Customer Reviews

The Visionary State: A Journey Through California's Spiritual Landscape

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Visionary State shows a California that few of us who even live here know or understand. Not only is this book a beautiful showcase of photographs highlighting the wide diversity of both natural beauty and man-made visionary sites in California, but the well written text about each set of photos also provides remarkable insight into these places within California that many of we natives didn't even know existed. A gorgeous, high quality book. Great gift for any Californian and anyone that admires the unique history and beauty of our fair state.

From the perfectly shot pictures, to the heavy spine and luxurious feel, to the extraordinarily engaging text, this is an ideal reference book, gift book, and tour de focce of the California psycho-spiritual landscape.

Pairing textual descriptions with breakthaking images, the history of California's many spiritual and religoius movements comes vibrantly to life on every page.

I was especially thrilled by the *feel* of this book. As soon as I held it, I knew I loved it. Big kudos to Erik Davis and his photographer for putting out such a fine volume.

Davis traverses the unexplored, germane topic of California's unique spiritual and architectural evolution with an original and erudite voice. Michael Rauner's photos are intense, playful and a great fit with the text. I appreciate this book immensely and highly recommend it, a must read!

The promise held out by the gorgeous dust jacket of The Visionary State is more than fulfilled inside, where the immediate appeal comes from Michael Rauner's magnificent photographs of places throughout California. These glowing pictures illustrate the diverse streams of religion, spirituality, and other forms of visionary thinking that give the book its title and California its unique character as a "state of mind." The photos find a perfect counterpoint in Erik Davis's magnificent prose. Gathering together a wealth of information, the author weaves it into a lively, irresistible narrative of the state's spiritual, social, and architectural history, beginning with prehistoric petroglyphs and taking us all the way to today's neopagan revival. In between unfolds a procession of people and movements that have made California unlike any other state: Spanish friars, Mormon trekkers, Hindu swamis, Buddhist monks, utopian reformers, self-styled mystics, genuine mystics, charlatans and saints and scientists delving into the mysteries of the cosmos and the human psyche. Embracing religion, spirituality, social history, and architecture, The Visionary State should engage and delight a wide spectrum of readers. --Devadatta Kali, author of In Praise of the Goddess and The Veiling Brilliance.

This is a fabulous book, like everything Erik Davis writes. The photography just takes it to a new level. This book will be a standard reference for us in future journeys on the North American west coast. We intend to visit all the sites, or as many as we can, documented in the book.

But it is much more than a travel book. Davis brings his masterful knowledge of American gnosticism and materializes it in his historical, rich narrative about the numerous temples, religions, and cults of California. I strongly recommend "Techgnosis" for a much deeper treatment of the same topic. Let's hope he keeps bringing his skill as a writer to craft more beautiful essays about the rich and fragmented American life, and the strange worlds emerging as the American imperial reign draws to a close.

Davis is probably the most talented of the current psychedelic authors, and has a talent at keeping an open and critical eye on both the dark and light aspects of emerging subcultures.

I love his wordcraft and eclectic reach. Every time I read one of his books, I come back with at least twenty new words and a few new concepts.

...an extraordinary book, beautifully laid out and interesting histories on spectacular architectural sanctuaries gracing California's landscape, well researched and vividly presented. A true find and a great gift for anyone interested in California history, architecture, travel, art, spirituality ...an incredible journey!

Coffee table books are usually visually beautiful (such as Southwestern landscapes, the National Parks, cuisines of the world, ancient civilizations) while shallow in terms of information. Not so with "Visionary State",a stunning book that is as visually delightful as it is educational.

Author Erik Davis is insightful about California's syncretistic, Gnostic spirituality. He shows how Goddess spirituality, Western Buddhism, yoga, and queer spirituality have deep roots in Californian soil-from the Self Realization Fellowship's temple in Encinitas (not far from where I used to live) to the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco (surprisingly, Davis doesn't mention St.Gregory of Nyssa,famous for its icon of dancing saints,and its dance-centered liturgy)

Davis shows the selective "openness" of Californian spirituality. He explores Zen, Tantra, and Wicca, while dismissing the growth of non-denominational and evangelical churches. It's no wonder he doesn't choose the beautiful white clapboard St. Stephen's Anglican Church in Oakville or the Institute for Creation Research in El Cajon (but he does show El Cajon's Unarius Academy,devoted to UFO and the Space Brothers)

It is pleasant to see places I've been--such as the sylvan sojourn of Harbin Hot Springs in Middletown, the Egyptian temples of the Isis Oasis in Geyserville,the Stanford Memorial Chapel in Palo Alto, the San Diego Mission,and the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple in Encinitas. It also inspired me to go to the spectacular City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah-famous for being the largest Buddhist center in the US and its vegetarian restaurant.

"Visionary State" is a look at the kaleidoscope of Californian spirituality. In these pages, you'll learn that Sam Brannan,founder of Calistoga,wanted California to be the capital of the Mormon Church (Brigham Young disagreed),and that the round barn in Santa Rosa was part of the Fountaingrove commune in the 19th century. You'll learn about Lonnie Frisbee, the co-founder of the Calvary Chapel movement whose name has been erased from official histories because he died from AIDS,as well as the Gnosticism of Philip K.Dick,the author of "Blade Runner." "Visionary State" not only looks great,but makes a great read too!

California has a reputation for the diverse and eccentric: a reputation which extends into the spiritual realm as well, and THE VISIONARY STATE: A JOURNEY THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE PRESENTS COLOR PHOTOS BY Michael Rauner to accompany a historical and social survey of California's alternative spirituality communities. From theme parks and alternatives to conventional churches to Buddhist areas and visions of the Virgin, THE VISIONARY STATE is packed with images and ideas reflecting the individuals and spiritual movements that make up California.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Originally bought this book for the coffee table, not really expecting to read it. But sitting around one day I opened it up and couldn't stop reading. Read it side by side with my laptop so I could get more information regarding all of the people and ideas that I came across. Incredible job of research into the various ideas presented. Can not recommend this book more highly. Excellent!

This is without a doubt Erik Davis' finest work. He has truly captured the essence of what he calls 'California Conciousness', and shows its inner workings in those who made Cal the spiritual smorgasbord that it is. The begining and ending essays are the best that I have ever read by him, and Michael Rauners' haunting photographs visually transport you to the places Davis describes. Highly recommended.