Over the past year PRS has continued to expand its public arts and events programming to each an ever wider and more diverse audience in the surrounding neighborhoods – including our busiest-ever month this past October, with 50+ events in 31 days! We’ve continued to increase our staff and operating hours to better serve you, the public. This June we launched PRS’s first-ever Membership Program with special members-only events, receptions, merchandise and discounts. We’ve received much-appreciated grant support from the L.A. County Department of Arts & Culture, the Council District 4 Office, the Los Angeles Breakfast Club and other sources. We were also able to completely renovate the Auditorium bathrooms – the first major renovation since they were installed in 1959.

For our 2024 End of the Year Giving Campaign, we’re asking our friends and supporters to contribute to the PRS Building Fund, to continue much-needed repairs and upgrades to our historic facility. The buildings at PRS are marvels of Mayan Revival-style architecture, granted Historic Cultural Monument status in 1994 by the City of Los Angeles. They need our help!

Scroll down for the full list of amazing donation perks we have to offer!
Or make a donation of any amount!
​We are extremely grateful for whatever you're able to contribute!

END OF THE YEAR GIVING CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT PRS’S BUILDING FUND


​This year PRS celebrated its 90th anniversary as part of the Los Feliz cultural landscape – many of the building materials here are original from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. They’re beautiful, but they need TLC and financial support to continue operating and serving the people of L.A. for another 90 years!
In these challenging times, when censorship and suppression of voices outside the mainstream is on the rise, the value of cultural organizations and libraries, and what they bring to their communities, is more important than ever. 

Some of the highlights of our past year’s programming include:
  • Leonard Cohen on Film Night
  • Monthly Dive Poetry live readings series
  • Surrealist Study Group on the work of female Surrealist writers and artists in the Library
  • Queer Diaspora screenings of LGBTQ+ films hosted by filmmaker Gregorio Davila
  • Sacred Harp singing workshops
  • Presentation on the Aztec goddess Coatlicue by Dr. Sandra del Castillo
  • Bi-weekly Death Café gatherings, part of a world-wide movement to discuss mortality and fears around aging and dying
  • Mark Mothersbaugh book release event and Q&A
  • Magician Rob Zabrecky on the history of Midnite Spook Shows in the 1930s and 1940s
  • Bi-monthly live podcast events with Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah of SpectreVision Radio
  • theatre dybbuk multi-disciplinary presentation on Jewish mysticism in Islamic Persia
  • Plantstock Festival of music and art celebrating all things green and growing
  • Tribute to electronic music pioneer Morton Subotnick
  • Celtic shadow puppet show with puppeteer Tania Yeager
  • Concerts with David J (Bauhaus), Sally Timms & Jon Langford of the Mekons, Liberate Elemental Forces, Nico Georis and the Growth Eternal, the Intelligence, Emile Mosseri + Sam Grendel and dozens of other established and emerging musicians from around the globe.
  • Cultural historians Dominic Priore and Dan Konoske on utopian L.A. architecture of the mid-century era
  • Filmmakers Ana Lily Amirpour and Anna Biller in-person
  • 3-day Butoh workshop by master Butoh dancer Hiroko Tamano
  • The Orchid Forest: Embracing Our Queer & Trans Ancestors through Plant Spirit Medicine
  • Live puppet shows with Heather Henson’s Handmade Puppet Dreams
  • PRS’s first-ever outdoor courtyard film screening series in the Summer
  • Celebration of the art of Art Clokey and Gumby
  • Morbid Anatomy Memento Mori all-day festival
  • Third annual benefit tour of the magical workshop + 19 th century automaton collection of John Gaughan
  • Bela Lugosi tribute evening hosted by his granddaughter, Lynne Lugosi-Sparks
  • Gallery exhibits of the work of established and emerging artists including pioneering cosmic L.A. artist Burt Shonberg, Edgar Fabián Frías, Megan Whitmarsh, Burton Kopelow and others.​

​​None of this would be possible without PRS's historic facility and grounds, including the famed Library collection of 30,000 rare books, the Auditorium, Lecture Room, Art Gallery, Bookstore, and Courtyard!

The Philosophical Research Society is a literal piece of Los Angeles history. Commissioned by PRS founder Manly P. Hall, ground was broken in October of 1934, bringing architect Robert Stacy-Judd’s stunning vision to life. A multi structure, Mayan revival campus, the design reflectsthe broad spiritual and intellectual history of Los Angeles, and the non-traditional, esoteric organizations “founded by iconoclastic, often charismatic individuals” in the city in the 1920s and 30s. Stacy-Judd had traveled to the Yucatan visiting remote Mayan ruins and was inspired by the aesthetic of the architecture he saw. He found a kindred spirit in PRS founder Manly P. Hall (their shared interest in the legend of Atlantis was a common bond for the two), and Hall hired him to create one of his most enduring masterpieces: the Philosophical Research Society’s buildings.

