Socialist Realism: Examining the corpus of Body Vibes wellness claims

Have you heard of Body Vibes? Metaphysical and religious speculation aside of course. The words are somewhat counter to the prevalent drum beat of Trump Russia I know but I found Body Vibes website and their wellness products after a blurb on Gwen Paltrow over at CNN. Then the “REAL scandal” broke around 8:30 p.m.…

Historiography and the limits of naturalism: Thoughts on privacy, propaganda and free speech

I do feel secure in presuming that I'm not the only American who didn't vote in 2016. I also feel no guilt watching President Trump on TV, reading his Tweets, listening to his "alternative facts," or learning more about how his decisions and actions ruffle and offend my fellow human beings at home and abroad.…

Open letter on privacy: closer to fine

The Indigo Girls wrote and performed a song titled Closer to Fine in the 1980's. I loved it then and now. There is a line from the song that has always had significance for me. Given the news that Dame Helen Mirren will be playing the role of Sarah Winchester in the aptly titled film…

Romantic Medicine: Remembering Gratitude

In many shamanic societies, if you came to a shaman or medicine person complaining of being disheartened, dispirited, or depressed, they would ask one of four questions. When did you stop dancing? When did you stop singing? When did you stop being enchanted by stories? When did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence? Where we…

Absolute Values? Professionalism and manifestations of the individual

This is the first post of a four part series on professional development. The series will utilize the terms Massage Therapist, Masseur and Masseuse as a touchstone. Massage Therapy is a growing field of professional endeavor. As the last fifteen years have demonstrated, the creation of civic, secular infrastructure to consolidate and incorporate the profession,…

Boredom: What is it and how should we respond?

What is Boredom? Why would anyone other than someone who is bored be interested about the topic? Why write about it unless your creating solutions to a problem? Could boredom ever be healthy? Boredom is a feeling first and foremost. It lies at the root of many illnesses, so many in fact, that the modern…