The Delano Center

ion to providing the event venue, The Delano Center event planners can also coordinate your event to include tables and chairs, linens, eating utensils and dishes, catering, cakes, floral arrangements, chocolate fountains, live bands, and any other service or product you could want for your event. The Philosophical Underpinnings
of
The Delano Center

The Delano Center arose out of the desire to attract and inspire humanity to higher levels of existence by revealing to and reminding the visitor of the salient truths of joyful existence. Since The Delano Center is in the heart of the table grape industry of the world and the grapevine is in itself a microcosm of life we have adopted the grape theme throughout the facility. Some are obvious but most of them are subtle and can only be seen by those with the “eyes” to see them. These truths begin with who we are. In the Crimson room on the south wall are five alcoves that have images representing the five fundamental truths of reality. The first truth of reality is that we Exist. Existence is represented by broken symmetry. Our Existence arises out of the truth that in addition to whatever else we might be we are fundamentally energy (which in itself is unique as to wavelength, frequency, amplitude, intensity, indestructibility, etc.) and imbedded in that energy is information. Energy and information is our unique “spiritual DNA”. Out of Existence arises the second truth of reality, which is Experience. It is our unique Experiences in the Universe that add to the informational “DNA” of who we are. As a result of ongoing experience we are always becoming. Because we are unique and because we are eternal (energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed) the only possible purpose of existence is infinite Experience. Since the Experiences we desire to have are personal to us, the supreme underlying tradition or law of the Universe is liberty. That is why we feel so good about freedom and so bad about manipulation, coercion, force, bondage, slavery, etc. The freedom to choose what experience we want, when we want it, how we want it, where we want it and with whom we want it, is essential. Sometimes our experiences are unduly influenced by others and we are denied what it is we want. It is in those experiences that we develop a further insight of contrast helping us to know why we don’t want some experiences and just how sacred liberty is. Sometimes, the only way to know what something is, is to know what it isn’t. Contrast is the mother of clarity. Out of Experience arises Knowledge, which is the third truth of reality. But there is infinite experience and therefore infinite knowledge. What is the most important knowledge? Blazoned above the portals of Apollo’s Temple at Delphi were the words, “Know Thyself”. All religious traditions possess the understanding that we were originally created androgynously, that is, Male and Female. At some point in the process of our evolution, the masculine and feminine polarities were separated, destined to sometime reunite. This is the source of the feeling of incompleteness we all experience and relentlessly urges man and woman to seek to recomplete the one and only unique, ultimately intimate, primordial circuit we once knew with our other halves. It is commonly known as the doctrine of “soul mates” or more accurately “Twin Souls”. It is this constant yearning for reunification with our other half that has spawned music, poetry and the sensation of beauty itself; for in them resonate our unique “spiritual DNA” that we recognize. It is the source of the feeling we describe as love. The reason Knowledge of yourself is supremely important is because only when you know who you are can you recognize your other half when you encounter them. Out of the third truth of reality, Knowledge, arises the fourth truth, Power. It is commonly said that, “Knowledge is Power”. Power is different than energy. Power is the franchise to be an agent of change. In the “non-physical” dimension it is associated with honor. In the “physical” dimension it is associated with dominion over physical, material properties or other beings. Out of the fourth truth of reality, Power, arises the fifth truth, Creation. Creation is the greatest joy that can be Experienced. Whether it is a “non-physical” creation such as a relationship or an idea or “physical” creation such as the Taj Mahal or crocheted potholders, there is great joy in creation. On the north and east walls of the north building are concrete rosettes. In them are mosaics that remind us of the foundations of Peace. They are the core Bohemian principals of Freedom, Truth, Beauty and Love. When these principals are operative the result is always Peace, which is the mosaic on the west wall. Since The Delano Center enthusiastically celebrates the doctrine of “Twin Souls” we have incorporated numerous aspects of the “Twin Souls” doctrine into our facility. Chief among “Twin Soul” symbols is the “Yin-Yang” symbol in the courtyard made of 11,000 pieces of hand cut pink and green marble. The pink represents the feminine polarity and the green represents the masculine polarity. The colors suggest which side of the courtyard the bridal party’s family and friends might like to sit on. This symbol of “Twin Souls” rests in the center of the courtyard right in the aisle that the bride and groom will walk over as they make their way to the stage to recite their vows of marriage to one another. Each piece of marble represents a lifetime in our infinite existence and each piece of marble is different because each lifetime is different. “Twin Souls” develop in parallel ways to each other and so the pieces are arranged in parallel. Geometrically, the Yin Yang symbol like the Star of David (another “Twin Soul” symbol) is actually a three-dimensional symbol but is typically represented in two dimensions. Mathematically, “Twin Souls” are represented by the number 11; a master number. To this end we have 11 pillars in the north building. Our chandeliers are hung at 11 feet above the floor. The “Yin-Yang” symbol is 11 feet in diameter. The stage has an 11-foot radius and the alcove behind the stage is 11 feet in diameter. The dome is 11 feet above the stage. The mosaic above the conference room windows is 11 feet in diameter. The hall in the south building is 11 feet high and we even have 11 stalls in the ladies restroom. Wherever we could we used the number 11 as a constant mathematical reminder of our true nature as “Twin Souls”. In the courtyard every plant has its “Soul Mate”. There are two of each variety; from the white roses on each side of the stage to the many palm varieties to the Italian Cypresses. Our courtyard is all about “Soul Mates” and “Twin Souls”. In the Lobby of the north building we have a marble floor. Again, the masculine, which is geometrically rectilinear and in color bold and bright is depicted in the dark green and dark red marble rectangular border which surrounds and protects the feminine curved circular geometry represented by the pastel marble medallion with the hearts. Also in the lobby is a painting of “Twin Souls” seen through a diamond. Since The Delano Center is dedicated to inspiring the understanding of reality we are open to any new insights our visitors might possess. So come and enjoy with us the structures, symbols and the landscaping carefully created for you, while cherishing your family and friends celebrating the milestones that mark our path in this beautiful experience on Earth we call Life.