Reinforced by steel, the stucco and concrete facade is adorned with serpents and spheres, triple window openings, triangular shaped arch ways, and bits of mosaic. The library is of “particular cultural significance due to the unusual nature of the collection, and the rarity and value of the art and books it contains.” Even the wooden doors at the entrance are works of art and a piece of the city’s history. Fabricated by actor and sculptor Stuart Holmes, in relief on the wooden panels are carvings devoted to Confucian thought and Platonic symbology.

Between 1936 and 1959, a library, printing workshop, offices, auditorium, and bookstore had been completed. Today, that same library contains a priceless collection of over 30,000 books, ancient statues, and a collection of rare sculpture and art objects. Research space and archival material is provided for scholars, seekers and artists alike; the auditorium and lecture room both play host to countless lectures, screenings, concerts and workshops, while the bookstore provides another connection between the historical and the modern. Contemporary books, tarot and oracle decks, and talks with authors and artists on ancient wisdom and philosophy build a bridge to the community.

​So, it’s old! And well-loved. As the Philosophical Research Society enters a new era, experiencing a revitalization as a community hub of arts, culture and education, it is important to preserve the integrity of the original structure — and keep a roof above our heads….literally! 
​
For this year’s End of the Year Giving Campaign, we’ve set a Goal of $35,000 to Support PRS’s Building Fund to continue upgrades to its historic buildings and grounds, so we can  bring you an ever-wider range of lectures, screenings, concerts, performance art and theatre events, gallery exhibits, Magic Lantern shows, tarot workshops, sound baths and much much more!

We have some extra special perks this year!

$35 DONATION
Receive a“Mystery Box” of 5 Manly P. Hall Pamphlets and Books!
​*shipping included*

Enjoy a bundle of vintage essays and lecture by PRS founder, Manly Palmer Hall! 

$60 DONATION
Receive Volume 2 of 'The Study Guide to The Secret Teachings'!
​*shipping included*

PRS presents the 2nd Volume of A Study Guide to The Secret Teachings, containing brand-new essays and analyses of the first six chapters in Hall's famed book by acclaimed esoteric scholars and mythologists John Bucher, Devon Deimler, Sandra del Castillo, Mitch Horowitz and Stephen Reedy. ​

$100 DONATION
Receive The Transmutation Oracle Deck!
*shipping included*

 “The Transmutation Oracle Deck: A Metaphysical Guide to Navigating Reality” is a stunning 25-card deck with accompanying illustrated booklet of essays on the cards, created by artist Nikoo Bafti and writer Laura Hayes. 

$120 DONATION
Receive The Deluxe Reprint of 'The Initiates of the Flame'!
*shipping included*

​Written when he was only 21 years old, The Initiates of the Flame is Manly P. Hall’s first book---a classic study of esoteric symbols and traditions and precursor to his masterwork The Secret Teachings of All Ages. This Limited Reprint Edition of the rare 1922 First Edition features stunning blue-and-red alchemical cover artwork and marvelous esoteric line drawings – almost all done by Manly Hall himself!

$120 DONATION
Receive the Rockin' Pins Gift Bag Package!
​*1 available*
*shipping included*

Make a $120 donation and receive a Rockin' Pins Gift Bag including:
  • Richard Pryor Photo Print from photographer Henry Diltz 
  • Betty Boop Snapback Hat
  • Betty Boop Tote Bag
  • Gumby For President Bumper Sticker
  • Groucho Marx Enamel Pin

​Special Thanks to: Rockin' Pins

​$150 DONATION
Enjoy a 1hr Private Online Sacred Dance Session with Banafsheh Sayyad!
*1 available*

Banafsheh teaches conscious embodiment to both women and men. Women are guided to access and express their radiant femininity, find ease and comfort in their own skin and come in touch with their body as divine. Men are guided to open to their divine masculine. Utilizing techniques from Dance of Oneness®, Banafsheh creates a personalized program of movement, healing, and spiritual guidance. The focus is on supporting you to embody yourself more fully, and create coherence between your  heart, mind and soul in your body temple. Read more about Banafsheh’s tailored Private Sessions.

