Channel Title: The Philosophical Research Society Channel Description: The Philosophical Research Society is a Los Angeles-based, nonprofit institution founded in 1934 by scholar and prolific author Manly Palmer Hall as a repository of multicultural wisdom sources and a center of learning. With a campus designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd and later designated a historical-cultural site by the city of Los Angeles, PRS is “dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts.” Since 1934, PRS has continually offered public programs for all lovers of wisdom on a vast array of topics presented by luminary speakers. The campus includes an auditorium, bookstore, lecture room, library, and gallery, all of which facilitate a full calendar of events. Learn more and help support our work at prs.org. ​ <video> THE VISIONARY ART OF BURT SHONBERG - Panel Discussion Description: MOMENTARY BLASTS OF UNEXPECTED LIGHT: THE VISIONARY ART OF BURT SHONBERG Sponsored by Office of Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Councilmember 4th District and the Los Angeles Breakfast Club PRS and Stephen Romano Gallery (based in Brooklyn, New York) are thrilled to co-present “Momentary Blasts of Unexpected Light: The Visionary Art of Burt Shonberg,” a major exhibit of the artworks of Burt Shonberg (b. March 30, 1933 - d. September 16, 1977) in PRS’s Hansell Gallery. Shonberg was one of the premiere psychedelic and esoteric artists in Los Angeles in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a close friend and associate of artist, poet, and actress, Marjorie Cameron. Shonberg also embraced the Fourth Way system of Gurdjieff, and his canvases began to reflect the mystical illumination inspired by his higher states of consciousness. His work was prominently featured in Roger Corman’s Vincent Price-starring horror film The Fall of the House of Usher and on the walls of venues like the long-gone, bohemian Laguna Beach coffeehouse Café Frankenstein. His paintings of mythical creatures in fantastic landscapes have only recently begun to attract the attention they deserve. From the late 1950s until his premature death in 1977, Shonberg was a highly admired artist of his time in Los Angeles. During this period, his eye-popping murals graced the facades and interiors of popular coffeehouses and clubs along the Sunset Strip. His paintings also adorned notable rock album covers by bands like Love and others. "In the year 1957. in Los Angeles, California, I had my first dramatic experiences beyond the limits of so- called ordinary, everyday consciousness... "Every day, for seven years straight, I was hit by a number of widely-separated, momentary blasts of unexpected light. "There are, of course, certain things that one experiences in the transcendental state that are not possible to communicate in the usual way, so new types of parables would have to be created to get the message through. These discoveries I refer to could be insights or revelations into various aspects of the world we live in, nature, the mind itself, time, the universe, reality and God." —Burt Shonberg, excerpted from "Out Here: A Brief Account of How This All Began for Me" The Burt Shonberg Exhibit is presented with the generous sponsorship of the Office of Nithya Raman, Los Angeles City Councilmember 4th District and the Los Angeles Breakfast Club. Stephen Romano Gallery operates as a private art dealer, collector and independent curator based in Brooklyn where he maintains a collection of esoteric artworks. Stephen Romano has collaborated with The Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in Cleveland, Ohio, Morbid Anatomy in New York, Gagosian Gallery, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museo Reina Sophia in Madrid, GalleryX in Dublin, among many others. https://www.prs.org/support-prs.html Websites: Burt Shonberg - http://www.burtshonberg.net/ Stephen Romano Gallery - http://romanoart.com/ “Unveiling Soul” by Evgeny Teilor is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Evgeny_Teilor/Appearances/Unveiling_Soul_1751 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ </video> <video> LA Times Today: LA’s Philosophical Research Society reinvents itself for modern ‘truth seekers’ Description: It’s mystical and mysterious, and to those who don’t know, it might seem like a secret society. But it’s not secret at all. L.A.’s Philosophical Research Society, tucked away at the foot of the Griffith Park hills, was created back in the 1930s for the study of philosophy, mysticism and metaphysics. We wanted to peek inside and were welcomed in. If you’re interested in exploring the offerings at the Philosophical Research Society, head over to prs.org to browse the packed events calendar. https://www.prs.org/ Special thanks to the LA Times and Andy Schlachtenhaufen </video> <video> The Philosophical Research Society Live Stream Description: </video> <video> Burton Kopelow: Myth in the Making - Gallery Tour Description: Panel Discussion: Burton Kopelow: Myth in the Making with John Bucher, artist David Orr, and curator Nancy Blumstein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDn2l-lLn7o&t=1s “The work of Burton Kopelow touches a unique place in the human spirit. In one respect, viewing his art feels as though we are seeing again something we’ve long forgotten. The mythic qualities his work gives form to are those that artists and thinkers have considered for thousands of years and we are better because Kopelow offered us his vision of them.”