In the 1950s and 1960s, the California desert was a hotbed of pseudo-cults and counterculture communities preaching a myriad of orthodoxies that resonated with those disillusioned by mainstream religions. Visiting with aliens wasn’t out of the question. Communicating with ancient Egyptian spirits wasn’t usual. Free love was in. Leave your uptight corporate mindset back in LA.
One Mojave spiritual hangout that has managed to make it to 2026 is the Institute for Mentalphysics located in the city of Twentynine Palms (the “Gateway to Joshua Tree National Park”). The 400-acre spread was built by Dingle right after WWII and added to the National Register of Historic Places just three years ago. It includes a collection of homes and buildings designed by Lloyd Wright (not to be confused with his uber famous father Frank Lloyd Wright).
The place is a trip, as it were. And it’s hard not to like it.
There’s the Caravansary of Joy, the Sanctuary of Mystic Christianity, the Preceptory of Light, the Ding Le Mei House, and the Water Terrace. All incorporate organic architecture and “sacred geometry with a distinctive triangle motif. ”
The sanctuary itself and surrounding buildings are falling into some disrepair, but the decay adds to the mystery of the place and it’s not surprising given the baking the place gets in the summer and the advanced age of the buildings.
I’m assuming most of the revenue for the Institute for Mentalphysics comes from the 14 mid-century post-and-beam bungalows that can be rented through Airbnb. Each has a backyard deck overlooking the winter desert brimming with xerophytes, mostly Creosote Bush Scrub, including the Joshua Tree, Creosote Bush, Mojave Yucca, and various kinds of cacti. Just before we got there, a series of winter rainstorms had drenched the area, bringing out the muted greens and yellows that come with these yearly monsoons.
So, what is MentalPhysics?
First, it has nothing to do with physics. At least the way we understand physics. Practitioners lean heavily on Tibetan breathing exercises and yoga – all designed to bring about a “Christ-like” transformation of consciousness. There’s more to it than this, but I’ll leave it up to the curious and free spirited to take their own journey into the world of Mr. Dingle.
