Another hometown Spiritual L.A. sect is the Christian/Theosophical hybrid Niscience (pronounced nish-ence). Founded in in Glendale in 1953 by the charismatic Ann Ree Colton (1898 - 1984) and her 24-year-younger husband, Jonathan Murro, Niscience is a blend of Eastern and Western thought.
Colton developed a system for personal and spiritual growth
In the early 2000s celebrity gossip (how did we keep up before the Internet?) was rife with news of the latest Kabballah converts: Madonna, Donna Karan, Britney Spears, Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore. Sporting a red string around one’s left wrist was a sign that...
Going crazy wondering if “He loves me; he loves me not?” Gain insight into the situation by booking a reading with one of the talented readers at these Spiritual L.A. locations. Depending on the time of day, walk-ins may be available, but it’s always best...
Another scandal-ridden, home-grown LA spiritual organization is the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA). Founded in 1971 by John-Roger (born Roger Hinkins) (September 24, 1934- October 22, 2014). MSIA is based in LA and is active mostly in the US with an estimated 5,000 followers.The...
“I think that’s the monastery Katy Perry is buying,” Russ said as he pulled the flat iron through my hair. (Russ Hart is a genius hair stylist and can be contacted at handcraftandhart.com)I quickly Googled to find out that yes, Katy Perry was fighting developers...
“Of course, you can’t forget Miss Velma,” Greg says. He grew up in the South Bay and remembers watching the annual Christmas pageant on TV. (Yet another friend providing yet another fascinating factoid for this book, making me fear I will never get done.) An...
The Rolling Stones et entourage traveled to the high desert mountain to await UFOs with him. He directed the video of Timothy Leary’s wedding on the mountain where the presiding shaman was too stoned on acid to perform the ceremony. The infamous campfire scene in...
“Our religious posture is: Don't mess with us. You can get killed dead, literally dead... These are real threats … I am quite willing to break some lawyer's legs, and next break his wife's legs, and threaten to cut their child's arm off ... I really do want an ear in a glass of alcohol on my desk." In 1978, LAPD reported a tape recording of Synanon founder, Chuck Dederich, stating the above in response to its