-John Bucher, PhD Executive Director, Joseph Campbell Foundation Myth in the Making provides a succinct, retrospective view of Kopelow’s life as an artist, revealing a man deeply tuned to universal spiritual archetypes, Theosophy, Jung, Campbell, Tibetan thangka paintings, and Zen. Kopelow’s painting career spanned six decades of exploration, expression and invention. His bold use of color, evocative imagery and personal mythology are strongly felt in all of his art. Burton Kopelow produced over 3,000 pieces of art in his lifetime. He was an artist’s artist, dedicated so fully to his craft, so fully immersed in the potential of art and the ongoing creation story that binds us all, that his peers would refer to him as “the guardian of the threshold.” Perhaps it was this stewardship, this devotional practice, that dissuaded Kopelow from self-promotion: Burton’s mind, body and soul were too busy painting. The process of creating art, he would say, is like the alchemists trying to produce gold from lead. His practice was dedicated to transcribing this transformation of the self into a higher level of being. In his words: “The world is made of archetypes and has the same images running through all kinds of cultures. Regardless of the kind of culture it is you will find the same motifs appearing and that unites everybody into one bag, so to speak, that we're all related and that appeals to me.” For Kopelow, life is not only predicated by our collected and collective mythology — it is the ongoing creation of these mythologies. “Sea Of Galilee” by Richard Spasoff is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/richard-spasoff/single/sea-of-galilee/ </video> <video> Burton Kopelow: Myth in the Making with John Bucher, artist David Orr, and curator Nancy Blumstein Description: Watch the gallery tour of Burton Kopelow: Myth in the Making with Nancy Blumstein: https://youtu.be/JRJ1U81abB8 The exhibition Myth in the Making: Burton Kopelow provides a succinct, retrospective view of Kopelow’s life as an artist, revealing a man deeply tuned to universal spiritual archetypes, Theosophy, Jung, Campbell, Tibetan thangka paintings, and Zen. Kopelow’s painting career spanned six decades of exploration, expression and invention. His bold use of color, evocative imagery and personal mythology are strongly felt in all of his art. In this conversation we learn more about his life and work from mythologist John Bucher, artist David Orr, and curator Nancy Blumstein. Burton Kopelow produced over 3,000 pieces of art in his lifetime. He was an artist’s artist, dedicated so fully to his craft, so fully immersed in the potential of art and the ongoing creation story that binds us all, that his peers would refer to him as “the guardian of the threshold.” Perhaps it was this stewardship, this devotional practice, that dissuaded Kopelow from self-promotion: Burton’s mind, body and soul were too busy painting. The process of creating art, he would say, is like the alchemists trying to produce gold from lead. His practice was dedicated to transcribing this transformation of the self into a higher level of being. In his words: "The world is made of archetypes and has the same images running through all kinds of cultures. Regardless of the kind of culture it is you will find the same motifs appearing and that unites everybody into one bag, so to speak, that we're all related and that appeals to me." For Kopelow, life is not only predicated by our collected and collective mythology — it is the ongoing creation of these mythologies. “The work of Burton Kopelow touches a unique place in the human spirit. In one respect, viewing his art feels as though we are seeing again something we’ve long forgotten. The mythic qualities his work gives form to are those that artists and thinkers have considered for thousands of years and we are better because Kopelow offered us his vision of them.” -John Bucher, PhD Executive Director, Joseph Campbell Foundation NANCY BLUMSTEIN curator, is the archivist and manager of Burton Kopelow’s work. In that capacity, she has mounted, or assisted in mounting, five shows, including "Burton Kopelow: Circling the Square" at The Philosophical Research Society, curated by David Orr. She is also the author of the monograph Burton Kopelow, Paths of Discovery. