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 30th Year Commences
... still on Zoom!

Please join Carol Soucek King virtually on
Sunday, January 11, 2026
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey

Stability

With Main Presentation

Tobey Crockett, PhD

The Stability of Change
To Be Rich in Relationship is the Greatest Treasure

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speaker's Presentation and Bio
Zoom Info
January Lyrics & Poem
2026 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

"Wisdom"

Dean LeGrand Carlston, DDS
Composer/Singer/Instrumentalist
©Dean LeGrand Carlston 12/18/2023

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

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

Main Presentation:

Tobey Crockett, PhD

"The Stability of Change"
♥ tobey crockett •_• artist & change agent ♥

Tobey Crockett PhD aka Doc Crockett aka White Heart

Thirty years ago, Dr. Tobey Crockett was the main speaker at the very first meeting of The Salon on the Spiritually Creative Life. Suggested by Carol Soucek King’s esteemed friend, the wise art consultant and intuitive human being Beatrix Jakots Barker, Tobey was ideal for the Salon’s stated goal: positive uplifted thought in which all art, science, philosophy, indeed every aspect of life and work and faith, no matter how their directions may seem to develop and change, are seen within and governed by Universal Truth. This truth Tobey sees as “a wonderful web of universal interconnection in which we already exist.”

At the January 11, 2026 Salon, Tobey will share the latest developments in her illuminated understanding. Meantime, even as she is handling significant earthly challenges today, it is meaningful to learn of her fascinating life’s journey and what has served throughout as her cornerstone for her stability: “I am a conceptual artist, writer and philosopher, with an emphasis on digital media and metaphysics. In 2002, I received a New York Foundation for the Arts grant in support of my 3D virtual world “T.C.W.F.” (Tobey Crockett’s Wild Frontier). I have exhibited portions of that world plus a documentary short at The Beall Center for the Arts & Technology at UC Irvine and at the Kunstlerhaus Bremen, among other venues. I also paint, do performance, comedy, sacred theatre, and I teach.

“I have been writing professionally for over 35 years, with numerous publications, essays, chapters, and art reviews behind me. I still write on the arts, albeit rarely, as I am now focused on my own career and social sculpture projects.

“Yes 2 Earth Now" is the giant umbrella for my multi-part plan to save the planet by engaging the public in a worldwide DIY art & comedy campaign. The goal is to foster healthy community-building actions so that we can collectively demand better results, especially via an improved approach to swapping debt for nature. It’s already being done, but we can do it better. We just all need to get on board. LOL.

“The longer version of my bio talks about all the travel I’ve done, the many industries I’ve engaged with, the numerous lectures I have given around the world, in the classroom, and more. I speak several languages, love to help my students become better writers and artists, and generally try to leave things better than I found them.

“I was born in California, raised in NYC, went through single sex education for sixteen years, and am not afraid to use my voice. I teach others how to use theirs as well. I have studied comedy, metaphysics, painting, and so much more… I have a BA in Art History from Barnard College, an MA in Critical Theory from Art Center, and a PhD from UC Irvine in Visual Studies.

Included among Dr. Crockett‘s creative and enormously beneficial projects for California are several she has shepherded on the Central Coast:

Circles of Empowerment
Greenspace in Cambria
Duke Power Plant Proposal
Morro Bay Metaphysicians

Further information and videos on Tobey’s stunning career may be found on her website: tobeycrockett.com

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Hallelujah"
by Leonard Cohen, 1984

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

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.

Jan Furey Muntz, Architect/AIA on Chris Nichols’ book – BOWLARAMA: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling

All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on
STABILITY.

until noontime

Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"
Directed by and sung with Douglas Decker
by David Frizzell and Shelly West, 1980

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

"Wisdom"
©Dean LeGrand Carlston, 12/18/2023

Be not proud in your wisdom,

Be not arrogant in wisdom’s power,

Heed those who come full of knowledge
for wisdom is paramount,

Share light with the ignorant as well as the wise

For sharing feeds Divine consciousness,
the pool from which all may drink.

Lyric influenced by the writings of
THOTH and Shri Gyan Rajhans

"Hallelujah"
by Leonard Cohen, 1984

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor falls, the major lifts
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to a kitchen chair
She broke your throne, and she cut your hair
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You say I took the name in vain
I don't even know the name
But if I did, well, really, what's it to you?
There's a blaze of light in every word
It doesn't matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

"You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma"
by David Frizzell and Shelly West, 1980

… There's a full moon over Tulsa
I hope that it's shining on you
The nights are getting cold
In Cherokee County
There's a Blue Norther passing through

… I remember green eyes and a ranchers daughter
But remember is all that I do
Losing you left a pretty good cowboy
With nothing to hold on to
Sundown came and I drove to town
And drank a drink or two

… You're the reason God made Oklahoma
You're the reason God made Oklahoma
And I'm sure missing you
I'm sure missing you

… Here the city lights out shine the moon
I was just now thinking of you
Sometimes when the wind blows you can see the mountains
And all the way to Malibu

… Everyone's a star here in L.A. County
You oughta see the things that they do
All the cowboys down on the Sunset Strip
Wish that they could be like you
The Santa Monica Freeway
Sometimes makes a country girl blue

… You're the reason God made Oklahoma
You're the reason God made Oklahoma
And I'm sure missing you

… I work 10 hours on a John Deere tractor
Just thinking of you all day
I've got a calico cat and a two room flat
On a street in West L.A.

… You're the reason God made Oklahoma
You're the reason God made Oklahoma
And I'm sure missing you
I'm sure missing you

"Stability"
by Patricia Ferber

A foundation was laid the day we were born,
we each have a set of tools.
How we build takes a lifetime,
what we accomplish is our soul.

One breaking point can rock the foundation we have planted,
of life experiences, understanding, wisdom, and faith.
When moved, we must gather our tools together, reinforcing the weakened points,
and stabilizing ourselves once more.

The shaking will strengthen us not return to that junction,
by riding a Golden Ray of Light,
and by being able to say, “I get It”.

All 2026 Salon dates and themes

STABILITY
Sunday, January 11, 2026

GROWTH
Sunday, February 8, 2026

POSSIBILITY
Sunday, March 8, 2026

FAITH
Sunday, April 12, 2026

GRATITUDE
Sunday, May 10, 2026

HARMONY
Sunday, June 14, 2026

UNDERSTANDING
Sunday, July 12, 2026

KINDNESS
Sunday, August 9, 2026

HUMOR
Sunday, September 13, 2026

LOVE
Sunday, October 11, 2026

HEALING
Sunday, November 8, 2026

SPIRITUALITY
Sunday, December 13, 2026

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