From: Aurora F, Owner Mana Keepers - La Ceiba
Many Many Blessing to you all! Thank you for following your inspiration and allowing Divine guidance to inspire the rest of us. You had the courage to offer us tools to find our own truths. You persevered in the face of convention and brought us that which inspires our imagination and our quest for remembrance. May Divinity bless you and all those you touch now and forever more.

Love, Light, Peace and Bliss,
Aurora F, Owner Mana Keepers - La Ceiba

From: Gary P of DeVorss & Co
As a publisher, supplier, friend, and colleague of the Bodhi Tree bookstore, it has been an honor to work together with Phil and Stan since their first day of business in 1970. Their dedicated work and passion reaches far beyond the steps of 8585 Melrose in Los Angeles. As people from around the world slowly walk among the wood bookcases searching for the right book, they unknowingly absorb the peaceful, healing aura of the store and take it home with them to share with others. It was rare that a publisher or bookstore customer would visit our offices and not ask how to get to the Bodhi Tree. In the days before mapquest, this was no easy task considering the LA freeways, side streets, traffic, and yes -- how can we not mention -- parking. Despite the many obstacles, a trek to Los Angeles was not complete without some time in the Bodhi Tree. Perhaps, the most memorable day in our office came in the late 80’s when the TV movie “Out on a Limb” aired the episode where Shirley MacLaine followed her instincts and drove down the coast from Malibu to the Bodhi Tree. For hours, she looked up and down each aisle not really sure of what she was looking for until out of nowhere a book mysteriously fell onto her from a “higher” shelf. The very next morning, other bookstore buyers who were totally unaware of the title of this book, flooded our phone lines wanting to order "the book that hit Shirley on the head." (In case you’re wondering, that book was A DWELLER ON TWO PLANETS by Phylos.) This is what makes the Bodhi Tree so special. You might think you know what you need, or which book you want to read, but after you’ve walked the aisles and aisles of new, old, obscure, rare, classic, and sometimes unusual books at the Bodhi Tree, you’ll most likely end up at the front counter with an armful of books that were actually waiting to find you.

Heartfelt Congratulations!

Your Friends at DeVorss & Company, Publishers and Distributors

From: Tania A, Reseda
Subject: Fun story
Back in 1988, when I was flying as a flight attendant for my beloved Pan Am, and was based in New York, we had a 747 trip out here to LA. On the way back to NY, one of the flight attendants asked me what I did on my layover. Then she proceeded to tell me all about the Bodhi Tree bookstore, and how I really needed to go visit the store, etc, that you guys had all the kinds of books, items & cards that I would love!

So I couldn't wait until my next 747 trip out to LAX to check you guys out & to see if it was all she had described. As you can very well imagine, I was not disappointed at all, buying numerous things & dragging them back east! And a footnote here is that most of my flight attendant friends from Pan Am & subsequent airlines are very intuitive, so it is only natural that they flock to visit the store!

So now I live here in the SF valley, and visit whenever I can. Through a class at your store, I met the marvelous Barbara Martin & her colleague Dimitri, so I know that over the years you have brought many wonderful people together.
Keep up the good work, and..... Happy Anniversary!

Best regards,
Tania A, Reseda

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I wish you all the best and honor your terrific work as well celebrate the success of the BEST bookstore anywhere on earth!! Here's to another 35 amazing years...I hope to see you again soon. Be well

From: Barbara S, EvoLuminus Coaching
I'm so glad the Bodhi Tree has been around for the past 35 years! I moved to LA from Chicago over 30 years ago, and since then have bought more books at the Bodhi Tree than from any other bookstore. I especially love the Used Book Section. When I began writing and teaching about using Tarot and Astrology for Life Balance 7 years ago, I collected books for my own research from the Bodhi Tree. My husband (who is also a metaphysical teacher and writer) thinks our office bookshelves look like The Bodhi Tree Annex transplanted to Burbank!

I also love to check out the used Tarot decks to add new ones to my collection. At least half of the 76 decks I own (which I use when teaching Tarot for Life Coaching) were bought at the Bodhi Tree's used bookstore. I also buy every used Voyager Tarot deck I've found there since I use the Voyager Tarot as the teaching deck in my class. I give the used decks to my students or give individual cards from used decks to people I read for. They are then able to take home the fabulous collage images of cards that have meaning for them without depleting my personal deck.

