It's a Trip

Comments (0) By Michael Leaverton Wednesday, Nov 10 2010

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Erik Davis is one of those West Coast mystical intellectuals trading in technology, myth, mysticism, magik, spirituality, and Wired -- he also has a fondness for Philip K. Dick. His most iconic book, at least for us, is Led Zeppelin's Led Zeppelin IV, a famously down-the-rabbit-hole occult reading of the band's fourth album for the 33 1/3 book series. But his prettiest one is The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape, because he teamed up with local photographer Michael Rauner to help document the myriad spiritual outfits that have spread wildly and weirdly in the Golden State. The pair explored local sites including the Swedenborgian Church, the Vedanta Society Temple, and the Westerfield House, where Kenneth Anger filmed some occult strangeness in the late '60s. Druid Heights in Marin warrants a special mention as well, particularly because we've never heard of this hidden bohemian enclave (neither has Wikipedia), and we want one! On the four-hour Sacred Sites Tour, Rauner guides guests to a smattering of S.F. locations courtesy of our favorite biodiesel bus company TransportedSF, which features the entrancing, possibly visionary line on its Web site: "We do not sell alcohol but you are always welcome to bring your own."
Sun., Nov. 14, 12:30 p.m., 2010