Banafsheh Sayyad is an internationally recognized Iranian sacred dancer, choreographer, teacher, activist, and founder of Dance of Oneness®. With a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from UCLA and a Masters in Chinese Medicine, she is dedicated to individual and collective healing through dance. Read more: www.danceofoneness.org

Special thanks to: Maryam Sayyad

$200 DONATION
Receive a Virtual Clairvoyant Tarot Reading by Sophia Knapp!
*1 available*

Dive deep into a 30 minute tarot reading over Zoom!

Sophia Knapp is a celebrated intuitive, musician, and healer. As a clairvoyant, Tarot reader, Astrologer, and teacher, she brings a grounded yet inspiring — and often humorous — approach to the psychic arts. 

Having guided thousands of individuals through private sessions and events, Sophia has worked with renowned companies like Netflix, Meta, Soho House, Hulu, Pinterest, and Bustle. Known for her memorable readings, she blends cosmic intuition with a deep respect for her clients' free will, empowering them to actively seek out transformative and enriching experiences. Her artistic background enhances her communication, allowing her to channel guidance that is both poetic and deeply meaningful.

Special thanks to: Sophia Knapp

$200 DONATION
Get an Astrology Transits of the Year Reading + Treasure Map Consultation with Tracy Abbott Cook!
*2 available*

Television writer/producer and astrologist, Tracy Abbott Cook will run and review your astrology chart along with a year’s worth of upcoming astrological transits specific to you. Her down-to earth communication, combined with her television writing career in late night comedy has made Tracy a popular choice amongst her friends and colleagues for astrology information. Whether the recipient understands astrology or not, Tracy’s ability to break down planetary aspects is perfect for the novice or professional.

PERK OPTION ONE
ONE two-hour reading, including your natal report and a year of transits. Tracy will review major transits and review your North Node. The North Node is the point in the birth chart which represents your path, purpose and destiny this lifetime

PERK OPTION TWO
A ONE-hour reading combined with a ONE- hour personal tutorial to create your 2025 Aries New Moon Treasure Map. As someone who has created vision boards for more than 25 years, Tracy will help you create a board to reflect the year you want to manifest

**A Treasure Map is a creative visual of your manifestation intentions. This visual is created during the Aries new Moon; which is most potent new moon of the lunar year. You will collage, paint, write, draw, create a board of your intentions. With Tracy’s guidance you can focus the first few months of 2025 on your natal chart and transits. Then in April, Tracy will help the recipient create the best map to manifest the year they desire.

​$200 DONATION
Enjoy a Private Architectural History Tour of PRS for up to 15 people!
*3 available*

You and up to 15 of your friends can have a private ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY TOUR OF PRS hosted by PRS Board Vice President and our resident architecture expert, Ann Burckle!

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about the architectural history (and some of the hidden mysteries) of The Philosophical Research Society’s landmark buildings – who was Robert Stacy Judd, the original architect of PRS? what was located at Los Feliz and Griffith Park boulevards before PRS was built in the mid-1930s? where were books printed on site at PRS in the 1940s and 1950s? – this is your opportunity. Join us for a 45 min. tour, hosted by Ann Burckle, where you’ll (literally) peer behind the curtains, to get a rare peek into Manly P. Hall’s office with its gorgeous antique Buddhist shrine, or (if you’re lucky) learn which room holds the hidden closet at PRS!
​
Ann Burckle is a real estate investment strategist with experience in developing impact analysis, highest and best use analysis and valuation opinions. A native Californian, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of Redlands. She is currently a principal with West Coast Appraisal Service. Her community involvement is extensive as she is a member of the Southern California Leadership Network, a fellow with the Leadership LA and Leadership Southern California programs, and a docent with the Getty Center (architecture and garden guide). Additionally, she has guided architectural tours for the Los Angeles Conservancy, USC Black Alumni and Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She has held volunteer leadership positions with Pasadena Heritage including the chairperson of the Craftsman Weekend event, and member of the Development and Education Committees as well as a former Board member. She is also a former Board member of EXP (formerly known as International Trade Education Program).

$250 DONATION
Have a Zoom Conversation with author Mitch Horowitz!
*5 available*

For a $250 donation, you can join a personal Zoom conversation about metaphysics with widely acclaimed author Mitch Horowitz. One of today’s most acclaimed voices of esoterica, mysticism, and the unexplained, Mitch Horowitz hosts Discovery/HBO’s Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction (2024), SpectreVision’s new podcast, Extraordinary Evidence: ESP Is Real, and plays himself in Shudder’s V/H/S/BEYOND (2024). A PEN Award-winning historian with bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal, Mitch has appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, Dateline NBC, NPR’s All Things Considered, and throughout national media. A former vice-president at Penguin Random House, Mitch is the author of books including Occult America, The Miracle Club, Daydream Believer, Modern Occultism, and the forthcoming Practical Magick. His work is censored in China. 

