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

[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, November 9, 2025
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey

Healing

With Main Presentation

Zoot Velasco
Interim Executive Director of Pasadena Heritage,
and Leader of Award-Winning Cultural Programs
including those in State Prisons

Reclaiming Narrative:
Our Story as Our Brand

"Getting out of prison is not just a physical act
but a mental one." - Zoot Velasco

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Zoom Info
November Lyrics & Poem
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

"The Shoe Didn't Fit"

Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS
Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist
©Dean LeGrand Carlston

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

Salute to November Birthdays,
Special Congratulations, & Prayers
with
Graham Lance Richardson
Retired Westside Realtor after 35 years.
Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter.
Certified Welder to 100%.

Main Presentation:

"Reclaiming Narrative:
Our Story as Our Brand"
with
Zoot Velasco

“When people are sentenced to prison, they are branded for life by their worst acts. Getting out of prison is not just a physical act but a mental one, which centers around reframing the narrative around a changed person, or changing the person to be the narrative one wants to have.” – Zoot Velasco

Top Image Above: Zoot Velasco is known for his inspiring
leadership – and for his constantly giving credit to those who
inspired him by quoting them often to his audiences.
One such is this by Mahatma Gandhi: "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history."

Bottom Image Above: A graduation at Substance Abuse
Treatment Facility (SATF) Corcoran at Zoot Velasco’s last class
in September. A documentary will be coming soon which is
reason he was allowed a photo

Currently serving as Interim Executive Director of Pasadena Heritage, Zoot is a dancer, actor, arts educator, poet, storyteller, author, podcaster, teacher, leadership trainer, and devoted to his award-winning cultural programs in state prisons.

Zoot Velasco was severely burned as a newborn and overcame the loss of his right foot, childhood trauma, and homelessness to work for a dozen years as a professional dancer, screen actor, internationally touring artist, arts educator, published poet, and storyteller. Since 1994, Zoot has led award-winning cultural programs throughout Southern California and in state prisons that grew exponentially during his tenure. His success led to an MBA, authoring three books, a podcast, and teaching business and leadership courses at three colleges and universities. Currently, he serves as the Interim Executive Director for Pasadena Heritage, is a member of the Altadena Rotary Club, and holds the position of Membership Chair for Rotary District 5300. Additionally, he is a leadership trainer at Cal Poly Pomona and Jericho Road Pasadena, and leads a prison art program at Avenal and SATF Corcoran prisons.

Web site: 4M-pact.com

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Seeing You as Only Light"
by Douglas Decker

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

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
HEALING.

until noontime

Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"Let Them Fall in Love"
by Cece Winans 2017

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

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

"The Shoe Didn't Fit"
©Dean LeGrand Carlston

When the shoe didn’t fit, how could I wear it
How could I be someone I was not
Trying to fit as was expected, trying to become
what I’d been taught

How can race and color count if God created all?
Endowed with equality from birth until our last roll call

Who can say there’s just one road that leads where all must go
Unless you’ve traveled where all have been there’s no way you could know

The shoe didn’t fit though I danced for my applause
Trying to be other than the one I was

Underneath the masquerade my heart cried out to me,
Only when you live your truth will you be truly free

Only when you’re who you are will life’s true meaning show
Unless you listen to your heart, you will never know

The shoe didn’t fit, though I danced for my applause
Trying to be other than the one I was

When the shoe didn’t fit, I couldn’t wear it
I just had to listen to my heart

"Seeing You as Only Light"
by Douglas Decker

My Cherie when will you come to me?
My Cherie when will you say you're mine?
And when the sky is right everything becomes
clear and pure light

My Cherie she comes to me everyday and
My Cherie she comes in her soft golden way
And when the sky is right everything becomes clear and
pure for you to see what you need to live as love

Pure Light Clear Light

My Cherie she comes in her special glow
And when the sky is right everything becomes clear and
pure for you to see what you need to live as love

Pure Light Clear Light

"Let Them Fall in Love"
by Cece Winans 2017

If they can’t see, how will they turn?
If they can’t hear, how will they learn?
Touch them and bless them.
Hear this prayer, hear my cry.

Father, let them fall in love with You.
Please forgive them too.
For they know not what they do.
Let them fall in love with You.

If hearts are cold, how will they know?
If minds are sealed, how will they grow?
Grant me time, time to find Grace through
Faith, love through Christ.

Father, let them fall in love with You.
Please forgive them too.
For they know not what they do.
Let them fall in love
Let them fall in love
Let them fall in love with you.

"Healing"
by Patricia Ferber 2025

A little bird came to me and whispered in my ear,
“I love to fly from tree to tree and sing to my heart's content.”
Its gentle song filled my heart with healing melodies.

A butterfly came to me and whispered in my ear,
“I love to fly amongst the flowers and smell the
sweetness of each.”
The air around me filled with fragrance and caressed me
with the softness of butterfly wings.

A cloud drifted overhead and dropped soft rain upon me.
Its moisture, cleansing me, washing away all
unwanted thoughts,
replacing them with only the sense of harmony.

A friend called to tell me how much they cared,
It filled my heart with jubilation, and oh, it made me
feel so free.

The sun rises, the moon as well,
nourishing the earth with the songs of birds singing.
On the wings of butterflies, making one believe they can fly
and dance with the clouds overhead.

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