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
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.
Kevin Crouse has spent 25 years in ministry as an ordained minister. His journey has taken him around the world as a missionary in Congo, Western Europe, and Australia. Kevin has also taught in a variety of contexts, including a Bible school and pastor’s school in East Africa, a theological college in Australia, and, for the past 15 years, as a visiting adjunct lecturer at a Christian university.
Chris Fry is a Psychoanalyst and Group Psychotherapist working in the NHS and private practice, as well as being a Visiting Fellow at New Bucks University. Chris was a central figure in the development of the practice of Pyrotheology (in fact, he was the one who came up with the name).
Trina Hobson is an artist and Art Psychotherapist whose practice is informed by Somatic Therapy, Single Session Therapy, Bilateral Drawing, DBT, ACT and Walking/Eco Therapy.
Leonie McDonagh is a comedian, dancer and good time merchant who is a founding member of ponydance theatre company - one of the most ognisable and acclaimed theatre companies in the country. Successfully marrying comedy, dance and theatre, they have won audiences, awards and critical acclaim locally and internationally.
Jonny McEwen began painting in 1986 and first exhibited in 1991. A Graduate of the Art College in Belfast, he has exhibited widely in Ireland, England, Wales and Germany. Since returning from his travels in Eastern and Central Europe in 1997, Jonny set up a studio in Belfast. McEwen’s work is part of the following public collections: UTV, Dept of Environment NI, Secretary of States Office, Office of Public Works, University of Cork as well as many private collections. He also created one of Ireland’s biggest public art pieces for the Skainos Building in East Belfast.
Ryan Nicodemus is one of the hosts of The Minimilists podcast, as well as being a mentor and writer. He has also co-authored three best sellers; Essential, Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life, and Everything That Remains. Ryan has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Boston Globe, Chicago Sun-Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Toronto Star, Globe & Mail, CBS This Morning, ABC, NBC, FOX, NPR, CBC Radio, and various other outlets.
Claire Owens is a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist. She is also a trauma informed practitioner trained in Brainspotting and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy.
Heather Reynolds is a Research Scientist consultant. She is also a Spiritual Director, Meditation Facilitator and trained hypnotherapist. She holds masters degrees in Biology with an emphasis in genetics and in Theology with an emphasis in peace and justice studies and much of her work explores the intersection of science and spirituality. She leads an experimental weekly dinner that combines meditation and ideological inquiry drawing on pyrotheological ideas.
JBR Project is local DJ/multi-instrumentalist Jon McKinley who has an unhealthy appetite for all things reggae, especially Dub. This can be heard in his selections, ranging from King Tubby to the Skatilites, Barry Biggs to Peter Tosh and Eek A Mouse to Dreadzone.
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).
Rob Zahn is a preacher and theologian who has spent two decades helping people and institutions navigate transformation. His upcoming book, LSD to Galilee: Incarnation in the Psychedelic Subculture, is a deep-dive into the weird and wild intersection of counterculture, consciousness, and faith—part memoir, part manifesto, and all disruptive theology.
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
13 | 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.
16:3 | WELCOME | GALLERY
Retreat favorite Leonie McDonagh will be kicking things off by welcoming everyone and introducing the various facilitators at the event.
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 | GROUP ANALYSIS | CHRIS FRY
Over three days, we will engage in a process of group analysis with Chris Fry, designed to help us glimpse our unknown face.
21:3 | PETER IN CONVERSATION WITH BARRY | GALLERY
22:3 | HANG OUT | BAR/PORCH
This is a chance to relax and socialise beside an open fire in the bar, or enjoy a cigar on the porch.
TUESDAY 14TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
Breakfast is served anytime from 7:30am and the spa opens at 8am.
10 | MORNING MEDITATION | PETER AND JONNY | GALLERY
Each morning there will be a short time of mediation with live ambient soundscapes provided by Jonny McEwen
10:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | TRINA | GALLERY
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 | THE DIVIDED GØD | PETER | GALLERY
At the heart of my work is the idea of an antaonigsm at the heart of reality, that spreads out into every aspect of existence and gives birth to our subjectivity. In this seminar I will explore this fundamental concept.
