Ritual Beauty
By Mary CoxRituals have been practised by different cultures in many countries for centuries but what does the word “ritual” actually mean and how does it fit into the world of the spa therapist?
Have you every stopped to think about the rituals you perform in your everyday life as a wife, mother, lover, therapist? I have come to the conclusion that a ritual is not a decisive moment, it is actually a routine we follow to help us to get from A-Z in the most economical and systematic way in our everyday personal and professional lives.
From a beauty and spa perspective a “ritual” is an organised sequence of events culminating in an expectation of an individual or group of people. Sounds simple, so why then does the word “ritual” instill a sense of uneasiness in some people? Probably because the word itself spans many centuries and cultures, and in some cases is not always referred to, or indeed documented, in a positive light.
The Ancients practised rituals with intent. In most cases the intention was to protect, heal, restore and reverse symptoms associated with negative energies. Way back then some cultures viewed rituals as a functional element based on enactment and intention. Simply put, a person acts and the intention happens.
Historical evidence proves the Egyptians were a highly ritualistic race and their everyday lives revolved around ceremonial rituals which they practised on a regular basis. Egyptian “hour priests” practised what was known as Diurnal rituals (rehearsal of life rituals). These complex rituals took place in the temples and evolved around the power of renewal. Another interesting factor in Egyptian history is that people were permitted to sleep in the temples for the purpose of dream interpretation and at certain times of the day temples were used for colour healing, using the rays of the sun.
Rituals, repetition and specific tools (hot stones, bamboo sticks, body wraps, Kasa bowls, colour healing, essences and water therapies) are also legendary. Beauty and spa therapists use repetition rituals on a regular basis to bring relaxation and relief to tired minds, aching bodies and broken spirits. Repetition is therefore legendary for the therapist and the word ritual, as in spa ritual, simply means the repetition of a sequence that gives structure to the wonderful work we do.
Other healing tools used in spa therapies are music, colour, crystal grids, vibrational essences and the five elements. The five elements of water, wood, fire, earth and metal are seen as aspects of the one basic energy or chi. These same elements are the building blocks of life and are a direct relationship between our environment, the seasons, colours and moods. Each element governs a meridian and a specific organ in the body.
The five element theory is a fascinating one. Research shows that disease manifests in the human energy field and then in the physical body.
The five elements are used as healing tools to identify typical disease patterns in the body and then to balance and support the body to repair and heal itself. If a person complains of being short tempered and irritable or of pain under the ribs this may be caused by an imbalance of the Wood element. Indigestion, abdominal distension, poor appetite or over-eating is associated with the Earth element. Sweating, pain in the chest, hot inflamed joints and heartburn are associated with the Fire element. Energy is the basis of all life, so the free flow of energy is essential for the maintenance of a healthy body.
Another fascinating tool is the astromedical pathway. Human beings are born with a particular basic set of references (individual template,) showing negative aspects when ill and everyone has their own unique astromedical pathway. The day and time you are born reflects your personality, your personality dictates your lifestyle and in many cases your lifestyle dictates your predisposition to disease.
Understanding a client’s astromedical pathway gives us the edge to help them to achieve and maintain good health; it also helps us to understand why they are susceptible to certain health conditions. For example, sensitive body parts associated with those born between 20 April and 20 May are the throat, neck and thyroid gland. Those born between 21 May and 21 June are the lungs, shoulders, arms, hands and nervous system; and those born between 22 November and 21 December are hips, thighs, arterial circulation and liver.
Therapists nowadays are not so different from the Ancients; we act with good intention, follow rituals, use ancient tools, protect, heal, restore and reverse symptoms associated with negative energies. The word ‘holistic’ is defined as “totality of a concept of system” so to my mind ritual and holistic are most definitely intertwined. The systems we create define our lives; the rituals we perform help us to expand the boundaries of our creativity.
Personal development in any field is all about learning. Magical conversations, rituals, holistic and vibrational therapies go hand-in-hand and are key factors to success and happiness in the ever-changing world we live in. And remember a ritual can be just as simple as meditating to relieve stress, lighting a candle and relaxing to your favourite music or taking a long luxurious bath.
This article appeared in BeautyNZ magazine, March 2010