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, December 14, 2025
Via Zoom
To discuss one of God's essential aspects
illuminated throughout her book
Under the Bridges at Arroyo del Rey

Spirituality

With Main Presentation

Maggie Thomas
Shamanic Teacher, Reiki Master &
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Alchemy's Heart
How to walk through gates of clarity and wisdom
by following our heart messages

Scroll Down for:
Morning's Agenda
Speaker's Presentation and Bio
Zoom Info
December 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 Kingdom of God"

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

[Lyrics inspired by the writings of: Lao-Tze,
Robert Browning, Ovid, Valdivar, and Jesus]
Dean welcomes us to listen to and download his music at no charge by accessing his personal website: deancarlston.com

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

Main Presentation:

Maggie Thomas
Shamanic Teacher, Reiki Master &
Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Alchemy's Heart

Our hearts are where the magic of creation
takes place.

Our feelings, dreams and memories are the raw material that we can work with to create a
joyful and meaningful life.

Our pains guide us through the dark caves of
buried emotions to lead us to transform and transmute them into love and light.

This is possible when we learn how to
walk through gates of clarity and wisdom by following our heart messages.

Maggie Thomas is a Shamanic teacher, a Reiki Master and is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field, --“but," she laughs, “I am only 29 years old!”

Maggie worked for twenty-one years at Huntington Hospital/Della Martin Center Psychiatric Department. Her greatest teachers have been those patients whom she had the privilege of serving as a psychiatric social worker.

Maggie also holds a master degree in Social Science Secondary Education. She has taught Sociology and Parent Education at Pasadena City College.

Maggie started her private practice in 2013 part-time while working full time at Huntington Hospital and transitioned to full time in 2018.

While at Huntington Hospital, Maggie was asked to give presentations on mindfulness for the month of May (mental health month) which was her focus while conducting daily group therapy for patients at the psychiatric unit. Shortly after, other departments at the hospital asked her to give presentations, too.

As a result, Maggie was asked to present at:

Huntington Senior Center Care Givers Support Group Conference on Aging sponsored by Pasadena Senior Center, Pasadena Library Community Program,
West Hollywood Community Center where Maggie
gives bi-weekly mindfulness presentations,
San Marino Community Center,
USC Center for Aging.

Maggie is married to Sam Thomas and they have one son. Currently, they have relocated to Pasadena from San Gabriel and are working on getting the permit to rebuild their home in Altadena, burned in the January 2025 devastating fires.

Maggie can be emailed at: Maggie.thomas@charter.net

Music Interlude
by
Douglas Decker
Recording Engineer/Musician/Composer
"Soul Communion"
by Inis Irene Hurd

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

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
SPIRITUALITY.

until noontime

Finale
by
Susie Katharine Shaw
Actress/Vocalist
"Let No Walls Divide"
by Jamie Callum 1964

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 Kingdom of God"
©Dean LeGrand Carlston

No need to search outside for a better view
The center of our being is more beautiful

Truth lies inside where Heaven resides
Communion within Brings forth the light

God abides within each heart and seeds us with divine mind
Look first into the chambers of your heart

Never forgetting the kingdom of God is within

No need to search outside for a better view

This Lyric is inspired by the writings of: LAO-TZE, Robert Browning, OVID, VALDIVAR, and JESUS

"Soul Communion"
by Inis Irene Hurd

My Soul ariseth unto Thee,
Lord Christ of Light and Love
My Soul ariseth unto Thee,
Upon Thy jewelled wings of Spirit Life
My Soul ariseth unto Thee, thru Heaven worlds of Peace
Abide in Me and I in Thee,
Lord Christ of all Eternity
Joy of Thy Spirit, Blesseth Me,
and I Am One with Thee
One with Thee, with Thee
Lord Christ of All Eternity
One with Thee
With Thee.

"Let No Walls Divide"
by Jamie Callum 1964

Let no walls divide your world
Pull them down today.
Take the stranger by the hand,
Lead him on his way.
If he stumbles help him rise,
calm his foolish pride.
Give him kindness, give him love
Let no walls divide.

Let each day be Christmas Day
As you go through life.
Love your neighbor as yourself
Let there be no strife.
Love can overflow the heart,
Like a rising tide.
Peace on earth, good will to men,
Let no walls divide. 

"Spirituality"
by Patricia Ferber 2025

Once you obtain it, you can’t let it go.
It prevails in your life wherever you go.

It resides deep within your heart and soul,
Spirituality, like personality, is unique in its own way.

For each of us, it holds a special meaning
between you and your God.
It flourishes in the sunlight and the sky above when dark.

It dances with the shore as an incoming wave,
or snow on a mountaintop on a cold winter day.

Spirituality lightens the load,
creating magic wherever you go;
it floats like a cloud embraced by divine love,
shining upon you from the heavens above.

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