13:3 | LUNCH | Hotel
15 | Three ways to Enjoy Your Symptom: Repression | ALFIE | GALLERY
In this course, we introduce three psychoanalytic concepts: repression, cathexis and syllogism. Each of these helps us to understand why we are who we are, how we got to be who we are and what to do with this knowledge. Taking one concept per session, we discuss our collective symptoms and their logic, the pleasure and suffering we take from them. We look at what we hate and why we hate it (repression), what we love and why we love the things we do (cathexis) and the productive anxiety that results in the loving and hating at the same time (syllogism).
OR
15 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
Julie will be exploring the theory and technology of Negative Psychoanalysis. People will work through Negative Psychoanalysis, its critique of therapy’s positive orientation, alongside practical non–self-help practices.
16:3 | FOREST WALK/SPA
OR
17 | PASTOR’S CORNER | PETER AND BARRY
These sessions will be interactive workshops for people in ministry positions, who would like to discuss how to take the work of pyrotheology and integrate it into their congregations.
18 | DINNER AND SPA
20 | GROUP ANALYSIS | CHRIS | GALLERY
21:3 | PETER IN CONVERSATION WITH RYAN | GALLERY
Ryan has gained worldwide acclaim for helping people declutter their lives and find joy in a minimalist mindset. In this conversation, we’ll explore where minimalism and pyrotheology might meet and enrich each other.
23:3 | HANG OUT | BAR/PORCH
WEDENSDAY 15TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | MORNING MEDITATION | HEATHER AND JONNY | GALLERY
10:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | TRINA | GALLERY
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 | THE MONSTROUS SELF | PETER | GALLERY
In this session I will be exploring the nature of decentering practices as a means of encountering the other that we are.
13:3 | LUNCH and walk | 20 main street
Instead of the hotel, you’ll be grabbing lunch across the road at a little cottage, provided by my dear friends at Flower Power. The hope is that it’s a nice day and you can take the lunch down to the beach or forest.
15 | Three ways to Enjoy Your Symptom: Cathexis | EVERYDAY ANALYSIS | ALFIE | GALLERY
OR
15 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
16:3 | BEACH WALK/SPA
OR
17 | PASTOR’S CORNER | PETER AND BARRY
18 | DINNER AND SPA
20 | GROUP ANALYSIS | CHRIS | GALLERY
21:3 | MUSIC | GALLERY
23:3 | HANGOUT | BAR/PORCH
THURSDAY 16TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | MORNING MEDITATION | CLAIRE AND JONNY | GALLERY
10:3 | GUIDED THERAPUTIC ART REFLECTION | TRINA | GALLERY
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 | A NEW SOCIAL BOND | PETER | GALLERY
For this talk I want to have a conversation about how we might develop a social bond that is not forged in shared beliefs, practices, idenities, obstacles and enemies, but rather on a shared encounter with the lack that we are.
13:3 | LUNCH | Hotel
15 | Three ways to Enjoy Your Symptom: Syllogism | EVERYDAY ANALYSIS | HELEN | GALLERY
OR
15 | NEGATIVE ANALYSIS | JULIE | C.S. LEWIS SUITE
16:3 | SPA
OR
15 | PASTOR’S CORNER | ROB AND KEV
18 | WOOD-FIRED PIZZA | LOAF
For the last night we will be having pizzas at the little cafe across the road from the hotel. This has become a little tradition at Spark.
20 | THE JBR PROJECT | GALLERY
After the pizza there will be a dance party in the hotel.
FRIDAY 17TH OCTOBER
7:3 | BREAKFAST AND MORNING SPA
10 | EAT YOUR EXISTENCE | BARRY | GALLERY
Lacan’s provocative comment, “mange ton dasein’—eat your existence, offers a way of shaping a communal approach to radical theology: incantations and liturgical practices which challenge traditional notions of God, the nature of belief, and the rites and rituals of communal projects.
11:3 | GO IN PIECES | JONNY | GALLERY
13 > | COFFEE AND HANG OUT | LOAF