A net research confirms that Markus Wider is selling ceremonies and has done so for years – sweat lodges, vision quests, and sundances which he used to call „prayer dance“; he has meanwhile changed the term to „sacred dance“. Wider also started a foundation „Free Spirituality“ (cf below).
At the same time, Wider is an entrepreneur running four companies:
http://www.moneyhouse.ch/p/wider_markus-3879545/verbindungen.htm Social-Input Wider in 5000 Aarau
Social-Input Wider in 5000 Aarau
This company was founded in 1998; its fields of activity are listed as 'education and project management in social areas'. The company does not have a website and I could not find any proof of activities. Wider is the owner. Before 1998, the company was active as 'Social-Input Rubin & Wider'.
The newest is
Aqua Structura GmbH [Ltd.] in Zurich/Switzerland with the latest change in ownership occuring Dec 21, 2009 when the seat was moved to Solothurn. At the same time, the former CEO Thomas Löhnert was replaced by Markus Wider.
The company sells dubious devices for water improvement which allegedly can be used in households, companies, swimming pools etc. The company previously operated as 'Aqua Structura Swiss GmbH', 'Aqua Structura Swiss LLC'.
This is the English part of their website:
http://www.aquastructura.ch/index.php?page=products http://www.aquastructura.ch/index.php?page=good-for-the-body Good For The Body
Aqua blue® is a tried and trusted system for improving water quality. It gives drinking water its original structure back and thereby gives your tap water the properties of fresh spring water.
Aqua blue® reduces the water´s surface tension and makes it softer and more pleasant tasting. This is good for the skin and is easier on the body.
Reducing surface tension? That's what detergents do. Hmmmm.
And bingo!:
http://www.aquastructura.ch/index.php?page=savings-on-chemicals Savings On Chemicals
Transportation of tap water in pipes over long distances and under high pressure adversely affects its structure. This is why tap water doesn´t taste as good as fresh spring water. The vitality and energy is no longer present.
Aqua blue®gives water its naturalness back.
This means vital, pleasant tasting water from the tap, less scale deposits in water pipes and in appliances and savings on detergents in private and commercial sectors.
Our customers found that they used up to 30% less detergent.
Emphasis minehttp://www.aquastructura.ch/index.php?page=how-does-aqua-blue-work How does Aqua blue work?
Good water has a high inherent order:
Water molecules are bipolar and attract each other. They build molecular chains (clusters) by hydrogen bonding. The better the quality of the water, the greater the molecular chains (up to 700 molecules). High quality water is structured in a definite order that is comparable to the form of an ice crystal. These statements are supported by the work of the Japanese water researcher Dr. Masaru Emoto. He found out that high quality spring water forms very beautiful ice crystals (hexagonal with symmetrical brances). Tap water on the other hand is frequently not able to form clearly defined crystals.
The order is easily destroyed:
The structure of water is very delicate. Pollution and additives such as chlorine or ozone threaten its balance. High pressure, transportation in pipes over long distances or filtration also destroy the inherent order of water. Thus tap water looses a lot of the properties of fresh spring water. It doesn´t taste as good, it doesn´t refresh us as much and the limescale precipitates much easier.
Aqua blue® reorganizes the water structure:
From physics, we know that all matter has its own characteristic frequency. Thus very good, fresh spring water has a different vibrational pattern as for example plain tap water. Aqua blue® emitts the same vibrational pattern of a very good, fresh spring water. Tap water goes into resonance with this vibration and reacts to it by recreating its original structure.
Aqua blue® improves the water quality:
Aqua blue® water tastes pleasant, fresher, softer and is more digestible to the body. Limescale precipitates less and forms no more hard incrustations. Appliances and pipes are preserved, limescale problems in kitchen and bath disappear.
Scientific studies prove the effectiveness of Aqua blue®:
Limescale crystals are much smaller without incrustations
Surface tension is reduced
Electrical conductivity is reduced
Clearly defined ice crystals are formed (after Dr. Emoto)
Increased tolerability
Improved plant growth
Perhaps, in reading the above quote, the thought crossed your mind this was all rubbish. You were right:
http://esowatch.com/ge/index.php?title=Aqua_blue „Aqua Blue is one of numerous products for water vitalisation. It is a tin box which will be fastened to the water line with velcro. It is supposed to improve the taste of water, minimize limescale, and help to minimize the use of detergents.