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, she worked in theatre, film, and television production for many years, before changing directions to work in administration at UCLA, which gave her more time to concentrate on writing, photography, and on Kopelow’s work. She is now happy to be able to concentrate full time on these efforts. JOHN BUCHER is a mythologist and story expert who has been featured on the BBC, the History Channel, in the LA Times, and on numerous other international outlets . He serves as Executive Director for the Joseph Campbell Foundation and is a writer, podcaster, storyteller, and speaker. He has worked with government and cultural leaders around the world as well as organizations such as HBO, DC Comics, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, A24 Films, Atlas Obscura, and The John Maxwell Leadership Foundation. He has served as a producer, consultant, and writer for numerous film, television, and Virtual Reality projects. He is the author of six books including the best-selling Storytelling for Virtual Reality, named by BookAuthority as one of the best storytelling books of all time. John has worked with New York Times Best Selling authors, YouTube influencers, Eisner winners, Emmy winners, Academy Award nominees, magicians, and cast members from Saturday Night Live. He holds a PhD in Mythology & Depth Psychology and has spoken on 6 continents about using the power of story and myth to reframe how individuals, organizations, cultures, and nations believe and behave. DAVID ORR is a visual artist based in California. His work has been shown extensively in the United States and internationally in shows juried by representatives from the de Young Museum, theInternational Center for Photography, the Lucie Awards, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New Museum of Contemporary Art, The New York Times, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others. His work is in public collections among such artists as Ansel Adams, John Baldessari, Ruth Asawa,Jim Dine, David Hockney, The Brothers Quay, Edward Weston, and Joel-Peter Witkin. David is the founder of the Hansell Gallery and the contemporary arts program at PRS. He is a member of The Long Now Foundation. image: Crab Nebula, Burton Kopelow "The Long Way Home” by Squire Tuck is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Squire_Tuck/2015021152908025/The_Long_Way_Home </video> <video> The Museum of Scent: A Book Talk by Mandy Aftel Hosted by Eliza Swann and Syd Buffman Description: This talk celebrates Mandy Aftel's new book The Museum of Scent, inspired by The Aftel Archive of Curious Scents —the first museum of fragrance in the United States, featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and Goop. Aftel will share pictures from this abundantly illustrated volume, which delves into the natural and cultural history of scent, rich with fascinating stories and lore. She will talk about the different families of botanical fragrances (flowers, woods, resins, etc.), depicting each with a hand-colored antique woodcut and revealing its olfactory notes and uses. Special chapters of the book are devoted to the most rare and precious fragrances—such as ambergris, formed of a rare secretion of the sperm whale—and to antique essential oil bottles, handwritten recipe books, and other evocative artifacts from her collection. Following a slide presentation, artist Eliza Swann and perfumer Syd Buffman will moderate a discussion and take questions from the audience. Mandy Aftel is a preeminent artisan perfumer, educator, and author on natural fragrance and flavor. As the founder of Aftelier Perfumes, she has been hailed as one of the fragrance industry’s “most prolific talents” by Vogue and an “angel of alchemy” by Vanity Fair, and listed as one of the top seven bespoke perfumers in the world by Forbes. She is a founding advisor of The Institute for Art and Olfaction, which has created the Aftel Award for Handmade Perfume in her honor. In 2022 the IAO awarded her the Septimus Piesse Visionary Award for her lifetime achievements. Aftel is the author of nine books, including The Art of Flavor: Practices and Principles for Creating Delicious Food. (Riverhead Books, 2017, with 2-Michelin-star chef Daniel Patterson), Fragrant: The Secret Life of Scent (Riverhead Books, 2014, Perfume Plume award for writing), Essence and Alchemy: A Natural History of Perfume (FSG, 2001, 15 foreign editions, Richard B. Solomon Award from The Sense of Smell Institute), Scents and Sensibilities: Creating Solid Perfumes for Well-Being (Gibbs Smith, 2005), and Aroma: The Magic of Essential Oils in Food and Fragrance (Artisan Books, 2004, with 2-Michelin-star chef Daniel Patterson) In 2017, she created the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents