On the rural landscape of Bad Sulza a spaceship has landed in the form of Toskana Therme, and it is not out of place. The ultramodern architecture of the spa could just as well be compared to the microscopic details of a form sculpted by nature. It all depends on how you choose to see things.Goethe believed that a human being, making full use of all the senses, is the most exact physical measuring apparatus possible. I'm sure he would thoroughly approve of the way in which the sanatorium he once suggested be built at Bad Sulza has evolved into a multisensory experiment in both the social and medical arenas.
I also expect that the skilled people who created and now manage this innovative spa would agree that all this amazing technology is nothing without the human instrument of reception -- our bodies. The place exemplifies Goethe's view that humans need an approach to rediscovering nature that is stimulating intellectually and satisfying emotionally and spiritually.
My visit to Toskana Therme in 2001 marked a significant turning point in my view of the potential of spa. It led to an ongoing friendship with one of the owners, Marion Schneider, whose courage to be herself and make a difference inspires me greatly. The text above is an excerpt from an article I wrote in August 2003, titled 'Between two Waves of the Sea' after a line from a poem by T. S. Eliot (included in the piece).
You can read an updated version by following the link below. The article makes a bold leap in connecting the Missouri Ozarks with Goethe's German home state Thuringia in a bid for social-economic-health revival. I was inspired to envisage the concept of 'vision spas' as venues for exploring alternative and positive futures, as well as for relaxing and revitalizing.
I throughly recommend a visit to Toskana Therme spa in Bad Sulza, Germany. It has a fascinating history: one that American spa entrepreneurs might pay some attention to. If you have been there yourself, please leave a comment.
Click here to read more of Between Two Waves of the Sea.
