The first time I visited the Hollywood Vedanta Temple, I nearly passed out from the spiritual energy there. I had wanted to check it out because of its affiliation with the glamorous group of writers and mystics who gathered around
Few of the daily commuters passing the PRS building on Los Feliz Boulevard have ever imagined that it holds one of the world’s foremost occult libraries with over 50,000 books. There are so many books on spirituality, religion, and metaphysics that there are even rumored to be secret 
Another of LA’s star-shining spiritual rock stars is Marianne Williamson (born July 8, 1952), author of 11 books selling more than 3 million copies, four of which were New York Times bestsellers. Williamson is the spiritual teacher and advisor to many in Hollywood and
As handsome as a 40s movie star, Jack Parsons, (born Marvel Whiteside Parsons; October 2, 1914 – June 17, 1952), died at the age of 37 in a horrific explosion which was either an accident, suicide, or assassination.In his short life Parsons rose to prominence in two widely disparate arenas: as a major player in the history of the US space program, and as one of LA’s and perhaps the 
Aimee Semple McPherson (October 9, 1890- September 27, 1944) ’s charisma was legendary, her theatrical sense: genius. Arriving in LA in 1918 with $100, an old beat-up car, and 2 children, by 1925 she had built an international empire worth more than a million 
One of the rock stars of LA spirituality was the great sorcerer himself, Carlos Castaneda, (born in Peru on December 25, 1925, died in Westwood on April 27, 1998) who brought the use of psychedelic drugs for personal and spiritual growth to the attention of the mainstream. His 12 books still sell well today and to date have sold more than 28 million copies, which catapulted 
It would be easy to make fun of the Aetherius Society if one were so inclined. This international spiritual organization is “dedicated to spreading and acting upon the teachings of advanced extra terrestrials.” Its motto is “Co-operating with Gods from Space.”But are you so inclined to mock 
Most everyone knows The Doors as one of the, if not the, quintessential LA bands. Perhaps only rock aficionados know that The Doors took their name from Aldous Huxley’s book The Doors of Perception, a chronicle of his experiences exploring mescaline. This British-born author, most widely known for Brave New World, a sci-fi novel in which the world’s inhabitants lie around hypnotized 
You could go just for the food and the people watching. The restaurant is full of attractive vegetarian foodies savoring the inexpensive, all-you-can-eat, fresh, tasty colorful food, that just-by-the-way is prasad (has been blessed).Or, you could go just for the boutique upstairs, full of magical, spiritual treasures: saris and kurtas, jewelry, statues of gods and goddesses, ayurvedic products, malas, and books. Prices are reasonable making it quite difficult leave with finding some new 
In the Oscar-winning Best Picture, Annie Hall, Woody Allen famously orders, "… the alfalfa sprouts and a plate of mashed yeast." His commentary on LA cuisine was voiced at The Source, one of the country’s first health food restaurants and a 70s fixture on the Sunset Strip.The Source was a gathering place for Hollywood hipsters such as John Lennon, Frank Zappa, Julie Christie and countless others, reporting to gross up to $10K a day at its peak. The staff took part in group meditations before and after their shifts and lived communally as the Source Family in a Hollywood Hills mansion called The Mother House.