in Berkeley, California -- the only museum in the world dedicated to the history and experience of natural fragrance, showcasing her collection of one-of-a-kind-antique artifacts. It has received thousands of visitors and been covered in NYT Style, Goop, Vogue, O: The Oprah Magazine, Art News, and Sunset. Syd Buffman is a perfumer and interdisciplinary artist in Los Angeles, California. She has a background in perfumery, incense making, herbalism and art direction/design. Her creative work is influenced by the poetry of nature, transformation and emotions. Emerald Eliza Swann is an interdisciplinary artist, intuitive, writer, and educator based in New York City and Twentynine Palms, CA. Emerald received a BA in Painting from the San Francisco Art Institute, and an MFA from Central St. Martins in London in addition to training in Gnostic Christianity and Hermeticism. Their book "The Anatomy of the Aura" was released by St. Martin’s Press in April 2020. Emerald is the founder of The Golden Dome School and currently teaches alchemy at Pratt Institute. ABOUT THE BOOK: Immerse yourself in the natural and cultural history of scent with this richly illustrated book inspired by the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents—the first museum of fragrance in the United States, founded by world-renowned natural perfumer Mandy Aftel. Among her many projects, Aftel has created custom fragrances for celebrities such as Leonard Cohen, Liv Tyler, Kate Hudson, and Madonna, and recreated the burial fragrance for a 2,000-year-old child mummy in collaboration with the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. The Museum of Scent includes a bookmark naturally scented with the essential oil extracted from the leaves and flowering tops of clary sage, salvia sclarea, which is sweet, ambery, warm, and herbaceous. Scratch to release the scent. Order a copy of THE MUSEUM OF SCENT from the PRS Bookstore that includes a signed bookplate from Mandy Aftel. ORDER HERE! https://www.prs.org/store/p3750/The_Museum_of_Scent%3A_Exploring_the_Curious_and_Wondrous_World_of_Fragrance.html To support programs like these please visit: https://www.prs.org/support-prs.html </video> <video> Transmutation Oracle Deck: Q&A with Nikoo Bafti and Laura Hayes moderated by Amanda Brass Description: To celebrate the release of The Transmutation Oracle: A Metaphysical Guide to Navigating Reality, PRS’s first new oracle / tarot release since the legendary Knapp-Hall Tarot Deck of 1929, please join us for a special free Zoom conversation with the creators of the deck, artist Nikoo Bafti from her home in Italy, and writer Laura Hayes from her home in England – moderated by PRS’s own staff member Amanda Brass, who hosts the weekly Manly P. Hall reading groups! “The Transmutation Oracle Deck: A Metaphysical Guide to Navigating Reality” is a stunning new 25-card deck with accompanying illustrated booklet of essays on the cards. The deck is here to serve as a guide, a navigational tool that helps you to engage with the world under the assumption that reality is holographic and far more malleable than we have been taught. Humans have far more agency than most of us believe, and this deck provides fun ways to interact with and influence reality, whilst also encouraging a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. The universe speaks in symbols and you can learn to read and respond to it. ORDER HERE! https://www.prs.org/store/p3742/The_Transmutation_Oracle_Deck%3A_A_Metaphysical_Guide_to_Navigating_Reality.html Nikoo Bafti (artist) is a visual artist and illustrator. Inspired by the traditional miniature painting of her Persian heritage, Nikoo combines intricate narrative imagery with a deep curiosity for the esoteric and metaphysical phenomena to create ethereal visions of vibrant and mystical otherworlds. Laura Hayes (writer) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, 13-sign astrologer and editor of PSYCHIC GARDEN Magazine. Born into a family of Scottish scientists, Laura reconciles her background and her interest in magic and the occult with a boundless drive for interdisciplinary research. She loves dance, exploring nature, reading magical realism, and visiting ancient archaeological sites. "Fait Accompli” by Squire Tuck is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Squire_Tuck/2015021152908025/Fait_Accompli https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ </video> <video> ‘The 12 Steps. Symbols, Myths and Archetypes of Recovery’ Author Panel Description: About the book: Drawing on art, literature, and scientific research, scholar and therapist Kikan Massara delves into the Twelve Steps—the widely used and respected program of recovery. Developed in the early 20th century to address alcoholism, the Twelve Step program was later found to be an effective tool in aiding