No other metaphysical bookstore is as comprehensive as the Bodhi Tree -- in Southern California at least. Thank you for being!

From: Mildred B
Subject: My Favorite Book Store
I have been a customer of the Bodhi Tree Book Store from the beginning of its existence, even prior to the remodeling from the original house to its current space. The Bodhi Tree Book Store is my favorite place to visit in Los Angeles. I have a cup of your herbal tea, pick out a book to examine and sit on a chair to review it before buying. Then I wander around to the various sections to see what is new or what subject catches my fancy. As the wife of a geologist, I have many crystals I bought from your store around my home, as well as countless books.

One of my favorite stories about visiting your book store is when I brought my 6 year-old granddaughter Adrienne to see the books and other items. I showed her an album on "How To Learn" and asked if she wanted me to buy it for her. She said, firmly, "No, thank you, Grandma. I already know how to learn. All you have to do is listen." Even though she refused that particular item, she walked out with several books I bought for her.

As a public relations consultant for a teacher union, I used to attend the Los Angeles Press Club luncheons. Afterwards, I always made it a point to spend some time at your book store before returning to my office. I like the soft musical background, the scent, the great variety of books, magazines, cards, crystals and the many other things that made your store a unique, relaxing and satisfying experience. After I retired in 2000, the visits to your store lessened but the pleasure still remains intense on the rare occasions I drive the 40 miles to shop at the Bodhi Tree.

Thank you for the many years of pleasure I have had as a Bodhi Tree customer.

From: Kathy F
Subject: 35th anniversary
Congrats!!!!
I have been an avid customer since you opened! Needless to say...Your Bookstore has saved my life Countless times as I struggled to evolve!!

I am an LA native and moved to the Baltimore area in '99, ...and.....HOW I MISS YA!! Here's to many more years of Continued Success assisting others to have a more satisfying and productive life of Service to our universe!
Thanks, again,
Kathy F

From: Toma R
Here is my story: It about 35 years ago that I was riding my bicycle out and around my old apartment in Hollywood and I would go up west on Beverly Blvd. and turn at Beverly
Hills to come back down Melrose to Cahuenga where I lived. I was doing this all most every nite to train for longer trips [like to WLA to work].

I came down from Beverly Hills one night to find a pickup full of lumber and some guy named "Stan" waiting for the other person inside to come out and help with the other end of this lumber they were moving into this old house on the corner So I jumped off my bike and helped for the rest of the evening with un-loading this lumber and I asked "What are you building" ? They answered “A bookstore, we are tired of the computer world”.

I said 'WOW I love to read'. Since then this small little house has done a wonderful time of changing my life all ways for the better. I have spent the last 34 year in Aikido. I try somewhat to live by the Zen/Tao ways.

And so right then and there I came and got thousand's of books in the last 35 years. I have almost all my books on Zen from "Der Tree" and also on the "Tao", got all my year's Christmas gifts at "Der Tree"

Used to sell the "L. A. Free Press" there. I have gotten many hundred's of Martial Arts books from this guy named "Stan". I was the one who gave the Photo of the Founder of Aikido "Morihei Ueshiba" that might still be up over the Martial Arts section in "Der Tree"

Happy 35 years to this guy named "Stan" the very best for the next 35 years.

Toma (the old one) R [AKA "Uncle Tom"]

From: Lucia Capacchione
Standing under The Bodhi Tree.
As you know, The Bodhi Tree and I go WAAAAY back, but you may not know just how far back.

I was referred to your store in 1970 by a close friend who urged me to get a copy of the I Ching (which I still have and cherish). It is the Wilhem/Baines version published by Bollingen. For this bookaholic since childhood, the store was an "Alice in Wonderland" experience - a little house on the corner which had been transformed into a treasury of books that simply were not available elsewhere. I was just entering a completely new era in my life (on the heels of a divorce and in the midst of the chaos which, unbeknownst to me, was a rebirth. Put quite simply, the Bodhi Tree changed my life and direction forever.