The device is promoted with the usual pseudo-scientific boilerplates like „frequency“, „pattern of vibration“ or „resonance“.[...]
Details regarding the device are given in a description which reveals that the rectangular Aqua blue box is filled with insulating material (mineral cotton) into which an aluminium pipe is placed. The pipe contains a sand-like mix of stones, and therefore the device „with its high silicium content is able to store and emit physical vibration over a long time and therefore take an effect on the water running past it“. […]
Manufacturer of these devices is Löhnert GmbH from the town of Gunzenhausen near Nuremberg. A modell said to be sufficient for a house with four appartments is sold at about € 900.[/quote]
Quite interestingly, one Herr Thomas Löhnert has been CEO of Aqua Structura in Switzerland before Markus Wider replaced him; Löhnert, however, has not left the Swiss company and is still a member of their board. And as you will find below, Wider arranged a 'prayer dance' at premises in the vicinity of Gunzenhausen in 2009. Sheer coincidence, I presume.... :sarcasm off:
Another company is
social input GmbH [Ltd.] in the town of Aarau. This company aims at „offering language and integrational offers, it may open branches, get involved in other companies or buy and sell such companies, real estate or value papers, obtain and give credits, give warranties and other deposits as well as buy, manage, and realise itangible property rights“.
The fourth is a company called „
verein social input“ situated in Aarau. Its aim is to devise and run programmes to actively promote social integration of persons of foreign native languages and marginal persons. In order to achieve these aims, the association may run various non-profit projects and companies. Wider is named as a CEO.
This 'Verein' runs a project which is basically a garage where young men repair Saab cars:
http://www.autonauten.ch/philosophie „The persons responsible for this project hold a close contact to authorities sending participants like Regional Labour Exchange Centres, Job Informations Centres, social services, schools as well as with the Office Economy and Work of the Canton, the office for job training, the office for migration, regional trade associations, and vocational schools.“
Apparently three of Wider's enterprises depend on funding by public authorities, i.e. tax money, and also depend on authorities sending participants for the programmes offered. Therefore, if and when authorities may find Wider not trustworthy, this may endanger the flow of money as well as the flow of participants. Presumably, Wider has trusted authorities not to visit the various websites on which he is promoted as a seller of Indian ceremonies, or as the CEO of a company selling expensive and dubious devices like Aqua Bull – pardon me: Aqua Blue.
In 2007, Wider started a foundation „
Free Spirituality and the Secret of being human“:
http://www.freespirituality.ch/stiftung The site publishes article 2 of their charter:
„Art 2 Aims
The foundation is meant to promote free spirituality independent of all religions and contribute to human development.
This can be achieved by the following activities and offers:
The foundation promotes free spirituality, i.e. the forms which do not prerequisite or imply any concept of belief.
The foundation's concept of prayer is intrinsic and action-oriented confession. The central aim of the foundation is to promote the ability of individuals to admit.
The foundation promotes the examination with the ideas of man which may take ideal as well as experimental character.
The foundation may perform activities and transactions of any type at home as well as abroad which are connected to the foundation's aims and which promote the realization of its aims.
In order to realize its aims, the foundation may accept inheritances, gather donations, engage in entrepreneurial and political activities.“
http://www.freespirituality.ch/projekte FS supports projects like „various sponsorships, Associaton of Friends of Tibet Switzerland, the drama EGO & SPIRIT, a comedy about the inner life of humans“, and also supports:
„Continuation of Prayer Dance at various locations
Fundraising for the cross-cultural documentary film „praying“
setting up and expansion and guidance of healing circles“
The ceremonies offered by the foundation:
http://www.freespirituality.ch/zeremonien These are listed as „Ceremony of heat: the Sweatlodge“, „Ceremony of Space: the Vision Quest“, and „Ceremony of Movement: Sacred Dance“.
