Aqua est Animus, Animus est Bonus
(Water is life, life is good)
What if we considered retreat in natural surroundings, immersion in beauty and art, intensive personal attention, valuing dreams, visions and encounters with spirit, as our birthright? From this soulful connection with self we might then experience a more sacred connection with nature that could inspire us to support its preservation and healing also. What if water were the medium?
Many people are dissatisfied with fundamental issues such as quality of life, the search for health and meaning, care of the planet and its residents, and the absence of the sacred in nearly everything we do. Could we envision a future that encompasses all these and is available to everyone?
Here is my dream for change:
This vision of spa-retreat as a cultural concept has the potential to bring about real change in personal and planetary health. It arises from a belief that it is possible, necessary, and effective to integrate self-care, self-development, and self-expression with environmental concerns such as water quality and conservation.
The concept incorporates the idea of taking sabbaticals of at least three-months from everyday concerns in order to focus on one's own well-being and that of the planet. An inspiring model for this is the ancient Asclepian sanctuaries to which people went to seek healing from troubles of body, mind, and spirit.
Those returning from these retreats or sabbaticals would bring back with them insights and actions of value not only to themselves but to the whole (much as Native American vision quests are intended to do). These places of seeking-and-support would be open to all, and free of any doctrine.
Many people are attracted to the images of health and reinvigoration associated with spa-retreat. However, the underlying essential value and role of our physical and social environments is often overlooked. Spa - sanus per agua (health through water) - need not be a luxury commodity.
Water as an indicator of health and also a tool for health, is central to the spa-retreat offering. Water, as a metaphor, provides many insights into human behavior and human potential, as the Taoists knew well. Water and humans are inextricably linked, and need both depth and clarity to thrive.
The concept incorporates the idea of taking sabbaticals of at least three-months from everyday concerns in order to focus on one's own well-being and that of the planet. An inspiring model for this is the ancient Asclepian sanctuaries to which people went to seek healing from troubles of body, mind, and spirit.
Those returning from these retreats or sabbaticals would bring back with them insights and actions of value not only to themselves but to the whole (much as Native American vision quests are intended to do). These places of seeking-and-support would be open to all, and free of any doctrine.
Many people are attracted to the images of health and reinvigoration associated with spa-retreat. However, the underlying essential value and role of our physical and social environments is often overlooked. Spa - sanus per agua (health through water) - need not be a luxury commodity.
Water as an indicator of health and also a tool for health, is central to the spa-retreat offering. Water, as a metaphor, provides many insights into human behavior and human potential, as the Taoists knew well. Water and humans are inextricably linked, and need both depth and clarity to thrive.
Welcome to Vision Spa Retreat: Join me on a quest for the wisdom of water
To read more about the vision above, please visit this blog post (New Year 2008/9)
How will we restore the wisdom of the wild waters to our world?
'Money is like water. It can be a conduit for commitment, a currency of love.' Lynne Twist. If you are able to contribute in this way, I sincerely welcome your support for this vision :