I returned many times and spent hours perusing the shelves, sipping tea and adventuring to new inner worlds. Three years after first walking in the door, I was guided to change careers from art and education to art therapy. I can still recall the day in 1974 that I purchased a big cardboard box full books for my master's program research in psychology and art therapy: books by Jung and other authors who inspired and guided me. I still remember the bill: $95. That bought a lot of books 1973. I recall telling the sales clerk that this was better than chocolates - it was nourishment for my soul. I later came to think of the Bodhi Tree as my church.

It was at the Bodhi Tree that I became inspired to write books. My students had been bugging me to author a book about my Creative Journal method. A couple of trips to the Bodhi Tree and I was ready to put pen to paper. Around that time I recall standing in front of the Seth Books by Roberts (which I had been reading one at a time) and thinking, "Someday, I want my own shelf here with my name on it (just like Robert's has) and a whole line of books I've written.

It's almost 30 years since I set that intention and I have 13 books on the market and another one due out in January. My books are scattered all over the Bodhi Tree since I have written on a variety of topics. After my first publication with Ohio U. Swallow Press, I started self-publishing. I recall the days (in the 80s) when I hand delivered 4 of my self published titles to the stock room. By the late 80s, publishers were coming to me. I began doing signings at the store and my photo even got posted on the wall near my very own meditation master, Swami Muktananda. I felt I had truly arrived.

Thank you, everyone at the Bodhi Tree, for giving me more than I can every put into words.

Lucia Capacchione

From: Madalyn Aslan
Subject: Bodhi Tree: From Childhood to My First Published Book!
My mother first took me to the Bodhi Tree when I was a baby. Thirty-three years later I read to an audience there from my published astrology book, Madalyn Aslan's Jupiter Signs -- and I honestly cried when I first entered the lecture room (which I didn't remember from before.) The inside of the store, too, was very different - I remembered the bookshelves were lighter, everyone's hair was longer, and some of the happiest memories of my childhood were exploring the Bodhi Tree's many homemade corners, nooks, and crannies. My mother and I would go there all throughout my childhood, until we moved to England when I was nine years old. It was twenty years before I saw the Bodhi Tree again.

One of my strongest memories, and this may sound kooky - but what the heck -I remember meeting a polar bear in one of those solemn wood aisles of bookshelves. (I remember many more aisles from that time, but that may be because I was a kid and always looking UP.) The polar bear was fat and white and huge and kind and gave me advice like a granddad - I must have been seven years old by this time - and I was to put this incident years later in my first novel.

I am sure my many times at the Bodhi Tree when I was a kid - my mother would let me loose while she talked to people at the counter (she talked to them FOREVER it seemed - it was much less crowded then, this was the mid-seventies) is somewhat responsible for my first astrology book, which was written for children and in a child's voice. What's Your Sign?: A Cosmic Guide for Young Astrologers was published by Penguin Putnam for Younger Readers in 2002, and is still the only astrology book for kids in print. Which I think is shameful! Liz Greene's went out of print four years ago, and I just think there should be more astrology available for kids. Bodhi Tree was IT for me as a kid.

When Penguin USA published my first grownup astrology book in 2003, they asked if there was anywhere in particular I wanted to go on my book tour when I was in Los Angeles. I immediately said the Bodhi Tree. And the Bodhi Tree said NO! They said that astrology books did not do well as part of their reading/lecture series or something. I am a triple Libra and do not often protest, but MAN! You know how when an experience means so much to you, you feel like you OWN that place or time or person? It's an utterly irrational - and dare I say, CHILDISH reaction - but that's how I felt. I could not NOT read at the Bodhi Tree. It had meant so much to me. And somehow, for some reason, they finally said YES.

And for this I am still unbelievably grateful. It was twenty years before I was to come back to Los Angeles, and coming back to the Bodhi Tree – to read from my book which I felt was shaped BY my experiences at the Bodhi Tree - was - and is - still my best homecoming ever.

Thank you for letting me share this. And may the Bodhi Tree live on forever!!!!!

With love and thanks,
Madalyn Aslan