recovery for all types of addictions and compulsive behaviors. Now for the very first time, Twelve Step recovery is linked to a visual narrative. This inspiring edition features over 150 timeless and compelling works of art—from antiquity to the present day—to metaphorically describe a soulful path toward healing and transformation using these principles of recovery that continue to help millions. Featuring in-depth studies by leading experts in several converging fields, the book examines the history behind the Twelve Steps, from the program's origins in Depression-era America to building a foundation for recovery that incorporates concepts identified by psychologist C.G. Jung. The volume also offers relevant insight into the meaning of addiction in today's society. With striking imagery, literary quotations, and psychological references, the Twelve Step program is reintroduced to a wider audience as timely, accessible, and constructive. At a time of radical change and opportunity, this visual edition honors the transformative power of these universal principles and thoughtfully explores ways of aligning with them. Featured Panelists: Kikan Massara is the author of TASCHEN’s The 12 Steps. Symbols, Myths and Archetypes of Recovery. She is a psychotherapist and passionate researcher of consciousness studies, meditation, and emotional health, and has long used visual arts, symbols, and myths in her practice to facilitate access to the empowering resources of the inner world. Amanda de Cadenet is the host and executive producer of The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, and Victoria Secret’s podcast VS Voices. She is a director, photographer, and best-selling author of It’s Messy: On Boys, Boobs and Bad Ass Women, Girlgaze - How Girls See the World, and Rare Birds. She is an advocate and the founder of Girlgaze and has been named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.” Jessica Hundley is the editor of TASCHEN’s The 12 Steps, The Secret Teachings of All Ages and the multivolume Library of Esoterica series. She is an author, filmmaker, and journalist. She has written for the likes of Vogue, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times, and has authored books on artists including Dennis Hopper, David Lynch, and Gram Parsons. @thelibraryofesoterica @jesshundley Nic Taylor is co-founder of Thunderwing, a Los Angeles-based creative studio that collaborates on film, music, publishing, and branding projects. He is the designer of TASCHEN’s The 12 Steps, The Secret Teachings of All Ages and the multivolume Library of Esoterica series and was a tenured professor at the School of Visual Arts in New York. @thunderwingstudio Gaetano Vaccaro, PhD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). He is currently the Consulting Executive Director with Constellations Behavioral Health for Bridges to Recovery – a primary mental health facility in Beverly Hills. Dr. Vaccaro is the creator of RISC- Relationships, Intimacy and Sexual Compulsivity - a cutting-edge multi-modal treatment program for substance abuse, sexual compulsivity, and process addictions. With over thirty years of experience, he has served in a variety of management and clinical director positions in the addiction recovery industry. Purchase the book THE 12 STEPS at the PRS Bookstore! https://www.prs.org/store/p3811/The_12_Steps._Symbols%2C_Myths%2C_and_Archetypes_of_Recovery_TASCHEN.html "Across the Sky” by Kevin Hartnell is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ </video> <video> Become a PRS Member and help support PRS! Description: As PRS continues to grow and evolve, we are looking towards the future. Our goal is to promote inclusive thinking, cultural awareness, knowledge, and art in the Los Angeles area and beyond. We dream of fostering a space where individuals from all walks of life can come together to explore, learn, and grow. With this vision in mind, PRS is launching a new membership program. Join us and become part of our growing community of thinkers, artists, and seekers of wisdom. By becoming a member, you will help carry our mission into the future, and gain access to special events, discounts on lectures and workshops, and opportunities for deeper engagement in our rich history of culture, intellectual exploration, and artistic expression. Join us on this journey of discovery as we continue to expand our horizons and embrace the possibilities of the future.