Vision Spa Retreat

Dreaming of a better future in the Year of the Black Water Snake

 

Musing on dreams, water, spa; and a summer workshop

'Spa Culture & Dream Time' with Dr J.P. De Vierville

Oracles and divinations that offer insight into the complexities of human psyche and the choices and challenges that life presents fascinate many of us.  We're also intrigued by dreams, and how these night-time visions can dive beneath our everyday personality and presentation to reveal what might really be going on both in our own lives and in the world around us. 

As February comes in, according to Chinese astrology we shift from the year of the Water Dragon to that of the Water Snake.  Dragon and Snake are both fiery creatures but the former has masculine qualities and the latter feminine.  Last year and this one are both about 'fire under water', two elements in conflict.  But what say we see the shift between these years as a chance to get out of hot water and into hot springs, set aside drama to do some dreaming!

Begone Spa!

  

The Global Spa Summit (GSS) began its annual spa industry conferences in 2007 and this year (2012) added a trendy word to its name - Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS).  Now, there may be a move afoot to kick out the Spa word with its possibly embarrassing connotations for an industry seeking to advance its status in the health arena.  On October 6, 2012, the blog GSWS Weekender #30 revived a controversy initiated at the 2012 Summit when it asked its readers (for 'fun'): Do you think our industry should get rid of the word “spa”?

A critical commentary from keynote speaker Peter Rummell - former head of Disney Imagineering - at the 2012 GSWS has succeeded in provoking polarized reactions.  Such a ruse works best if the audience is a ready target.   It happens most often because something unsettling, sometimes denied, has been brought from shadow into light or from the collective unconscious into awareness.  When that occurs those involved have an opportunity to take an honest second look, draw a deep breath and pull back the curtains still further.   Is that what GSWS intends, or something else?

The spa industry struggles to define itself.  This may be a consequence of having attempted to be all things to all people in pursuing business opportunities, while disregarding or denying the thread that once ran through its creative development from hot spring to resort spa.  The 'spa' word has been applied with increasing liberty for some time (doggy day spa, auto spa, and it goes on).  In the modern climate of linguistic and conceptual free-for-all, this is not unusual.  It's becoming common practice to adapt the meanings and uses of words to serve new (marketing) purposes. 

The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing: A Book Review

 

The Psychology of Spas & Wellbeing: A Guide to the Science of Holistic Healing by Jeremy McCarthy (July 10, 2012), reviewed by Sara Firman of Vision Spa Retreat is available at this link.

It's a good time for this refreshing book - an experienced and enlightened director's take on spa that is likely to both expand and deepen how the small yet potent word 'spa' is understood.  I hope it will be read by both insiders and outsiders - supporters and detractors alike - since it offers a thoughtful and thought-provoking perspective on a world sometimes deemed superficial. 

Jeremy McCarthy is Director of Global Spa Development and Operations at Starwood Hotels and Resorts and has over 20 years in the industry at management level.  This book evolved from his capstone project while studying applied positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania (2009).  Like the author, the book conveys its message in an accessible and inclusive way.

The text is also highly quotable, and would make an excellent training or review manual. Jeremy McCarthy's carefully distilled and articulated phrases could be used effectively to inspire your own questioning; and, if you work in the caring professions, to set a tone for your expertise that keeps a dynamic balance between intelligent inquiry and practical application.

Deep Sleep & Big Dreams at the Spa: An interview with Dr J. P. De Vierville

 

This summer (July 1-6, 2012), my friend Dr Jonathan Paul De Vierville is offering a 5 night/6 day long seminar on SpaWaters, Dreams & Cultures at Toskana Therme in Bad Orb near Frankfurt, Germany.  It is my pleasure to introduce him to you in a recording of our recent discussion via Skype.   

I hope this audio will give you a taste of what the workshop involves, although by far the best way to immerse yourself in this sleeping, floating, dreaming, spa experience is to try it yourself.  There are still some openings for participants and I encourage you to consider it.  More on registering here.

I asked Jonathan to talk about the practice he calls Eco/Social/Psi/Cultural Dreaming, and to describe how the spa and cultural settings provided by Toskana Spa & Therme in Bad Orb, near Frankfurt, Germany, play their part in creating the right ambiance for this dreamwork.

Since Jonathan will soon be attending the Global Spa and Wellness Summit (3-6 June) where this year's topic is 'Innovation through Imagination', I also asked how he sees Eco/Social/Psi/Cultural Dreaming contributing to the role of spa in shaping our world.

Finally, we spoke briefly about 'The Waters' role in restoring body, heart, mind and soul.  In particular, how we might tap into this  power of water to affect our psyches through the active imagination in symbols from dreams.  

So, I invite you to sit back with a long glass of cooling water or to relax in a warm bath with your ipod nearby and listen to more on dreams and healing waters. Click the play arrow on the left of the bar below for approximately 25 minutes of dreaming listening time.

 

Spawaters, dreams and cultures 2012

This is the sixth time this seminar is being offered with ToskanaWorld and the first time at Bad Orb, Germany. For more information about the upcoming workshop, please visit spacultures.com.