The sweat is explained as an „igloo“, and the description closes with:
„The sewatlodge is an archaic ceremony which may not be attributed to a specific culture. It is a ceremony of various latitudes and peoples, on short: of peoples of nature.“
Their description of vision quest announces:
„... participants will be left alone for four days and nights, at a small place in nature (mountain), without distraction, withour food, and without being able to move. During the entire ceremony, guardians and aides will guarantee the safety of participants. Prayers will be recited during the entire cremony. Participants are supported in being with themselves, i.e. with their own histories, fears, hopes, and dreams, and at the same time with the wind, the sun and the void.“
Regarding the so-called 'sacred dance', the site states that this is the 'former Prayer Dance' and explains:
„... is a four day dance ceremony with sweat lodges and full fasting, during which participants can get pierced. The dance is inspired by the Sun Dance of the Sioux tribes [sic] and connects elements of this dance with modern forms of dance. A birch tree is placed in the middle which is a predecessor on the path of commitment and encourages participants to replicate. Within the dancing circle are all those male and female dancers who have committed themselves for four years, while all those who did not take up any commitment will dance outside of this circle.“
http://www.freespirituality.ch/daten Sweatlodge
Switzerland Solothurn
Contact: Jürg Schädelin
juerg.schaedelin@solnet.ch
19.11.2010 ab 19.00h
20.11.2010 ab 11.00h / ab 15.00h
21.11.2010 ab 09.00h
France
Nice
Contact: Michel / Veronique
somogindev@libello.com
Phone +33 68 086 20 29
26.09.2010 - 19.06.2011
Dates 2010
26.09. / 24.10. / 21.11.
Dates 2011
16.01. / 20.02. / 20.03. / 17.04. / 15.05. / 19.06.
France
Paris
Contact: Michel Ferry
mic.ferry@laposte.net
13.11.2010 14.00 / 19.00
14.11.2010 09.00
Reunion Vision Quest
France
La Motte Chaloncon
Contact: Markus
markus@freespirituality.ch
27.11.2010 - 28.11.2010
Meeting of the Dancers
France
La Motte Chaloncon
Contact: Markus
markus@freespirituality.ch
18.12.2010 - 19.12.2010
Vision Quest
France
La Motte Chalancon
Contact: Markus
markus@freespirituality.ch
09.06.2011 - 16.06.2011
Preparation: 26. / 27. March 2011
Vision Quest: 09. - 16th. June 2011
Evaluation: 26. /27. November 2011
Inscription to: markus@freespirituality.ch
Prayer Dance
France
La Motte Chalancon
Contact: Markus
markus@freespirituality.ch
06.08.2011 - 13.08.2011
Meeting / Information: 18. / 19. December 2010
Prayer Dance: 06. - 13th. August 2011
The FS site also has a PDF which reads:
„This event is an offer from Foundation Free Spirituality in the style of the Sundance of North American Indian tribes and influences of other archaic traditions. The dance will last four days and starts after a three day preparation with sweatlodges and a tree ceremony including explanations. Music is traditional Sundance songs of the Lakhota Indians besides shamanic songs with Martina Bovet from Switzerland and special dancing drums.
The dance is an intense cleansing ceremony which enables male and female participants to rediscover the joys of being a human. This ceremony is also to be seen as an initiation for psychological and physical healing processes and supports the spiritual development of each male and female participant.
It is made possible by persons from France, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland who commited themselves to dance for four years. It is lead by Swiss citizen Markus Wider.
The dance does not need previous special knowledge. No religious knowledge will be taught. The organisation is non-profit.Please bring your own tents. Besides infrastructure (toilets, showers) and the actual programme, the organisation offers one warm meal per day. The fee for accomodation, meal, and programme will be covered by your donations during the dance. Please book in advance until June 2010 as the number of participants is limited.
