalry (futuwwa in Arabic and javanmardi in Persian) in the Middle East, where relations among members of society were based on selfless service and consideration of others first and foremost. Un …

The Ethical Humanist Society is a congregation for those who seek a rational, compassionate philosophy of life without regard to belief or non-belief in a supreme being.

Meditation Chicago offers Mantra Meditation classes and kirtan gatherings. Learn a relaxing and enjoyable practice that you can easily apply, which will give you peace of heart and mind, answers to your troubling questions, and spiritual awakening. In keeping with ancient tradition, all of our classes and events are free of charge.

Chicago's Ember.js group is committed to creating a robust community built around the philosophy of building beautifully crafted web applications with the help of ember.js.  Meetups should be fun and engaging to promote a wealth of knowledge among your peers, we will always keep this as a core concept.  Naturally we will also never let the coolers run low on beer.

This group is for people who like to mix philosophical discourse and drinking. If you're looking for carefully moderated debate, look elsewhere. These discussions are unstructured intellectual free-for-alls - the only two constants are booze and a keen interest in the nature of reality and human existence. We take philosophy very seriously, but we don't think taking it seriously demands that you act like an academic when discussing it. No formal training is necessary - no one will be expected to …

ChicagoVeg Outreach is an extension of ChicagoVeg – Chicagoland Vegetarian, Vegan, & Raw Food Community that brings together people who chose being vegan/vegetarian for variety of reasons (for the sake of the animals, environment, personal health/health of their loved ones). The mission of the ChicagoVeg Outreach is to enable members make a positive difference by educating others that we can all live happy and healthy lives following vegan/vegetarian diet. We know there are numerous benefits of …

(1 minute video) This group is for people who value and enjoy deeper discussions with amazing people and who are also willing to rise to the occasion by joining us to help make these discussion opportunities an ongoing reality. The events held in this group are all about having fun nights of great people and 'deeper' discussions over dinner in a charming restaurant. This Meetup group was created by Glen Brauer as part of a non-profit global initiative using practical philosophy to bring togeth …

Transmission Meditation is a group alignment meditation that provides a potent service to the world as well as a powerful method of maximizing personal growth. In Transmission Meditation, the group serves to 'step down' transformative healing energies to be made usable by humanity and the planet. It's simple and requires no special technique, only a sincere desire to be of service to the world. The Aurora group meets every Sunday at 10am and the Chicago group meets every Wednesday at 7pm. Please …

As a Kadampa Buddhist Center we provide drop-in meditation classes throughout the Chicagoland area. We also offer more in-depth programs such as weekend courses, retreats, and study programs covering the range of Buddhist thought. The methods and practices taught at the center are suitable for all individuals whatever your level of interest. Everyone is welcome! Please visit www.meditateinchicago.org for other info/events not listed on meetup.com.

Theatre for Thinkers is a nascent meet up group with the goal of gathering folks to experience interesting, original and even bizarre theater and art that informs and offers insights into science and scientific endeavors. Anchored initially by Thom Britton's critically acclaimed show FreakShow and Tell, we hope to ultimately link to his shows and other local performers and artists with entertaining, interesting perspectives on science. We hope to both simply let people know about these events an …

This group lets anyone post and declare a drum circle. So if you feel like playing drums at the beach or park, post a meetup, and drum friends will follow!  This group is *open to all* - everyone is organizer!

This is a group for anyone who speaks some French and would like to discuss en francais a host of interesting topics from politics, to food, to theatre to philosophy. While we welcome all levels of French, it does help if you have a good basic knowledge of French so that you can participate in conversations.

Chicago Gor is a group of Goreans, Gor-curious, and Gor-interested individuals in and around Chicago. We are a community of Goreans, that is people living by the philosophy and principles of Gor: Honor, Integrity, Strength, Honesty. We welcome other Goreans as well as those interested in learning more about Gor. Our gatherings range from monthly restaurant get-togethers to larger events at the home of one or another member. Nearly all are open to new-comers. There is a Home Stone in Chicago. Gor …

http://www.chicagoslacklinersassociation.com/ WHERE IS IT? Come learn how to slackline with us at any free open meetup session. You can find us at the South end of Union Park ( 228 South Racine in Chicago, 60607 ) There is no need to even show up on time, just stop by when you can. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Saturday 12-3 PM WHAT IS IT? Slacklining is essentially tightrope walking between 2 trees on a flat piece of tubular webbing. The line is only a couple of feet off the …

The Chicago Socialist Youth is an amalgam of independant, free thinking youth in Chicago dedicated on creating a radical democracy that places people's lives under their own control - A non-racist, classless, feminist, environmentalist, socialist society in which people cooperate at work, at home, and in the community for the greater good. We seek a society that is based on the fundamental tenets of collective human decency instead of selfish individualism. We fight for a new social and economic …