Best Metaphysical Travelers

Golden Gate Pronaos Rosicrucians

60 Tennessee Valley (near Headlands), Mill Valley, 442-1950, www.goldengate.rosicrucian.org

The Rosicrucians are an unusual bunch of self-helpists. We don't mean unusual in a Tony Robbins "I am a giant who could crush your skull but will instead proffer honey-tongued advice" kind of way, but rather in a "further man's evolution through the wisdom of the mystery schools of ancient Egypt and Europe" kind of way. The group believes in "self-mastery," and to achieve it draws from myriad religio-scientific practices that emphasize skills such as visualization, meditation, psychic enhancement -- and telepathy. Hey, Ben Franklin was down with the mystical order. So was Pharaoh Amenhotep IV. It must be cool. The local group, or "pronaos" (there are also "chapters" and "lodges," called so depending on the number of members), has convocations twice a month on Tuesdays. Only some of the meetings are open to the public; the off-limit meetings are, presumably, where the truly badass mystery wisdom is unleashed.