The problem with mind-body-spirit shows

By Carl Munson

Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, mind-body-spirit shows are a great way for novices to get an introduction to the scene, or for old-timers to keep in touch with the latest therapies, ideas and speakers.

Personally, I find them a little challenging; too much going on for a gentle soul such as myself even though some of my best friends are MBS show and festival-goers who swear by them, rather than about them, like me. They love the sense of oneness that can arise at these gatherings and the comradely buzz of so much going on under one like-minded umbrella. Yes, sounds like the World Cup to me too.

What I don’t really get is how, for example, my own professional discipline namely massage, fits in with tarot. It’s not that I have anything against tarot readers; it’s just that I’ve as much in common with them as I have with a decent bricklayer. I suspect the alliance comes from the old days when both massage and tarot had the classification ‘alternative’ as a unifying theme. Who knows, maybe we will see the odd holistic bricklayer popping up at MBS shows in years to come.

Anyway, for those amongst you who do like a good browse and mingle ‘amid the noise and haste’, whether it’s bodywork or psychic readings, you’ll be glad to know that next Friday sees the eleventh annual return of what’s billed as the West of England’s ‘largest natural health exhibition’ – QUEST 2006, the creation of Richard Rogers, a Buckfastleigh-based holistic entrepreneur.

To my mind, and despite my reservations, Richard sells it way too short. Just take a look at this year’s programme and you’ll see that as well as natural health, QUEST is packing a complementary punch that includes world music from live bands, the teachings of internationally-renowned spiritual teachers and the chance to camp at the 3-day event in, of all places, Newton Abbot Racecourse where the show takes place.

“Visitors come from both Devon and Cornwall as well as abroad to experience the enormous range of natural health products and hands-on therapies,” says Richard, who adds: “In a fast moving age many people are seeking ways to look after their health and well-being. It is no longer sufficient to visit the doctor when feeling unwell – it is much better to remain well and fit by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.”

Advice on how to do just that will be available from many of the 150-ish exhibitors, who will be promoting ‘an incredibly large array’ of health and lifestyle products. Watch out for visitors, who on entry looking a little creaky, may well be skipping out of the venue as they leave – invigorated, energised and uplifted by the health goodies at QUEST.

Get yourself down to the racecourse and according to Richard, you can “experience many ‘hands on’ treatments or try out short therapy sessions. Many of the therapies are free or low cost, so why not try out a few such as aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage, Shiastu, Reiki or Trager to get your body back into balance?”

QUEST 2006 will, as ever, also feature a good spread of international speakers with subjects ranging from Emotional Freedom Technique, self-hypnosis, massage and relaxation techniques, past life regression, Angel Healing and – kick off your sandals – ‘SandPlay’ therapy.

There are also free Tai Chi, Qi Gong, sound therapy, Buddhist meditation, Yoga classes as well as workshops in music, movement and voice.

Among the speakers attracting my attention this year is Timothy Freke, who calls himself a ‘stand-up philosopher’. Tim's book, ‘The Laughing Jesus: Religious Lies and Gnostic Wisdom’, co-authored with Peter Gandy, is a damning critique of religious literalism and a passionate affirmation of mystical spirituality and follows on from ‘The Jesus Mysteries’, an examination of the evidence for a historical Jesus and the parallels of Paganism with early Christianity.

“The Festival element of QUEST brings together music from many cultures in the stage tent at lunchtime and during the evening performances,” says Richard who has attracted NeuNeuNeu, billed as ‘shaman musicians’ on their first UK tour from the Brazilian rainforest.

“The event starts in earnest on the evening of Thursday 6th July with musicians on stage to get you in the mood for the exhibition which opens at 10am on Friday,” promises Richard.

The QUEST 2006 programme can be downloaded from www.questuk.co.uk

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