FAQ-The Tarot Architect
Venue: Joshua Tree Retreat Center - Friendship Hall 20, 21 and 22 March 2026
Hello and Thank You for signing up to
The TAROT ARCHITECT
We are confident that we will have an unforgettable time together in Joshua Tree.
This environment is new to most of you, so please allow us to offer the following info and recommendations:
The 3 day workshop will take place at the Institute of Mentalphysics - Joshua Tree Retreat Center
We are meeting in FRIENDSHIP Hall at 11 am on the 20th March 2026.
Parking is on the premises
Last Lecture ends the 22. March at 17pm.
The Stargazing event starts on the 22nd at 8.30 PM in the Amphitheater at the Retreat Center
The Evening Program goes on until late every day.
Bring swimwear. We have access to the warm pool.
Find the Vortexes…..
Joshua Tree Retreat Center
…is an American national historic monument, home to the most Lloyd Wright buildings in one location. The Retreat Center also has a sculpture garden, labyrinths and stone circles, a warm pool, a café and a beautiful garden.
The address is: 59700 29 Palms Highway, 92252 Joshua Tree. This highway is also known as “the 62”. Directions: Coming westbound into Joshua Tree. follow HWY62, you will see the Institute of mentalphysics on your right, just Past Yucca Valley. We can accommodate wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
If you have questions about the venue or have specific dietary requirements, contact Tonelise on onemagicalretreat@gmail.com.
THE EVENING PROGRAM - All Included:
• 20th March: Live presentation by filmmaker, artist, and occultist Brian Butler, longtime collaborator and manager of Kenneth Anger and official representative of the Estate of Kenneth Anger, exploring the symbolic and initiatory dimensions of Lucifer Rising — The Occult Saga of a Cursed Film conceived as a ritual transmission by Butler. This is followed by a short documentary directed by Brian Butler, chronicling his first-hand journey into the production and legacy of Lucifer Rising through his personal interviews with Kenneth Anger, the film’s actors, and appearances by Marianne Faithfull and Mick Jagger. The evening culminates in a rare screening of Lucifer Rising. Starts at 8.00
• 21st March: Spring Equinox Ritual
• 22nd March: Stargazing event with professional telescopes and astronomers. Starts at 8.30
THE TAROT ARCHITECT lectures with Lon finishes late afternoon every day, In time for dinner and the start of the Evening Program
Accommodation:
Joshua Tree has plenty of diverse accommodation:
Here are some options:
There are hotels in our tiny town, walking distance from restaurants and amenities:
If you are not on a budget, try Autocamp: It’s a fiendishly cool airstream hotel with pool and outdoor chill-out areas with fire pit. https://autocamp.com/location/joshua-tree/
If you are looking for a low cost basic option, try the High Desert Motel http://www.highdesertmotel.com/ They have a pool.
If you are looking for a special, legendary place, try Joshua Tree Inn https://www.joshuatreeinn.com/
In addition to all this, there are a lot of high quality Airbnb homes in Joshua Tree town, and more hotels and Short term rentals in nearby Yucca Valley or 29 Palms if you do not mind a 1/2 hour drive in the morning. You can look them all up on www.booking.com or www.hotels.com
Food, Restaurants and Amenities in Joshua Tree
Joshua Tree Saloon https://www.joshuatreesaloon.com/ We love our saloon! Classic American food done well. The meat is organic. Avoid the fish. Vegetarian options and huge portions. They have an affordable Happy Hour Menu every day between 4pm and 6 pm. It can be a lengthy wait for a table, but it’s easier if you sit outside. Heaving at weekends. Open late
Country Kitchin’ Home Cookin’ https://jtcountrykitchen.com/ Classic family run Breakfast place where they put their soul into the food. Bottomless coffee. Great blueberry pancakes. Organic meats and eggs. Very Twin Peaks-esque. Also oddly a selection of vegetarian Cambodean dishes that late Anthony Bourdain would drive from LA regularly to enjoy.