​ LEARN MORE HERE: https://www.prs.org/membership.html ABOUT THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM: If you’re interested in: eclectic and rare film screenings, book signings and lectures, magic lantern shows, spiritual concerts, gatherings of the Death Cafe on mortality, Celtic shadow-puppet shows, alchemy, L.A. history and culture, mystical poetry, ancient folklore, exhibits by local artists, soundbaths, Butoh dance workshops, somatic movement classes, or a world-class Esoteric Library containing over 30,000 books, then you should be a PRS Member! In addition to our regular programs, you can join us for special Members Only events, Members Only Library hours, special Members Art Gallery previews, pre-show Members Mixers and much more! ABOUT PRS The Philosophical Research Society is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit educational and arts institution on a historical site which was founded in 1934 by scholar and prolific author Manly Palmer Hall as a center for learning and the exploration of timeless wisdom. PRS is “…dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts.” ​ https://www.prs.org/ Notes: Participation in the PRS Membership Program is honorary and does not confer any voting rights, nor benefits or privileges other than those expressly listed above. Members may waive any of the benefit perks listed above to increase the portion of their membership which is a direct donation to PRS. Just let us know! ​If you have any questions or need assistance please email us at, membership@prs.org “mewmew” by Tea K Pea is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://freemusicarchive.org/music/tea-k-pea/single/mewmew/ </video> <video> Please help us reach our fundraising goal for the auditorium repair and upgrades! Description: Donate here: https://givebutter.com/prsrestroomsfundraiser Thank you for your support!!! PRS is making major repairs and renovations to its mid-century era Auditorium restrooms, the first major upgrade since they were installed in the late 1950s -- and we're reaching out to you for help! SUPPORT THE PRS RESTROOMS UPGRADE FUNDRAISER! We'll be replacing the floor tiles, installing new sinks and lighting fixtures in the women's and men's restrooms, widening toilet stalls for improved handicap accessibility, and replacing the original plumbing. WE ARE AIMING TO RAISE $10,000 TO COVER THESE COSTS FROM GENEROUS DONORS LIKE YOURSELF! If you can give any amount, it will help us upgrade our facilities for more concerts, more screenings, more Magic Lantern Shows, more esoteric presentations and author talks, all of the things we treasure about PRS as a cultural center for Los Angeles. Help us reach $10K (or more!) for beautiful new restrooms! For our audience members and patrons: we greatly appreciate your patience and support during the Bathroom renovations. We'll be maintaining our regular schedule of public programs and will have temporary bathrooms available in the front parking lot for your convenience along with the Bookstore and Lecture Room facilities. We thank you for your support and look forward to serving you for many more years to come. ​ THERE ARE PERKS! ​DONATE $100 and you will receive two tickets to a regular-priced scheduled event of your choice ​at PRS in 2024! ​DONATE $250 ​and you will receive a copy of the brand new, Transmutation Oracle Deck: A Metaphysical Guide to Navigating Reality! ​​DONATE $2,500 and you will receive a copy of the deluxe ​The Secret Teachings of All Ages published by TASCHEN and ten tickets to a regular-priced scheduled event of your choice at PRS in 2024. “My Luck” by Broke For Free is licensed under CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_04_My_Luck </video> <video> Non-Human Intelligence: Myth, Evidence & Reality with Mitch Horowitz Description: Poltergeists…aliens…cryptids…genii…fairies…goblins…spirits…the terms humanity has used across ages to label Non-Human Intelligence (NHI) are legion and ever-growing. In this special evening, occult scholar and host of Discovery’s Alien Encounters Mitch Horowitz considers the vexing questions around the ageless search for supernatural, ultra-terrestrial, and nonlocal beings. In this online lecture, Mitch explores how the NHI query produces surface differences—across myth, archetype, religion, period, and culture—yet reflects the same conversation, both historically and today. He deals not only with current ET and alien theses but demonstrates how such issues relate to after-death survival and even AI and the question of whether intelligence is programmable and, hence, immortal. Mitch also considers known forms of NHI, including our neanderthal ancestors as well as aquatic and simian beings. If we live in an era of disclosure, the perceptions and revelations aroused by the search for parallel intelligence may upend our sense of human life—and its adjuncts. Mitch Horowitz is the host of Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction on Discovery/Max, a PEN Award-winning historian, a former vice-president at Penguin Random House, and one of today’s most literate voices of occultism, mysticism, and the unexplained, with bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, and appearances in Sundance-premiering movies, popular TV docuseries, and award-winning