Tree Top Spa
The outdoor spa is open between 8am and 9:30pm and includes an open-air hydrotherapy pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, and relaxation area.
EVERYDAY ANALYSIS AND NEGATIVE ANALYSIS
This year at Spark, Alfie Bown from Everyday Analysis and Julie Reshe from Negative Analysis are running a three day course in the mornings. More details to follow.
SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDE (MORE TO BE ADDED)
Alfie Bown is Senior Lecturer in Digital Media Culture and Technology in the Department of Digital Humanities. His research focuses on psychoanalysis, digital media and popular culture. His books include Dream Lovers (Pluto, 2022), an investigation into dating apps, sexbots and virtual relationships, Post-Comedy (Polity, 2024), Post-Memes (Punctum, 2019) and The Playstation Dreamworld (Polity, 2017), a psychoanalytic study of video games which is available in Spanish, Portuguese, Serbian, Slovak and many other languages. Currently, he is working on the relationship between psychoanalysis and cybernetics. He is also editor of Everyday Analysis, a pamphlet house and monthly talk series and is a writer/producer for The Magician's Niece.
Julie Reshe is a Ukrainian philosopher who has developed a theory and technology under the name of negative psychoanalysis. She is a professor at the School of Advanced Studies (SAS) at the University of Tyumen in Siberia, and director of the Institute of Psychoanalysis at the Global Center for Advanced Studies (GCAS).
Helen Rollins is a writer, filmmaker and public intellectual who has worked on various award-winning projects. She lectures and writes across topics related to film and psychoanalysis. She has been a co-host on two philosophy podcasts and has a book on film theory (Psychocinema) with Polity.
Barry Taylor is writer, speaker and public intellectual as well as the chair of theology for GCAS .His work focuses on the intersections between religion, theology and culture, with a particular emphasis on the impact and interplay of contemporary digital life on religion and belief (particularly Western Christianity).
Program
First of all, before we get to the content, I should say something about where you're staying: You will be in a luxury hotel nestled in one of Ireland's most beautiful towns. There is an outdoor spa that overlooks the forest which inspired Lewis' vision of Narnia. The spa includes a large hydro-pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room. The food is exceptional and there is a stunning beach just a short walk away.
MONDAY 13TH OCTOBER
15 | CHECK IN AND RECEPTION | FRONT DESK
Guaranteed check in is from 3pm, however your room might be ready before then. Get unpacked and join us in the Gallery to meet and mingle with the other Sparkers.
17 | WELCOME | GALLERY
Once everyone has arrived and unpacked, we’ll do a short introduction session to welcome you and help orient you for the retreat.
18 | DINNER
One of the highlights of the retreat is the award-winning, three course dinners on offer. So sit back and enjoy. You’ll also have time to relax in the spa.
20 | TRANSFORMANCE ART
This year we will be offering a little taste of what the practice of Pyrotheology looks like. These are reflective liturgical experiences that mix music, spoken word and ritual.
21:3 | MUSICIAN
TBC
22:3 | DEATH OF GOD SUPPER CLUB
For those of you who like to stay up late, there will be a little space of communion, where we share our lives with each other around the shared recognition of lack and longing.
TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
Breakfast is served anytime from 7:30am and the spa opens at 8:30am.
10 | YOUR UNKNOWN FACE | PETER | GALLERY
In this talk I will be exploring how we might begin to cultivate an awareness of our desires and the ways they impact our lives.
11:3 | COFFEE BREAK | LOAF
There is a beautiful little coffee shop across the road from the hotel, which will be providing tea and all your espresso coffee needs.
12 | WHAT IS A SYMPTOM | PETER | GALLERY
In this talk I’ll be defining what a symptom is and why we have them.
13 | LUNCH AND SPA | Hotel
14:3 | GROUP ANALYSIS | GALLERY
Over three days, we will engage in a process of group analysis, designed to help us glimpse our unknown face.
16 | BREAK
16:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | GALLERY
17 | PETER IN CONVERSATION WITH HELEN | GALLERY
18 | DINNER AND SPA
20 | TRANSFORMANCE ART | GALLERY
21 | BREAK
21:3 | MUSICAL PERFORMANCE | GALLERY
WEDENSDAY 15TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | EVERYDAY ANALYSIS | ALFIE | LOAF
OR
10 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
11:3 | COFFEE BREAK | LOAF
12 | IDENTIFY YOUR SYMPTOMS | PETER | GALLERY
13 | LUNCH AND SPA | LOAF
14:3 | GROUP ANALYSIS | GALLERY
16 | BREAK
16:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | GALLERY
17 | PETER IN CONVERSATION WITH BARRY | GALLERY
18 | DINNER AND SPA
20 | TRANSFORMANCE ART | GALLERY
21 | BREAK
21:3 | IRISH MUSIC NIGHT | GALLERY
THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | EVERYDAY ANALYSIS | ALFIE | LOAF
OR
10 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
11:3 | COFFEE BREAK | LOAF
12 | ENJOY YOUR SYMPTOMS | PETER | GALLERY
13 | LUNCH AND SPA | HOTEL
14:3 | GROUP ANALYSIS | GALLERY
16 | BREAK
16:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | GALLERY
17 | PETER IN CONVERSATION WITH JULIE | GALLERY
18 | PIZZA PARTY AND SPA | LOAF
20 | TRANSFORMANCE ART | GALLERY
21 | BREAK
21:3 | OPEN MIC NIGHT | GALLERY
FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | EVERYDAY ANALYSIS | ALFIE | LOAF
OR
10 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
11:3 | CHECK OUT
12 | CLOSING REFLECTIONS | GALLERY
13 | LUNCH AND HANGOUT | LOAF