​
(Note: Zoom will be scheduled in January following the end of the Giving Campaign on Dec. 31st.  If donor isn’t able to attend Zoom, a recording of it will be sent.)

Special Thanks to: Mitch Horowitz

$250 DONATION
Have a Zoom Conversation with magician Rob Zabrecky!
*5 available*

If you’re a fan of magic, magic history, the occult and the surreal (who isn’t?!), you can join a personal Zoom conversation with magician and author Rob Zabrecky for a $250 donation!

There’s simply no other entertainer like Zabrecky. Through a wide range of artistic work that spans acting, writing, magic, and music, Zabrecky has established himself globally as an original entertainer. 

As a magician, he has invented a magical world through a series of strange and beautiful effects which he combines with remarkable timing and theatrical edifice. His absurdist and deadpan humor has delighted audiences from Tokyo to New York City. Recognized for his efforts, he has received six awards by the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle. In film, he’s best known for his roles in A Ghost Story, Lost River, and Decay. In television, he’s appeared in guest and co-star roles in Lady Dynamite, GLOW, Angie Tribeca, Comedy Bang! Bang! the CBS biopic series, Strange Angel, based on the life of rocket scientist Jack Parsons, and many others. He is the author of the acclaimed memoir, Strange Cures (Rothco Press), which chronicles his story of self-discovery, success, failure, and reinvention amidst the Los Angeles landscape during the 70s-90s. The LA Times praised the book as, “A punk poem to a forgotten Los Angeles,” and musician Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Go’s dubbed it, “A 1980s San Fernando Valley Time Machine.” Zabrecky's career began as a musician while being the singer- songwriter and bassist for the Los Angeles group Possum Dixon, who released three albums on Interscope Records during the 1990s. 

(Note:  Zoom will be scheduled in January following the end of the Giving Campaign on Dec. 31st.  If donor isn’t able to attend Zoom, a recording of it will be sent.)

Special Thanks to: Rob Zabrecky

​$250 DONATION
Receive 2 Online Master Classes at The Radif Retreat Institute of Classical Persian Music taught by Fared Shafinury!
*1 available*

The Radif Retreat Institute is an online school of classical Persian music, teaching and fostering community through group and private lessons with Fared Shafinury. 
Born on the coast of Texas, Fared's music spans cultures and traditions rooted in ancient repertoires – he has studied under masters in Iran such as Ostads Shaari, Lotfi, and Zolghadar – while possessing innovation and originality that set him apart from his contemporaries. 

Banafsheh Sayyad is an internationally recognized Iranian sacred dancer, choreographer, teacher, activist, and founder of Dance of Oneness®. With a Masters of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography from UCLA and a Masters in Chinese Medicine, she is dedicated to individual and collective healing through dance. Read more: www.danceofoneness.org

Special thanks to: Maryam Sayyad

$270 DONATION
Get the The PRS Deluxe Reprint Combo gift!
*shipping included*

​This exclusive PRS perk includes both The Deluxe Reprint of The 1928 Knapp-Hall Tarot Deck and The Deluxe Limited Reprint Edition of the rare 1922 First Edition of 'The Initiates of the Flame'!

​$300 DONATION
Receive the Dr. Z, Host of HANGING WITH DOCTOR Z, Exclusive Comedy Package!
*5 available*

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Hang out with show biz legend Dr. Z as he recounts his fabulous career in a name-dropping chat fest with his Hollywood pals. With Bill Hader, Patton Oswalt, Rob Zabrecky, Janet Varney, Rusty Steele, Claudine & Carmen St. Pierre with live music by Eban Schletter.  Sunday, December 15th at 7:30pm (doors at 6:30) DYNASTY TYPEWRITER *note this is time sensitive and this event happens only on Sunday Dec. 15th!

(Note: Tickets and gift certificates can be picked up in-person at PRS prior to the 12/15 show.)

**BONUS Special: Exclusive Zoom with Dr. Z & RUSTY STEELE
Donors will be a part of an exclusive, private Zoom with Dr. Z and his sidekick, Rusty Steele as they share showbusiness stories and interact with their live audience. From The Rat Pack to The Ramones, Jerry Lewis to Jay Z, Billy Barty to Billie Ellish, the Dr. knows them all and isn’t shy about spilling tea.

