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 Continues
... still on Zoom!
Please join Carol Soucek King virtually on Sunday, February 8, 2026
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey
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
Dean welcomes us to listen to and download his music at no charge by accessing his personal website: deancarlston.com
Salute to February Birthdays,
Special Congratulations, & Prayers
with Graham Lance Richardson
Retired Westside Realtor after 35 years.
Licensed Plumber & Gas Fitter.
Certified Welder to 100%,
and frequent Main Presenter at the Salon.
Inspired by the Anais Nin: “And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Honored internationally for her passionate interfaith activism and leadership, Ruth Broyde Sharone is a prize-winning documentary filmmaker, journalist and author. Recently she took on a new role as bookwriter, lyricist, and composer of MEET ME THERE, the Interfaith Musical, "a musical for our times" that honors our rich cultural and religious diversity. The off-off Broadway Theater for the New City--renowned for supporting new playwrights with a socially relevant message--has just offered MEET ME THERE a three week run in NYC!
Ruth also served as Co-Chair of the Southern California Parliament of the World's Religions for 10 years. She wrote, produced and directed the prize-winning documentary, "God and Allah Need to Talk." Her interfaith memoir, Minefields & Miracles garnered three literary awards and 30 testimonials including from H.H. the Dalai Lama. Recently she published two companion books, 11 Things to Celebrate Before Breakfast and 11 Things to Tell Myself Before Bedtime, text by Ruth & photographs by her sister, Leah Abrahams. They are the first two books in a series of 11 short inspirational books that will feature the artwork of diverse artists.
Music Interlude by Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer "Time in a Bottle"
by Jim Croce, 1972
Poetry Reading
with Patricia Ferber
Sculptor/Painter/Educator/Curator/Poet "Growth"
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.
David Judson, President, Judson Studios, on the need for restoration of century-old stained glass at Altadena’s Mountain View Mausoleum. The mausoleum—designed by Cecil E. Bryan, a former apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright—survived the Eaton Fire that destroyed more than 9,000 structures across Altadena last January, but the organization says the blaze added stress to windows already weakened by nearly a century of natural wear.
Jan Furey Muntz, Architect, shares her admiration for Chris Nichols’ book – BOWLARAMA: The Architecture of Mid-Century Bowling
Dale LaCasella will tell us in person about the book by her mother Dora Lee McKee which Dale has published posthumously -- The Square Heap. Life on a farm in 1875 was not easy for a woman – but the way this mail order bride wrote about its unexpected twists and turns is very engaging. Many five-star reviews!
All are invited to continue sharing thoughts on GROWTH.
until noontime
Finale
by Susie Katharine Shaw Actress/Vocalist "Wind Beneath My Wings"
by Bette Midler, 1988
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
Our Family is divided, pretty much down the middle.
Truth is bent and broken, like an incoherent riddle
Facts are mis-stated; deceit can be intentional.
Dialogue filled with half-truths,
makes confusion unpreventable
The result is division and heartache leaving us
a fractured Nation.
We must come together in love to heal this laceration
Who is right and who is wrong, for truth does not conflict. Ignorance is bondage, knowledge we must not restrict
Truth brings comfort, truth does not deceive.
Truth frees us and unites us, first to understand, then believe.
We see Eagles soaring high in the Heavens, Freedom is their cry from far above.
We too can soar to freedom, on our current of collective love.
So, let’s all come together, talk about it, work it out.
Insist on calm debate, there’s no need to scream and shout.
Let’s be the sunshine through the day,
the beacon in the night, the compass in the fog,
let’s turn darkness into light.
United we’ll push forward to lend a helping hand.
As our family of patriots heals our sacred Land.
We see Eagles soaring high in the Heavens,
freedom is their cry from far above.
We too can sail to freedom on this current of collective love.
With open minds ever expanding, race and gender will not define, equal access for all is how we must align
We already have equal access to the light from on high.
If we don’t pursue it we’ll have no alibi.
Truth obtained through meditation will not
dispute divine revelation.
Some have defected and made the Faustian Bargain,
selling their soul for material gain with deceit
and darkness as their jargon.
These are the unredeemable,
the rabbit hole their domain. They use distraction and
mind control in their unholy game
These are the renegades, the vocal minority
who shun honest debate.
They would control us all with half-truths,
class distinction and hate.
We the majority must come together, talk about it,
work it out! Truth and freedom will unite us.
That’s what it’s all about.
We see Eagles soaring high in the Heavens,
Freedom is their cry from far above.
We too can soar to Freedom,
on our current of collective love.
Let’s be the sunshine through the day, the beacon in the night, the compass in the fog.
Let’s turn darkness into light.
United we’ll push forward and lend a helping hand,
as our family of patriots heals our precious Land.
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with
If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with
"Wind Beneath My Wings"
by Bette Midler, 1988
It must have been cold there in my shadow
To never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine,
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
While you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
And everything I would like to be.
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
But I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know, I know the truth
I would be nothing without you.
Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish that I could be
I can fly higher than an eagle
For you are the wind beneath my wings.
"Growth"
Two Poems by Patricia Ferber, 2026
A sapling was planted when the mother gave birth.
The child and the tree grew through the years of time.
As the cycle of life claimed the 🌱elder,
the tree dropped a seed that eventually sprouted.
Continuing the evolution of life eternal.
🍃🌿🌱
Growth strengthens one’s faith when embracing life with a loving heart.
Kindness from within will extend love towards others.
Light on your feet with a smile on your face,
to dance to the magnificent symphonies life plays.
Spiritual growth takes a lifetime to grow,
like the tall Oak trees in a grove.
As corn stalks in a field develop their fruit,
Its kernels grow sweetly, symmetrically grouped.
Growth, like rocks in a wall, if loose will fall,
One must build with beauty and care.
One stone at a time, from young to when we are old,
composed of life's love songs for our journey beyond.
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!
