It’s clear from recent books, films, exposes, and testimonies from former members that the Church of Scientology since David Miscavige took over is abusive and nuts. (Uh oh, am I being monitored?) But what if the writings of L Ron Hubbard contained some of the most profound spiritual teachings around? What if the situation is similar of that of the relationship between the oftentimes abusive-and-nuts behavior of the Catholic
Most day-trippers to Ojai (pronounced oh-high) don’t identify as being on a spiritual quest, though nearly everyone will contend there’s something about the vibe. The restaurants, wineries, spas, charming Airbnbs, and quiet hiking trails are enough reason to drive an hour and a half north of LA to get away for a few hours. Many artists, hippies, rich people, and celebrities
Billing itself as “A Spiritual Oasis in the City,” the Peace Awareness Labyrinth and Gardens is a gift of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA) (see pg xxx). A free meditation garden, there are numerous terraces with places to sit and contemplate, listen to the trickle of water fountains, or walk the labyrinth which is a replica
One would expect LA to have over-the-top and charismatic occult celebrities, and these characters who also took prominence on the world stage do not disappoint. All have fascinating biographies which would be worth your while to explore further:
To the curious visitor, Scientologists are nothing but friendly and cordial. Of course, we’ve all heard stories of strange happenings for those who get further involved, but what you’ll witness if you visit is normal-looking people spending time and money to improve themselves and their
A mainstay of the Topanga Canyon scene since the height of the hippie days, the Inn of the Seventh Ray restaurant opened serving healthy organic fare in 1973. It is rumored to have been built on a sacred site of the Chumash Indians (see page xxx) and to have perhaps been a private retreat spot for Aimee Semple McPherson (see page xxx). And one of her lovers? We will never
Some spiritual seekers are wan and dull and gray. They haven’t committed to being fully alive in their bodies, and their interest in spirituality becomes a way to avoid being so. There is no reason spiritual people can’t be the most vitally alive people on the planet. Increasing a sense of aliveness has to do with allowing more energy into the body and releasing blocks that keep energy trapped.
Forbes magazine recently featured Richard Branson, the adventurer, entrepreneur, and founder of Virgin Airlines. Now in his late 60s, he
Back when I was studying for my NLP (NeuroLinguistic Programming) Certification, we were taught that if one person can do something well, anyone can figure out their strategy and replicate it for themselves. NLP’ers were busy systematizing all kinds of strategies for excellence: better golf swings, improved eyesight, weight loss, and successful business applications. All fine and good, I thought, but why aren’t we codifying something important, like how to increase levels of compassion?