documentaries, as well as on CBS Sunday Morning, Dateline NBC, NPR’s All Things Considered, and other major media. Mitch’s books, translated into nine languages, include Occult America, Happy Warriors, Uncertain Places, The Miracle Club, Daydream Believer, and Modern Occultism. His work is censored in China. //www.mitchhorowitz.com/ To support programs like these please visit: https://www.prs.org/support-prs.html </video> <video> 100,000 Songs of Realization: The Miraculous Life of Milarepa with Carlyle Coash Description: Stories of enlightenment are many, but perhaps one of the most celebrated is of the life of master teacher Milarepa. His story is one of overcoming impossible odds to capture the most rare of achievements - awakening. At the heart of this accomplishment is a body of work embodied in Dohas, or songs of realization. Our talk will explore the incredible life of Milarepa, through his story and these songs, drawing from a new translation of the renowned text 100,000 Songs of Milarepa. In addition, we will delve into some of the songs themselves through singing. About the speaker: Carlyle Coash holds a Master's in Buddhist Studies from Naropa University. He has spent many years working in end-of-life care and is a Certified Meditation Instructor since 1999. He has a passion for exploring the practical and real impact of Buddhist teachings in the world and in our relationship with all beings. How do we bring kindness, understanding, and wisdom to everything we are? It is an age-old exploration that even in the best of times is imperative. To support programs like these please visit: https://www.prs.org/support-prs.html For upcoming events and to learn more about online classes please visit https://www.prs.org/ </video> <video> The Mexican Day of the Dead: Honoring the Ancestors & Giving Image to Death with Sandra del Castillo Description: The Mexican Day of the Dead is a unique, and ever-unfolding tradition venerating the ancestors. Celebrated on November first and second, this tradition has its earliest roots in Mesoamerica and 16th century Spanish Catholicism. In this lecture, a Jungian lens is applied to examine concepts of death, the afterlife of the soul, and the crucial role the ancestors play in the world of the living. Based both on research and Sandra's own personal experience living in Michoacán (a region of the country where the tradition is renowned) and her ancestral heritage, this presentation begins with the Day of the Dead as it is celebrated in Mexico today and emphasizes the tradition’s Mesoamerican roots. Each year, Sandra creates a special PRS Ofrenda in the auditorium lobby which will be on view. The ofrenda is the Mexican family shrine venerating the ancestors; its key symbols, and elements will also be introduced. Participants can add to an ofrenda by placing objects honoring those who are no longer with us; this can include the beloved philosophers, poets, teachers, Jungian scholars, family members and dear pets. Feel free to bring a favorite quote, anecdote, or poem for, or about the person to add to the ofrenda. Sandra del Castillo, PhD is a Jungian mentor, ritual artist, and dreamer. She received her doctorate degree in Depth Psychology with a specialization in Jungian and Archetypal Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she teaches adjunct. Born in California, Sandra is of Mexican Indigenous descent, and lived in Mexico for 15 years with her children, where she studied mythology, Indigenous medicine, dance, and taught. She also acted as interpreter for a Liberation Theology retreat center in Cuervavaca, Morelos. Through scholarship and ritual art, it is her aim to share the wisdom of Mesoamerica and “give birth to the ancient in a new time,” as Jung proposed. Her podcast, Blue Medicine Journal: A Jungian Podcast, explores dreams, myth, and ritual art as the language of the soul, and “soul medicine” for these dramatic and changing times. Sandra is dedicated to the re-enchantment of our ensouled world and imagining a new world into being.The Mexican Day of the Dead is a unique, and ever-unfolding tradition venerating the ancestors. Celebrated on November first and second, this tradition has its earliest roots in Mesoamerica and 16th century Spanish Catholicism. In this lecture, a Jungian lens is applied to the Mexican Day of the Dead to examine concepts of death, the afterlife of the soul, and the crucial role the ancestors play in the world of the living. The presentation begins with the Day of the Dead as it is celebrated in Mexico today and emphasizes the tradition’s Mesoamerican roots. The presentation is based both on research and Sandra's own personal experience living in Michoacán, a region of the country where the tradition is renowned, and her ancestral heritage. Each year, Sandra creates a special PRS Ofrenda in the auditorium lobby which will be on