mermaidcamp
Keeping current in wellness, in and out of the water
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Vicitm Archetype, Queen for a Day
February 26, 2013
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Jack Bailey, host of Queen for a Day, gave big prizes to the most pathetic contestant as judged by audience response. The woman deemed most victimized got a full length mink coat, long stemmed red roses, and almost always a washing machine. The prizes were given in consideration of promotional value of the show. This was the prototype for almost every game prize show that was ever produced. In the 1950’s what it took to win was the most tragic story.
The victim exists in all of us, as it is a survival archetype. We have all been on both sides of bully/victim, typically starting with siblings at a young age. The lesson the victim teaches is that pity can be a temporary reward, but a hollow one. Like the lady who takes her full length mink coat back to her shack in Appalachia, the victim never really wins. If suffering gains too much collateral reward, suffering will be used to control others. We need boundaries to be happy and well balanced. By being victims we learn how to protect ourselves. If this lesson is not learned the individual always feels that they suffer through no fault of their own and have no power to change that.
Regular Guy Archetype
February 25, 2013
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Everyman, also known as the regular guy, is one of the archetypes in Carl Jung’s core breakdown. The primary goal of this player in the personality is to be accepted. Blending in, not standing out, is the way the regular guy relates to society. Ad companies use this profiling to create messages that they hope will reach the market of choice. To be desirable to a regular guy a product needs to show that everyone uses it. The most common experience is the target.
This player has much in common with the orphan child archetype, having similar needs and fears. This personality will forfeit much in order to feel like a part of something. After finding the fold in which to fit, they often find it unrewarding and not what they had hoped it would be. The irony of seeking approval from others by being like them is that your own desires may never be made clear. If standing out in a crowd is your worst fear, your own dreams (and personality) may forever remain a mystery to you.
I do not respond well to messages aimed at Everyman. They have a negative effect by showing me that everyone is doing something. I recoil from that. A Eurofriend said this week she does not understand Oprah, the American phenomena. I tweeted her that Oprah is everywoman, as a joke. But, in truth, Oprah does market herself as everywoman (who can afford to buy $900 blouses). That is pretty ironic in itself, that her favorite things are out of range in price for most of her audience. She makes many feel like they are a part of her network, even if she is really the queen.
Do More with Less, Just Add Water
February 24, 2013
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The eighth core value at Zappos is Do More with Less. This is an essential philosophy to make it in the world now. Using what we already have is a first step to achieve better results. Recent economic bubble popping has shown us how wasteful and risky spending can have dire consequences. As household and government debt grew so did people’s expectations that the prosperity could never end. Now that the economy is reorganized. People look for value and efficiency like never before. Many have embraced thrift over extravagance as a necessity.
Floatli does more with less by versatility. It uses the common floatation noodle, which is easy to replace. Since it works in all kinds of water, including a jacuzzi, it provides a new activity or sport to pools and natural bodies of water. From light to heavy work can be done, by everyone from elite athletes to those recovering from injury. That is another reason Floatli is the perfect official sport for Zappos. It works anywhere there is water, and will be really fun in Lake Mead in summer.
Red Book
February 19, 2013
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“My friends, it is wise to nourish the soul, otherwise you will breed dragons and devils in your heart.” ~Carl Jung, Red Book, Page-232.
Carl Jung changed the history and the practice of psychiatry. His work is used today by some who are not even aware of his influence or the story of his life. The Red Book was published posthumously after being locked in a bank vault in Switzerland for many years. Finally out of the shadows itself, the book serves as a deep reference as well as an artistic guide to the underworld. How would the Red Book of your soul look? When do you plan to create it?
Drawing Red Book
Healing vs Stagnation
February 19, 2013
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There is a tendency to avoid truth and maintain status quo in an effort to stay in control. This habitual use of the lowest common denominator to define reality is detrimental to wellbeing. Bernie Seigal notes in the above video that to forget is to get something for yourself. To forgive is to give something to another. The gift that everyone has to give is responsibility. We have selective memories and stories that we tell about ourselves and our circumstances. The story about the wound is the one that keeps the wound alive, whatever it may be.
Woundology is the currency exchange that places value on damage. The currency of pain only has value if you accept it and give it. Carolyn Myss coined the phrase and noticed a growth of the epidemic. Her work as a medical intuitive has been to explain and teach Why People Don’t Heal. I believe that there is a codependent heath and fitness industry that feeds the insecurity and pain as a way to make a living. I have seen this in action, although I do not think the participants had awareness of their folly. If your health and fitness story is not a clean, clear and happy one, the good news is that you can change it. Change your story by refusing to allow the past to define your present. Trade in the wounds for a brand new set of possibilities.
Passionate and Determined
February 18, 2013
Feet of Culture Clown
Zappos Insights
The number nine core value at Zappos is about passion and determination. This one may be the determining factor in my quest to make Floatli the official sport of Zappos. I am positive that many have, are currently, and will pursue a spot in Zappos future. In order to make my offer stand out in a giant crowd I accept the challenge of showing more passion, and ultimately more determination, than others who are vying to be the provider of the official sport of the company.
With any luck I will be the only one applying for this position. Zappos is full of healthy employees who enjoy working and playing. The presence of the company coach supports this balanced lifestyle. Employees can schedule coaching sessions for work or personal reasons. The popular program is much utilized, therefore a waiting list exists for appointments with her. I admire this kind of development program because a passionate determined employee is a content and personally fulfilled employee.