The event will take place Monday, July 19 to Monday, July 26, 2010 at the premises near the lake at the town of Gunzenhausen, Germany.“
So Wider's nation is the Do-nation, and he does not only lead these dances in France, but at least also in Germany. Despite his claims that ceremonies were not to be attributed to any particular ethnicity, he makes use of Lakota songs during his fake prayer dance, and also uses ndn concepts of the sweatlodge.
http://www.freespirituality.ch/wer-wir-sind Their 'who we are' section offers info on ceremony leaders and their curriculum vitae:
„Markus Wider leads ceremonies and shows how modern life without religious denomination and belief may be a ceremonial life. Born 1960, he grew up in Japan and Switzerland. From 1980-84: Theological Seminar, Aarau. 1986-89: School for Social Work Zurich, founding of social input GmbH (
www.socialinput.ch ), various journeys (USA, Australia, Malaysia), 1994-1999 initiation as a Suncancers, Lakothas [sic], setup and board of „Verein social input“ (
www.Autonauten.ch ,
www.beautyfariries.ch ), various journeys and spiritual initiations (Malaysia and Nepal), since 2002 realization of and performing free spiritual ceremonies in Switzerland, France, Germany, Ireland and England, 2005 realization of first Prayer Dance (today sacred dance) in the Pyrennee Mountains. Married, 2 children, 2008 founding of foundation free sprituality.“
Wider's colleagues are:
Lucie Betz, „artist, born 1973 in France, living in Freiburg/Breisgau [Germany] since 2006“, Patrice Poirier [no c.v.],
Harald Euler: „born 1961 in Offenbach/Main, Germany“. Euler is a telephone technician who engages in several nuage therapies like massages of reflex zones, energy massage, Shiatsu, Tibetan medicine, dream work, and claims a training for a nature pedagogue. Euler has done vision quests, prayer dances, led sweatlodges, medicine walks, vision quests, and meetings with nature.
Uwe Backhaus „lives in Paris since 15 years and in Brussels since 2 years.“ Backhaus has worked as a wood worker, carpenter, teacher for music and sports and as a lights director. „In 2001, he joined the Red Indian Way [sic] and began a training as a fireman. In 2003, he did a Vision Quest, in 2005, he danced at the prayer dance inspired by Indian Sundance as one of the first Europeans. Uwe leads sweatlodges in France, Germany and Ireland“.
Ulrike Zeller, „born 1968, lives in Freiburg.“ She is a Shiatsu practician. „Vision Quest 2006, prayer dance 2007-2010“.
Although the foundation's sites do not mention any fees, the ceremonies are sold, as price tags can be found on sites promoting these ceremonies:
http://www.chamanisme.fr/sweats-lodges-huttes-de-sudation,580.html?id_document=720 sweats lodges (huttes de sudation, inipi)
à Tipi Bivouac, 130 km de Paris, les 25 et 26 septembre 2010
Nous sommes heureux de vous annoncer la venue de Markus Wider pour un week-end de 3 sweat lodges à Tipibivouac près de Montargis (130kms au sud de Paris, pour plus de détails sur le lieu http://tipibivouac.nuxit.net/).
[…]
Hébergement / Couchage
En grand tipi avec feu de bois central ou yourte
Matelas et draps housse sur place, sac de couchage chaud à prévoir
Confort "nature" : toilettes sèches et cabane de bain avec bassine (pas de douche)
Repas
Seuls les diner de samedi et le petit déjeuner de dimanche seront assurés (bio végétarien)
Coût
Week end complet (3 sweats lodges, couchage et repas) 120€
ou à la carte : 1 seule sweat lodge 30€, couchage et repas 30€
The 'weekend' BTW is Saturday, Sep 25 and Sunday, Sep 26; it starts Saturday 12 p.m. And is finished at Sunday, 12 p.m., that is a mere 24 hours instead of a weekend The first sweat is Sat at 3 p.m., the second at 9 p.m., the third Sunday 10 a.m., and apparently participants are encouraged to take part in all three sweats within 24 hours. The individual sweatlodge is sold at € 30.
All in all, Wider appears a Newager active in several esoteric fields, covering a broad range of the newage market as a ceremony seller and seller of pseudo-scientific devices.
On the other hand, he is a CEO of several companies working with either underpriviledged persons or persons with a migrational background, or both, in particular young persons.