The Pima Legend of BlueBird and Coyote
A long time ago the Bluebird's feathers were a very dull ugly color. It lived near a lake with waters of the most delicate blue, which never changed because no stream flowed in or out. Because the bird admired the blue water, it bathed in the lake four times every morning for four days, and ever morning it sang:
There's a blue water.
It lies there.
I went in.
I am all blue.
On the fourth morning, it shed all its feathers and came out in its bare skin, but on the fifth morning it came out with blue feathers.
All the while, Coyote had been watching the bird. He wanted to jump in and catch it for his dinner, but he was afraid of the blue water. But on the fifth morning he said to the Bluebird: "How is it that all your ugly color has come out of your feathers, and now you are all blue and sprightly and beautiful? You are more beautiful than anything that flies in the air. I want to be blue too."
"I went in only four times," replied the Bluebird.
It then taught the Coyote the song it had sung.
And so the Coyote steeled his courage and jumped into the lake. For four mornings he did, singing the song the Bluebird had taught him, and on the fifth day he turned as blue as the bird.
That made the Coyote very proud. He was so proud to be a blue coyote that when he walked along he looked about on every side to see if anyone was noticing how fine and blue he was.
Then he started running along very fast, looking at his shadow to see if it was also blue. He was not watching the road, and presently he ran into a stump so hard that it threw him down upon the ground and he became dust-colored all over. And to this day all coyotes are the color of the dusty earth.
I've always been fascinated with different cultures and how they view the universe and the entire order of things, and how they shape their inhabitants' thinking as to how to revert to the natural order of the cosmos should there be disorder of some kind. It may be the Philosophy major in me that piques my curiosity about different civilizations and cultures. Yesterday, I've had the opportunity to get a little bit closer to understanding a culture that has always been all around me but never got to fully understand. All around where I live is the vast indian reservation, and there is a plush, beautiful spa that sits by the Gila River on the vast and beautiful Sonoran desert, and it is owned and operated by the Pima tribe, a Native American community that has inhabited the region for more than 2,300 years. The Aji Spa features first world amenities and yet it imbibes the spirit of the Pima ancestors, and it is the world's leader in authentic Native American healing treatments. The revenue from spa services goes to the native american community, and all the lotion, potions, scrubs, and other products used in the spa are grown by the Natives themselves, mostly coming from the shigoi plant or chaparral, and from other botanical sources.
First of all, there is nothing shabby about the spa. It is one of the most beautiful spas I have ever seen, and I have seen quite a few. It has a luxurious, spacious women's locker, a beautiful pool and tranquil patio for you to lounge in, a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and the food is absolutely delectable. All amenities are available upon the purchase of a spa service, and you can stay for as long as you like. I love the fact that all their treatments are patterned after ancient healing techniques from Pima and Maricopa tribe ancestors that were passed on from generation to generation. You really get a piece of Native American history and culture with your visit to this one-of-a-kind spa. The story of the Bluebird and Coyote is an ancient Pima legend that has been passed down to descendants, and now it is the central theme of the spa's signature treatment, the Bahn or Blue Coyote Wrap. It is an 80-minute treatment that is described as follows:
Derived from the Pima legend of the Bluebird and the Coyote, this treatment begins with a dry brush exfoliation to promote circulation and an application of Azulene mud, which would soothe, nourish, and heal the skin. Symbolic of Coyote's coat turning the beautiful color of the Bluebird, our proprietary Azulene mud is applied to the body. Unlike the prideful Coyote, as the blue is removed, your skin will feel more radiant, soft, and beautiful. The entire experience is completed with a hydrating cedar/sage oil full body massage.
Whew. That description is making me weak in the knees.
Yesterday was Aji Spa's Cultural Awakening event, a by invitation only event that featured a whole ensemble of activities to introduce the uninitiated to the culture and healing techniques of the Pima and Maricopa indians. The event was open to existing clientele of the spa, but the entire event was free, from the treatments to the hors d'oeurves to the cocktails. The event started with a meditation and sage burning, followed by a heartfelt blessing ceremony from a Pima elder who uttered the blessing in his native tongue. Thereafter, we got different treatments for free that spanned around 15 minutes each, just for us to experience a taste of authentic Native American healing techniques.
I first tried the Shegoi Foot Soak and Rub that featured an indigenous herbal plant called shegoi in the Native American tongue, otherwise known as chaparral. You can see the scrub on the left side of the photo.
The attendant proceeds to apply the scrub on my skin
Then the heavenly part begins - the foot massage!
We also got to do a tour of the river where we saw the different plants used by the Pima tribe that are processed into herbal medicine and products for the spa like massage oil and lotions.
Our guide was a young Native American who is a university graduate.
I wasn't able to take a picture of the other treatments I tried, but I had the Pima Medicine Scalp and Neck massage (amazing!), the Chair and Indigenous Hand Massage, and the Indigenous Hand Scrub featuring salt personally gathered by the Pima Indians from the Gulf of Mexico, as was told to me by my attendant. There was also Spiritual Reading by a Native American spiritual leader, but I wasn't able to try it for lack of time.
The spa made sure that we were satisfied not only with our treatments, but with the food as well. They had this amazing spread that was such a gastronomic delight - So. Freakin'. Good. I especially loved the ahi tuna lollipops, the eggplant quiches, the exotic cheese tray, and and a lot more that I forget. Imagine eating all these grub for free, chased down with mojitos and the most amazing smoothie I have ever tried - the Green Tea and Wasabi smoothie. Yes, you read that right. It was refreshingly sweet but as soon as you swallow the concoction, the familiar zing of wasabi tingles at the back of your throat - and it was surprisingly good (and addictive!).
The ahi tuna lollipops - melt-in-your-mouth goodness
My meat plate with various condiments (loved the pesto)
meat platter
shrimp cocktail and strawberry-flavored dessert
You get to enjoy the tranquil scenery as you sip your mojito....
....while getting lulled by the lone, soothing sound of the Native American flute serenading you.
As if all those weren't enough, my friend and I got to leave with a gift bag from the spa worth $80!
My friend and I loved our day at the spa not only because of the relaxing treatments and cocktails (what is better than lounging in a luxurious environment sipping cocktails and eating hors d'oeurves on a Sunday afternoon?), but we also got a deeper understanding of another culture totally different from ours. I've developed a new found respect for the Gila River Indian community. I am in awe of how they remain sovereign and yet work hard for the future of their tribe and its descendants. It's also refreshing to patronize a spa whose revenue does not go to the coffers of an impersonal, abstract corporation, but actually sustains the existence of an entire community.
1 comment
This spa looks like an amazing place! You have me curious to see if there are any places like this in my area.
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