Crossroads Café https://crossroadscafejtree.com/ Good breakfast! Hard to get a table at weekends. Cozy. The Banana Bread Rocks! Good coffee. Opens at 7am.
The Dez deli. https://thedezfinefood.com/ Best coffee in town. good sandwiches and baked goods. Grab and go style.
The Dez Cafe. The deli has a big sister a little further down the road. You can sit down and eat. Still best coffee in town. Food is freshly made and really good. They take pride in the food at The Dez. Brand new place and popular.
Sam’s Indian Food. https://samsindianfood.com/ Yes! Yeeeees! Authentic Indian food in Joshua Tree! Shocking and delightful. And Yummy. They do take out too. All i can say about this is that it’s for real. If you like Indian food, this is it. Run by Indian Sikh family.
Sky High Pie The Pizza is good. They do take out too. Regrettably, they don’t do slices as every handmade pizza is
made to order. Somehow they don’t have a website, but you can order take out in advance if you don’t want to go there and sit down and eat. Here’s the link https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/sky-high-pie/
There’s a Castañedas in town too if you are desperate, and they simulate Mexican food on a budget. Badly
There are also a couple of places that I’d recommend in 29 Palms and Yucca Valley:
29 Palms Inn https://29palmsinn.com/ Fantastic and scenic restaurant if you like True Mid Century Vintage set in the Oases of Mara in 29 Palms.
Family Run. Good Bar. Go for a walk on the grounds too. They grow their own vegetables. There’s a little lake. It’s a 45 min drive from Joshua Tree town! I love it!
The Copper Rooms https://thecopperroom1957.com/ Restaurant and Bar dating back to 1957 in the old building at Yucca Valley Airport. They have retained the historic feel, and have American food and wonderful Vietnamese dishes. Great Bar.
Yucca Valley and 29 Palms have every single fast food restaurant franchise too. People also like Tiny Pony.
This restaurant in Landers is legendary. La Copine. It ain’t cheap, but it’s very, very good! https://www.lacopinekitchen.com/ Book early. It’s half an hour drive from the retreat center. Strange and varying opening hours
Supermarkets:
There’s a Walmart Supercenter in Yucca Valley. Also a Vons, a Stater Bros, a Grocery Outlet and an Aldi. Walmart and Vons have a pharmacy. There’s a Stater Bros and a Grocery Outlet in 29 Palms. Joshua Tree do not have a supermarket, but there’s the Health food store if you need groceries and are not
on a budget. There’s a Dollar Store if you ARE on a budget.
BUT Joshua Tree has a great Farmer’s Market that opens at 6 am on Saturdays, and can be visited before the Workshop starts.
Climate:
March is in general a great month to visit. Not too hot or cold. BUT: It can get VERY cold at night, and we’ll be outside once or twice to catch the night sky, so do not forget to bring warm clothes. Also never, ever wear sandals in the desert! It’s a desert. It’s full of sharp, thorny things. Bring good footwear.
Sunscreen is an important thing to bring. And a wide brimmed hat. The desert is dry. Bring a portable refillable water bottle Keep yourself hydrated. Our tap water is safe to drink.
Joshua Tree National Park
If you would like to visit Joshua Tree National Park, it’s really, really important that you click on this link, and read it and follow the Rangers’ instructions. https://www.nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/first-time-visitors.htm
The Sunrise and sunsets in the park are AMAZING: As for known sights, I’d recommend: Skull Rock, TheCholla Cactus Garden, Key’s View. Do not ever drive your car off road. Ever.
…OK. That’s about it! It’s important to note that Joshua Tree is a tiny town in Rural America. You will need to drive here and to/from venue. You can rent a car at Palm Springs Airport or LAX. PSA is 50 minutes away, and LAX at least 2,5 hours without traffic. No we don’t have Uber or Lyft here. If
you really don’t drive, you can perhaps organise a car pool with the other attendees, And there’s Uber and Lyft from PSA. Let us know. No guarantees, but we’ll try.
Tonelise: onemagicalretreat@gmail.com, http://www.magical-retreats.com, Tonelise’s number ONLY for emergencies +(1) 323 507 7680.