Zappos Education Dept
As the most insightful capitalist venture I have ever seen, Zappos screams sport. The minute you walk into the place the vibe is all about personal expression and fashion extravagance. The team spirit is overwhelming. My guide, Culture Clown, told us how she and her firefighter husband enjoy Lake Meade and participation in outdoor fitness events. She had completed a tough mudder with Marines that impressed me greatly. The reason Floatli is the perfect team sport for Zappos is that it is non competitive. What gravity does, Floatli remedies. The more you wear shoes and play tough games on land, the more you need to reverse that action. Floatli downshifts the joints and prehabilitates the body to do more sports without risk of injury. Summer is hot in Vegas, but they still have a big beautiful Lake Mead, as well as millions of pools.
I want the chance to to market Floatli with Zappos. More fun even than that would be to organize an exciting alternative fitness program that enhances staff levels of health and satisfaction within the company. The integrity of the company comes from taking care of the employees so they can deliver happiness to customers. I want to deliver some happiness to the discriminating employees to give them a new way to chill and stay fit. I am passionate and determined to get an audition.
Punctuality, Politness, Professionalism
February 15, 2013
The the P’s have served me well as a guide since I first saw them on a sign in a panyard in Port of Spain, Trinidad. I hung out at the Neal and Massey Trinidad All Stars yard in the early 1980’s. I took my video camera and shot the practice sessions. I adored the look as well as the sound of the steel drum. The panman was just leaving the shadows of Trini society in the 1980’s. The Despers, The All Stars, and some other very old steel bands were representing very hard neighborhoods in Port of Spain. The idea that you could build an instrument out of an oil barrel and make a professional orchestra of people who did not read music was not yet considered to be a fine art by everyone.
I had some of the best times of my life at that yard. I remember Dane Gulston for his artistry and also his super friendly attitude. He was very young, but was already indoctrinated with the discipline of the All Stars. Dedication and cooperation are the ingredients needed to win in Panorama and in life. Today Pantrinbago oversees educational programs and the nation is proud of their indigenous instrument. Brooklyn has a large contingent of the best musicians for at least part of the year. In the above solo Dane ably demonstrates the benefits of practicing the three P’s.
Do Not Mess with Cupid
February 13, 2013
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Apollo and Daphne
The myth of Daphne is an illustration of fate and revenge of the gods. She was part of cruel power play between two archers, Apollo and Eros. The proud Apollo bullied Eros who shot two arrows, one tipped in gold and the other in lead to find revenge. Eros, the son of Aphrodite enchanted his arrows to cause total lust and desire in the golden arrow victim, and total hatred in the recipient of the lead tipped arrow. Apollo was hit with the golden arrow, and the object of his desire, Daphne, was struck by the lead one. The struggle between lust and chastity is ended when Daphne turns into a laurel tree. She begged her father to transform her body forever in order to escape Apollo’s desire for her.
Eros is the god of sexual desire. He marries Psyche, a goddess/human representing the human soul. They have one daughter Hedone. Hedone is the quest for pleasure with only good consequences. The English word hedonism is derived from this word, but has a meaning far from the original. Eros is also known in Rome as Cupid. We know this god as a logo for Valentine’s Day, a time when we honor a Christian martyr by consuming mass quantities of cheap chocolate. Neither Valentine nor Cupid will be impressed nor honored with a mindless mandatory purchase of tacky gifts. That is neither pleasurable nor sexy. Eros, Apollo, Daphne, and Aphrodite are archetypes that exist in the human pantheon of possibility. Which one will you play on Valentine’s Day?
@Pontifex Punts
February 12, 2013
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To tweet as the holy father of the Catholics was a much dirtier job than Benedict could ever have imagined. His twitter stream is full of everything that life contains, much of it funny and irreverent. Since he longhand wrote his tweets (in Latin?) and was assisted in the typing of 140 characters, we can only assume he did not read all his tweeps remarks to him. He kept a certain distance from his own stream, since this was the first papal twitter stream and had to be approached with caution. Ironically he is the oldest pontiff elected in 300 years, so his decision to enter social media was a little off beat. The Vatican social media experts will now need to make some decisions.
Does the handle stay with the office or will Benedict be tweeting as @Pontifex in his retirement? Will he start to type his own and read those of his tweeps? Is he finished with twitter? Will the tweeps be more kind to him now that he has end of life issues in public? Will the new Pope have a fan page and G+ account for hanging out? Will the Vatican social media presence develop customer service that wows Catholics back to church? Will prayers be launched to protect the church and the Pope from trolls? These and many other questions will face the new Pope. #Paxvobiscum.
New Age Chakra Dude Teaches Swimming
February 7, 2013
The New Age Crystal Healing People are in Tucson right now for the Gem Show. There are magic wands and crystal bowls of every kind. Miners party with geologists who party with aura photographers. It is a gathering like no other. Between 80-90% of all colored gems in the United States at this moment are in Tucson, AZ this week. Book venders, scarf sellers, and rock hounds are swimming in opportunity to connect at the right level with some merchandise. To connect to the entire show would be like connecting with the entire chakra system in balance. It would blow your mind, and may be impossible. For a taste of all that is New Age travel on over to the Howard Johnson’s on the freeway and go to town. Everything from ethnic clothing to crystal massage wands to magic amulets awaits the diligent shopper.
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