On Thursday, January 17, Peace Theological Seminary (PTS) hosted the Chairman of volunteers, the Director of Continuing Education, and 25 docents and volunteers of the Banning Residence Museum located in Wilmington, California, for a morning tour of Prana, the headquarters for PTS and the Church of the Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness (MSIA).

This event marked another exciting rite of passage for Prana, as the first public tour guided entirely by PTS and MSIA staff. Carol Jones, the newly named Program Director for Prana, and Kevin McMillan, Prana Administration Team member, served as docents, with Carol beginning the tour by stating, “We are not professional docents, so you are going to get this straight from our hearts.” With that intention, love led the way on a tour filled with history, an inspiring account of the efforts to restore Prana following the 1994 earthquake, and many opportunities to experience the energy of the Traveler’s loving and teachings.

After greeting our visitors at the newly installed fountains in front of Prana’s main entrance, Kevin and Carol led the group into the foyer (grand ballroom), where Vincent Dupont (dressed most spiffily for the occasion) joined us and shared about his love for the house and its artistry. He noted that the 1994 earthquake marked a turning point for MSIA with Prana—would we restore the building, or sell it and move? MSIA’s Spiritual Director, John Morton, expressed strong support for a full restoration of the building, and that vision continues to guide the numerous improvement projects currently under way.

The Banning folks learned about Prana’s beginnings, built by Italian vintner Secondo Guasti at the turn of the twentieth century, and its heyday as home to Hollywood director and choreographer, Busby Berkeley (Prana trivia question: Did you know that part of the film “Gigi” was filmed at Prana?