Carol Soucek King, M.F.A., Ph.D.

   

The Institute of Philosophy in the Arts, Architecture and Humanities
Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life

 

Carol Soucek King
[Photography by Nathaniel Taylor]

THE SALON ON THE SPIRITUALLY CREATIVE LIFE


Our 29th Year Continues
... still on Zoom!

Please join Carol Soucek King virtually on
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Via Zoom

To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey

Kindness

 

With Main Presentation

Designers, Artists, Educators
Minoru Yokoyama, FIIDA
&
Yoko Yokoyama

"Feel First • Think Second"
(Japanese creativity with five senses)

 

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speakers' Bio
Zoom Info
Today's Lyrics & Poems
2025 Salon Dates/Themes

 

9:30 am Pacific Standard Time
Zoom Room Arrivals and
Himalayan Singing Bowls by Healing Arts Practitioner
Janet Martorello

 

10 am until noon – Program

 

Meditation
with

Nan Rae

Artist/Teacher/Author

Nan Rae’s latest published book – now available on Amazon
INSPIRED THOUGHTS ON LOVE!
Published by Laughing Elephant Books
Now available on Amazon
Personalized copies may be ordered at NanRaeStudio.com

 

Opening Song

"My Beloved Difference"

Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS
Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist
Lyrics by Suzanne Jaffe Stillman ©June 2025

Dean welcomes us to listen to and download his music at no charge by accessing his personal website: deancarlston.com

 

Salute to August Birthdays,
Special Congratulations, & Prayers

with
Graham Lance Richardson
Retired Westside Realtor after 35 years.
Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter.
Certified Welder to 100%.

 

Main Presentation:

"Feel First • Think Second"
with
Minoru and Yoko Yokoyama

Feel First • Think Second

"Japanese culture is said to be a culture of the five senses.

"Historically and culturally, Japan has started from feeling. In modern society, education has been established, including Japan, to think before feeling, and feeling has been neglected.

"In order to solve environmental problems and social issues, instead of following the methods we have taken so far, we should go back to basics and shift to a society that prioritizes feeling, and we will be able to get hints to solve various problems and issues. In Japanese, kindness means feeling a deep emotion for the other person, which also has a meaning related to various natural environments.

"We plan to create an online experience that will allow you to feel this series of events by being close to the five senses of Japanese culture and leading you from your own senses to empathy with society.”

Minoru and Yoko Yokoyama

 

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Humble and Kind"
by Tim McGraw

 

Poetry Reading
with
Patricia Ferber
Sculptor/Painter/Educator/Curator/Poet
"Kindness"

 

Followed by Discussion

Opening the Discussion will be
Nino Wong, designer/business leader/Volunteer
Chairman of the Chinese Garden Docents,
Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens.

All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on
Kindness.

 

until noontime

 

Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"You Raise Me Up"

by Josh Groban 2003

 

To conclude Susie will lead us in Richard King's favorite
Native American Prayer

 

Love Faith and Joy - Carol Soucek King, MFA, PhD, Founder
Please respond if attending:
kingcarol@aol.com or 626/449-1238

 


 

About Our Speakers


Minoru Yokoyama, FIIDA

YOKOYAMA Minoru, FIIDA

Born in Tokyo. Graduated from Pratt Institute Graduate School at New York. He held professorships on the faculty at universities in Japan, and the US, with unique educational methods. His research focus is on “the five senses of sensitivity and space relationship”. His innovative perspective is published in a book entitled: Five Senses Design Workbook, published by Shokokusha, Japan which was awarded the Good Design Award in 2013 as an educational system. His design firm designed Japan's first office design based on the concept of the five senses, and his work, which translates Japanese culture into art, is in the permanent collection of the National Museum of Ethnology. He respects the will of nature in all art and design.


Yoko Yokoyama

YOKOYAMA Yoko

Born in Yamaguchi. Graduated from the Institute of Innovation Musashino Art University Graduate School. Completed and engaged in the Experience Design Summer Course at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London. Her in-depth research ranges from the five senses, art and spatial ideas both in Japan and overseas. Ms. Yokoyama is winner of the German iF Design Award 2014 for ‘awaseru’ ring. She is currently active as a creative navigator, awakening primitive memories through the five senses with her project “You are what you feel!”

https://joshibi-spatial.net/en/faculty/
We teach together at this University.

 


For the time being, the Salon will continue to meet on Zoom. When appropriate, we will meet in person once again at Arroyo del Rey.


For access to the Salon on Zoom:

This meeting is being hosted by Zoom.
There is no charge to use this service.