view. The ofrenda is the Mexican family shrine venerating the ancestors; its key symbols, and elements will also be introduced. Participants can add to an ofrenda by placing objects honoring those who are no longer with us; this can include the beloved philosophers, poets, teachers, Jungian scholars, family members and dear pets. Feel free to bring a favorite quote, anecdote, or poem for, or about the person to add to the ofrenda. Sandra del Castillo, PhD is a Jungian mentor, ritual artist, and dreamer. She received her doctorate degree in Depth Psychology with a specialization in Jungian and Archetypal Studies from Pacifica Graduate Institute, where she teaches adjunct. Born in California, Sandra is of Mexican Indigenous descent, and lived in Mexico for 15 years with her children, where she studied mythology, Indigenous medicine, dance, and taught. She also acted as interpreter for a Liberation Theology retreat center in Cuervavaca, Morelos. Through scholarship and ritual art, it is her aim to share the wisdom of Mesoamerica and “give birth to the ancient in a new time,” as Jung proposed. Her podcast, Blue Medicine Journal: A Jungian Podcast, explores dreams, myth, and ritual art as the language of the soul, and “soul medicine” for these dramatic and changing times. Sandra is dedicated to the re-enchantment of our ensouled world and imagining a new world into being. "Across the Sky” by Kevin Hartnell is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ </video> <video> The Transmutation Oracle Deck available now at the PRS Bookstore! Description: PRS is thrilled to announce that it’s publishing a brand new oracle deck, its first new oracle / tarot release since the legendary Knapp-Hall Tarot Deck of 1929 which PRS re-released last year in a special limited edition. “The Transmutation Oracle Deck: A Metaphysical Guide to Navigating Reality” is a stunning new 25-card deck with accompanying illustrated booklet of essays on the cards, created by artist Nikoo Bafti and writer Laura Hayes. The Transmutation Oracle Deck is here to serve as a guide, a navigational tool that helps you to engage with the world under the assumption that reality is holographic and far more malleable than we have been taught. Humans have far more agency than most of us believe, and this deck provides fun ways to interact with and influence reality, whilst also encouraging a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things. The universe speaks in symbols and you can learn to read and respond to it. Order from the PRS Bookstore! https://www.prs.org/store/p3742/The_Transmutation_Oracle_Deck%3A_A_Metaphysical_Guide_to_Navigating_Reality.html Nikoo Bafti (artist) is a visual artist and illustrator. Inspired by the traditional miniature painting of her Persian heritage, Nikoo combines intricate narrative imagery with a deep curiosity for the esoteric and metaphysical phenomena to create ethereal visions of vibrant and mystical otherworlds. Laura Hayes (writer) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, 13-sign astrologer and editor of PSYCHIC GARDEN Magazine. Born into a family of Scottish scientists, Laura reconciles her background and her interest in magic and the occult with a boundless drive for interdisciplinary research. She loves dance, exploring nature, reading magical realism, and visiting ancient archaeological sites. "Fait Accompli” by Squire Tuck is licensed under CC BY 4.0 DEED http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Squire_Tuck/2015021152908025/Fait_Accompli </video> <video> PRS presents Seekers' Salon on KCHUNG Description: ​PRS presents a new collaboration with local radio station KCHUNG: SEEKERS' SALON Second Wednesdays of every month, from 11am to 1pm, broadcasting live from The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, we’ll be bringing you various guests, stories, audio clips, and music related to the history and current programming of PRS! You can tune in on 1630 AM or listen anywhere at kchungradio.org or prs.org/audio! </video>

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The Philosophical Research Society is a Los Angeles-based, nonprofit institution founded in 1934 by scholar and prolific author Manly Palmer Hall as a repository of multicultural wisdom sources and a center of learning. With a campus designed by architect Robert Stacy-Judd and later designated a historical-cultural site by the city of Los Angeles, PRS is “dedicated to the ensoulment of all arts, sciences, and crafts.”

Since 1934, PRS has continually offered public programs for all lovers of wisdom on a vast array of topics presented by luminary speakers. The campus includes an auditorium, bookstore, lecture room, library, and gallery, all of which facilitate a full calendar of events. Learn more and help support our work at prs.org.


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