​(Note:  Zoom will be scheduled in January following the end of the Giving Campaign on Dec. 31st.  If donor isn’t able to attend Zoom, a recording of it will be sent.)

Special Thanks to: Dana Gould, Ann Slichter

$300 DONATION
Receive the Paul F. Tompkins & Janie Haddad Tompkins, Hosts of the STAY F. HOMEKINS Podcast, Exclusive Comedy Package!
*5 available*

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
Donors will be a part of a private Zoom with actors/comedians and married couple, Paul and Janie. Zoom guests can hang out, sip a cocktail and shoot the breeze as part of a Q&A zoom “after-dinner conversation” cocktail party vibe with the podcaster couple, led by Master of Zoom Ceremonies Paul F. Tompkins.  STAY F. HOMEKINS was named one of the top comedy podcasts of 2020 in Vulture. Currently in its fifth season, the podcast, featuring an after-dinner conversation with the married couple co-hosts, comes out on a monthly basis to all their free subscribers, in addition to offering a frequent collection of fun, bonus podcasts and written content through their bestselling Weekend Water Substack publication.   

(Note:  Zoom will be scheduled in January following the end of the Giving Campaign on Dec. 31st.  If donor isn’t able to attend Zoom, a recording of it will be sent.)
 
You know comedian, improviser, actor, Emmy nominated writer and podcaster extraordinaire Paul F. Tompkins from Comedy Bang! Bang!, Mr. Show, Bojack Horseman, most recently guesting on Very Important People and recurring on Criminal Minds, and, last but the opposite of least, his long-running, iconic, Los Angeles based variety show VARIETOPIA WITH PAUL F. TOMPKINS (currently traveling the United States!) 

You know actress, writer and podcaster Janie Haddad Tompkins from Hacks, Night Court, Leo (on Netflix) and as the voice of Margaret on Regular Show (currently in production for their highly anticipated reboot), in addition to being the engine behind their bestselling Substack Weekend Water. 

Special Thanks to: Paul F. Tompkins & Janie Haddad Tompkins, Ann Slichter

$500 DONATION
Receive the Metaphysician Tara Sutphen Exclusive Package!
*2 available*

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES YOUR CHOICE OF TWO OF THE FOLLOWING:
  • 1 Hour Psychic Reading
  • 1 Hour Hypnotherapy Session
  • 1.5 Hour Past Life Regression Session
  • 1.5 Hour Horse Therapy Session
  • 1 Hour Eastern/Western Astrology Reading
  • 1 Hour Automatic Writing Session 

Tara Sutphen brings practical and effective guidance to our lives through a kaleidoscope of sources.  From the mystical to the scientific, Tara reaches out for divine inspiration in the exact way that each of us need in any given moment. Whatever has us stuck, is shrouded or veiled, or whatever is blocking our success and expansion, Tara uncovers and empowers us to follow our highest path forward. If patterns or limitations have left you thinking, "There must be more," you are right. And this "more" is the wisdom Tara brings you.

Special Thanks to: Tara Sutphen, Ann Slichter

$520 DONATION
Receive The Manly P. Hall PRS Package!
*shipping included*

Get deep into study with these PRS exclusive publications!

PACKAGE INCLUDES:
  • The New Deluxe Hardback Edition of 'The Secret Teachings of All Ages' (ships late January 2025)
  • The Deluxe Reprint of The 1928 Knapp-Hall Tarot Deck
  • Volumes 1 & 2 of The Study Guide to The Secret Teachings of All Ages

$1,330 DONATION
Receive the PRS Patron Package!
*shipping included*
*1 available*

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
*Vivi Henriette is an astrologer and tarot reader whose collaborative approach to divination weaves in storytelling and mythology to create a container for her clients to explore their personal narrative. She’s the host of the Los Angeles Astro Salon and the podcast TALKTALKTALK.
Follow ART of the ZODIAC & Vivi Henriette on INSTAGRAM + YOUTUBE + SPOTIFY for the latest TALKTALKTALK!

Special Thanks to:  Ann Burckle, Vivi Henriette

$2,580 DONATION
Receive the PRS Benefactor Package!
*shipping included*
*3 available*

EACH PACKAGE INCLUDES:
  • The Taschen Edition of The Secret Teachings of All Ages
  • The Deluxe Reprint of The 1928 Knapp-Hall Tarot Deck
  • The Transmutation Oracle Deck
  • The Deluxe Limited Reprint Edition of the rare 1922 First Edition of 'The Initiates of the Flame'
  • Our Official Holiday PRS Krampus Tote Bag!