The human condition is one in which we don’t truly exist in isolation. We not only live among others, but there is also dependence and identity formed in our relationship to others. Human wellbeing requires wisdom in navigating ourselves amongst other selves. What does that look like? Join us at Kinship Cafe this week as we explore chapter 7 of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), which helps us to better understand the nature of self. This is an open, discussion-based gathering. No prior knowledge needed. Just curiosity. 📍 Drop in anytime 🗣️ All perspectives welcome ☕ Thoughtful conversation, grounded in a naturalistic reading of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) There are 3 ways to participate. With your account at Kinship Cafe, you can: 1. Join the live online sessions on Fridays at 7am PT. The link is in the community's Calendar section. 2. Watch the past session recordings at your own time. The videos will be in the community's Classroom section. 3. If you happen to live near Fallbrook, CA, you can join our in-person session on Sundays at 9am. Hilltop Spiritual Center, 331 E Elder St., Fallbrook, CA 92028 I look forward to seeing you there!

After 22 years I've finally begun writing my magnum opus, The Principia Humanica, starting with a five essay series on determinism and free will, topics often encountered when discussing the Daodejing, introduced here: https://www.principiahumanica.org/determinism-causality-and-free-will There are five essays (subtopic pages), intended to be read in order: Determinism & Causality -> Information Conservation -> Predictability -> Agency -> Free Will The first toggle on each page ("Fable essay") is the main content, the rest is source material, optional to read. These essays are newly published, so I'd love to hear any feedback from anyone who cares to read them. 🙂

The Great Mother, perhaps our most ancient way of perceiving the world: generative, life-giving, nurturing. Even though we have since adopted new visions of the world in which it is something to be conquered, controlled, manipulated, and used for parts, the old way is still present in our use of Mother Nature. The rediscovery of the importance of ecology has helped to bring some restraint to our wanton destruction of the very foundation of life. Reclaiming our ancient vision of a generative, life-giving, nurturing world will be necessary for our future survival. In chapter 6 of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), the text uses similar language to describe the Dao (Tao): the valley spirit and the mysterious female. Join us at Kinship Cafe this week as we explore chapter 6 of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), which celebrates the Great Mother. This is an open, discussion-based gathering. No prior knowledge needed. Just curiosity. 📍 Drop in anytime 🗣️ All perspectives welcome ☕ Thoughtful conversation, grounded in a naturalistic reading of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) There are 3 ways to participate. With your account at Kinship Cafe, you can: 1. Join the live online sessions on Fridays at 7am PT. The link is in the community's Calendar section. 2. Watch the past session recordings at your own time. The videos will be in the community's Classroom section. 3. If you happen to live near Fallbrook, CA, you can join our in-person session on Sundays at 9am. Hilltop Spiritual Center, 331 E Elder St., Fallbrook, CA 92028 I look forward to seeing you there!

Two philosophers meet at an academic conference. The first one says "So, do you believe in free will?" The second one says "Yes, I feel like I have no choice. How about you?" The first one says "No, I choose not to."

Many of us think of being centered as finding balance, staying calm, or focusing on ourselves. But what if that is just scratching the surface? The Daodejing offers a surprising perspective. It suggests that every person, every tree, every animal, and every part of the universe is a unique center, not because it stands above everything else, but because it exists within a vast web of interconnected relationships. If every point in the web is a center, then no single perspective is absolute. We each see only part of the whole. Wisdom begins when we recognize both the value and the limits of our own point of view. Join us at Kinship Cafe this week as we explore chapter 5 of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) to see what it means to live from our natural center while recognizing that everyone else has one too. It’s a conversation that has the power to change how we see ourselves, one another, and the world we share. This is an open, discussion-based gathering. No prior knowledge needed. Just curiosity. 📍 Drop in anytime 🗣️ All perspectives welcome ☕ Thoughtful conversation, grounded in a naturalistic reading of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) There are 3 ways to participate. With your account at Kinship Cafe, you can: 1. Join the live online sessions on Fridays at 7am PT. The link is in the community's Calendar section. 2. Watch the past session recordings at your own time. The videos will be in the community's Classroom section. 3. If you happen to live near Fallbrook, CA, you can join our in-person session on Sundays at 9am. Hilltop Spiritual Center, 331 E Elder St., Fallbrook, CA 92028 I look forward to seeing you there!