Before the Salon on Sunday:
You will need to either go to the Zoom website, www.zoom.us, and register for a free account to access this meeting through your web browser or download and install the Zoom application on your device.

If you download the application to your device, you do NOT need to register for a free account. To download the Zoom application, click on this link... https://zoom.us/download

For any questions or assistance,
email Curtis McElhinney at Curtis@curtisvision.com


Three Songs, One Poem

 

"My Beloved Difference"
Dean LeGrand Carlson, Vocalist,
Lyrics by Suzanne Jaffe Stillman ©June 2025

You don’t need to become me,
and I don’t need to become you
But let’s become something braver, together…

At first, I didn’t know what to think of you, you moved unlike me, thought unlike me, felt things I hadn’t even named. You came in a color I had not worn, a song I hadn’t sung, a rhythm I hadn’t danced to. And I confess, at first, I pulled back, mistaking unfamiliar for unsafe.

You are the wild in my stillness, the echo in my silence. The question in my certainty, you are the force that helps me grow. You are the wind that feeds our fire, you are the brush stroke that brings our painting to life.

To love you is to loosen my grip, to listen longer, to stay at the table. To believe that our truth doesn’t shrink, it stretches as we share. Yes, you tire me at times, and yes, I still flinch; but deeper than fear lies awe, deeper than difference there is delight.

You don’t need to become me, and I don’t need to become you; so, let’s become something braver together, with wonder, with welcome, with the whole vast world ours to explore. I love you, my beloved Difference, forever and ever more.

 

"Humble and Kind"
by Tim McGraw,
Douglas Decker, vocalist

You know there's a light that glows by the front door
Don't forget the key's under the mat
When childhood stars shine
Always stay humble and kind

Go to church 'cause your mamma says to
Visit grandpa every chance that you can
It won't be wasted time
Always stay humble and kind

Hold the door, say "please", say "thank you”
Don't steal, don't cheat, and don't lie
I know you got mountains to climb
But always stay humble and kind

When the dreams you're dreamin' come to you
When the work you put in is realized
Let yourself feel the pride
But always stay humble and kind

Don't expect a free ride from no one
Don't hold a grudge or a chip and here's why
Bitterness keeps you from flyin’
Always stay humble and kind

Know the difference between sleeping with someone
And sleeping with someone you love
"I love you" ain't no pick-up line
So always stay humble and kind

When it's hot, eat a root beer popsicle
Shut off the AC and roll the windows down
Let that summer sun shine
Always stay humble and kind

Don't take for granted the love this life gives you
When you get where you're going
don't forget to turn back around
And help the next one in line
Always stay humble and kind

 

"You Raise Me Up"
by Josh Groban 2003
Susie Katharine Shaw, vocalist

When I am down and oh my soul so weary,
When troubles come and my heart burdened be.
Then I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders,
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains,
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders,
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains,
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders,
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains,
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I am strong when I am on your shoulders,
You raise me up to more than I can be. 

 

"Kindness"
by Patricia Ferber, August 2025

Listening to a bird singing its tunes,
filling the air with melodic ecstasy.
A neighbor’s cat comes to visit and says hello.

Catching a spider and placing it outdoors.
Finding a penny and making a wish for a friend in need.
Helping a child or a puppy, keeping them safe.
Casting a smile can brighten a stranger's day.

Watching Finches bathing,
playing in the spray of water,
Then go to the garden mirror to
preen their feathers with their beaks.

Surrounding oneself with kindness,
filling one's heart with kindness,
sets direction for smooth sailing through the seas of life.

 

 


All 2025 Salon dates and themes

STABILITY
Sunday, January 12, 2025

GROWTH
Sunday, February 9, 2025

POSSIBILITY
Sunday, March 9, 2025

FAITH
Sunday, April 13, 2025

GRATITUDE
Sunday, May 11, 2025

HUMOR
Sunday, June 8, 2025

UNDERSTANDING
Sunday, July 13, 2025

KINDNESS
Sunday, August 10, 2025

HARMONY
Sunday, September 14, 2025

LOVE
Sunday, October 12, 2025

HEALING
Sunday, November 9, 2025

SPIRITUALITY
Sunday, December 14, 2025

Please let us know which salons you can attend by replying to KingCarol@aol.com or (626) 449-1238.


With all loving thoughts and hoping to see you soon!

Carol Soucek King, M.F.A., Ph. D.
Email: KingCarol@aol.com  
 


CAROL SOUCEK KING MFA, PhD © 2002-2025 All rights reserved