#9 Nerd Nite Hamilton – 13th May, 2024
Talk 1: Better Living Through Chaos Magick: A Beginner’s Guide to Pragmatic Symbology
Despite admonitions from countless films and songs, a lot of people still don’t believe in magic. Witches flying on broomsticks? Preposterous! Well, we’re right to be skeptical about things like that. But Chaos Magicians will tell you that although it’s far-fetched to believe people can fly through the air with only a broom, there is one place where magic undoubtedly works: inside your own mind! In this talk, we’ll discuss the basics of Chaos Magick, explore practical ways of using symbols your brain finds meaningful, and even learn a few spells you can take home with you. Enchant thyself, sorcerer!
Speaker Info: Calder technically has a degree in Molecular Genetics from the University of Guelph, but found lab work a bit dull. After graduating, he meandered around the world awhile before deciding to go into teaching, which he’s been at for quite awhile now. These days, he spends a lot of his time working with adolescents at a local Montessori school, where he mostly helps them with math, storytelling, and nerdy games like Dungeons and Dragons.
Talk 2: Embracing Beginnerhood: Overcoming Perfectionism Through New Experiences
In a world fixated on achievement and perfection, many of us find ourselves trapped in the relentless pursuit of flawlessness, often at the expense of our well-being and joy. Join Brooke Henshall, a dedicated advocate for authentic living, as she shares insights from her personal journey towards conquering perfectionism through the lens of “Beginnerhood”. Drawing from her rich background in yoga, meditation, and breathwork, Brooke invites us to embrace the liberating power of a beginner’s mindset. In her ongoing series, she explores a myriad of movement and mindfulness modalities, each a stepping stone towards self-discovery and growth. Through candid reflections and practical wisdom, Brooke reveals how cultivating a spirit of openness and curiosity can transform our relationship with success and failure. Discover how surrendering the need to be the best opens doors to profound experiences and genuine fulfillment. Join us on this transformative exploration of Beginnerhood, where imperfection becomes the gateway to authenticity and joy.
Speaker Info: Brooke Henshall is a passionate explorer of self-discovery and advocate for authentic living. Inspired by her transformative journey in Australia, she is passionate about personal development. Trained in yoga, meditation, and breathwork facilitation, Brooke guides others in uncovering their true essence through her workshop, Journey Inward.
Talk 3: Death: Let’s talk about it!
This talk will begin by highlighting the relationship between death and mental illness. I aim to show that by avoiding the topic of death, we may be perpetuating pathologies like OCD. I will look at how exposure therapy techniques may be a useful way to combat death anxiety and increase competency in clinical and non-clinical populations. Finally, we will dive into the phenomenon know as Near-Death-Experiences, and how this may be the ultimate exposure to death and why this typically radically increases death competency. We will learn that embracing and exposing ourself to the ultimate uncertainty, death, in reasonable ways, can help us live a fuller and more meaningful life.
Speaker Info: Sophie Manu recently graduated from the University of Toronto which a degree in Psychology and Cognitive science. Her research interests focus on how we can ameliorate and treat pathologies, and how we can flourish and live meaningful live. She is currently working in a neurodevelopment lab at SickKids, focusing on autism research in young children, and hopes to go on to graduate studies in teaching or counselling.