Schlangen
allgemein Anhang 4
[Ajit Kulkarni/P.I. Tarkas/ Patricia
Haetherly]
Animal characters Remedy characters
1. Snake: Sensitive animal; 1.
Hypersensitive: mind, body intolerance of anybody coming nearby
2. Snake: Nocturnal reptile 2.
Mental activity, < night
3. Snake: Sluggish in morning 3. < morning hours
4. Snake: Life more secluded 4. Misanthropy, secretive
5. Snake: Moves quickly 5.
Desire to travel; quick actions
6. Snake: Poisonous animal 6.
Mind: poisoned—jealousy, suspicion.
7. Snake: Sensory pits 7.
Clairvoyant; prophesying between eyes and nostrils sense from a long direction
8. Snake: Sensitive to touch 8.
< Touch/noise and vibration
9. Snake: Sensitive to heat 9.
< Sun, Summer, heat, hot drinks
10. Snake: Cold to touch 10.
Coldness of affected parts
11. Remains curled and silent in
Winter 11. > Winter, < Summer
12. More furious and poisonous when
hungry 12.
< Fasting, > after eating
13. Snake: Sheds its skin in spring 13. < Spring
14. Snake: Gets attracted to fire 14. Dreams of fire;
[Patricia Haetherly]
Connections between the hormone oxytocin., the symbol of the serpent and the
evolution of the human soul.
All cultures have a creation myth associated with a serpentine figure
venerated as the repository of intuition, intelligence, wisdom, spiritual knowledge
and immortality.
In that regard it is intriguing that the hormone oxytocin,
which apart from providing a means for the body to maintain homeostasis (and
also underpins reproduction,
the universal drive which forms the basis for the Theory of Evolution
and the concept of survival of the fittest), is in the shape of a serpent. Is
there a connection?
The Serpent in human consciousness
We know, from anthropological studies, that the serpent is associated
with most cultures. Traditionally it symbolises fertility and procreation,
wisdom and healing; and,
due to the fact that it sheds its skin, death and resurrection.
Artefacts depicting the serpent have been unearthed in Mayan and Aztec sites
and serpent beings such as Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent God (who was
sometimes depicted as a serpent devouring its own tail/= Ouroboros
oder Uroboros), was
worshipped in N. America
along with similar images named Cihuacohuatziti
and Cihuacohuatl in Mexico and Peru. Greek creation
myths speak of Ophion the snake which incubated the
primordial
egg from which all created things were born; and, in Chinese mythology,
it was Fu Xi and Nu Wa who were the intertwined male
and female serpent beings, representing
the Earth and Heaven, who united to create humans (interestingly) from
clay.
The Sumerian God, Ningizidda, was depicted as
the double headed snake coiled into a double helix. This is, perhaps, an early
representation of our DNA, and, perhaps its origins, but may also highlight the
notion of duality in Nature; a concept which can be linked to the idea of
Volition and Two Wills which is a theme well represented in the Lacs (“our most important
medicines” [Kent) as a kingdom. Some theorists believe that Ningizidda
was the mythical Thoth who established the early mystery schools in Egypt where
individuals seeking “knowledge” (Enlightenment) came to be initiated. It is
beliefs such as these that underpin the wisdom aspect of serpent mythology, and
are, perhaps, associated with the “Fall of Eve” as depicted in Genesis.
However, I think it is important at the outset, that we ask…just what exactly
was the nature of the “knowledge” that the serpent was keen to share with
Eve? And why is it that Michelangelo, in
his depiction of this event on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, chose to
depict the serpent/Satan in female form?
Intuition, intelligence and wisdom are all attributes of the snake in
the Chinese zodiac. In Chinese culture, it is specifically, the dragon
which is the repository of Wisdom
and Beneficence; and, it is because the Emperor was believed to have
dragon blood in his veins, that led to various imperial dragon accoutrements
and the dragon’s pivotal place in Chinese culture still to this day. With
respect to the broadest ramifications of this discussion, it is, therefore, of
particular interest to note that the word “dragon”
comes into our lexicon via the Greek “drakon“,
which means “serpent”; and, even more interesting is the fact that the Hebrew
equivalent is “nahash” which is understood
to be derived from the Semitic consonant stem “NHSH”, which means “to
decipher” or “find out”!
African, Australian, Pacific island and Indian creation myths all
describe a serpent working with Mother Earth in order to give rise to all
aspects of Nature; and the classical symbol of the Ouroboros,
which is found in some form in many cultures and is integral to many creation
myths, depicts a snake in the act of eating its own tail. The term Ouroboros is derived from two words in ancient Greek; with
the first word “oura” meaning “the tail” and the
second word “boros” meaning “eating”.
As a symbol, it has many interpretations. One of the earliest, and found
in several cultures, is that the snake circles the earth to keep it together.
Another is of the snake representing the cyclical nature of life and death;
Life feeding on itself in the act of creation, as witnessed in the cycles of
day and night and Spring and Summer (the fecund seasons) and Autumn and Winter
(the dormant seasons). Another is that
of immortality, as a spiral is associated in many cultures with the notion of
“eternity”. This perspective accords with that of Plato, who considered the
universe to be an immortal, mythologically-constructed
entity, and described the Ouroboros as the first
living thing; a self-eating, circular being; bringing order from chaos. All
this begs these questions: does eternity necessarily equate with immortality
(ascension) or does it imply the keeping-on aspect of reincarnation? And, what
exactly, does the serpent have to do with it?
When it was first used around 1600 BC by the Egyptians, the Ouroboros was considered as the symbol of the sun and it
was believed to have represented Atens travels
(Aten is the sun disk in the Egyptian
mythology). However, the first known appearance of the Ouroboros
motif as we know it is in The “Enigmatic Book of the Netherworld”, an
intriguing ancient Egyptian funerary text in KV62, the tomb of Tutankhamun from the 14th century BC. The text
concerns the actions of Ra and his union with Osiris in the Underworld. In an
illustration from this text, two serpents, holding their tails in their mouths,
coil around the head and feet of an enormous god, who is thought to represent
the unified Ra-Osiris, and the beginning and the end of time. Through their
relations with Phoenicians the Egyptians passed it on to the Phoenician culture
and it was subsequently passed on to the culture of the Ancient Greeks, who
named the infinity symbol in their language as it is used in the present day.
Ancient alchemists used the Ouroboros symbol
as a representation of the element mercury, referred to by them as Prima Materia (first matter), the starting material for the
alchemic Magnum Opus and the creation of the Philosopher’s Stone which was
believed to have the power to turn base metals into gold. That is why I refer
to human milk as “the white gold of the alchemist” as it works on Prima Materia (the newborn) and facilitates optimisation of all
physical and neurologic systems in the body; that is, it maximises the
potential referred to in §9.
In the Middle East, the god Mithra, who was
believed to be reborn, was sometimes depicted with an Ouroboros
around his waist or encircling his whole body. In Norse mythology, the Ouroboros appears as the serpent Jörmungandr,
one of the three children of Loki and Angrboda, which
grew so large that it could encircle the world and
grasp its tail in its teeth. And, in ancient India, the Ouroboros symbol has been used to describe the kundalini energy, and is depicted usually as an animal halo
often in the form of a snake or lizard god or goddess. Shiva, who represents
the duality of creation and destruction and thus the birth of life through
opposites, is often represented within a circle. The circle, in this instance,
is a symbol of the circular nature of the universe and time: death-rebirth;
creation-destruction; love-hate, Spring/Summer-Autumn/Winter; the eternal dance
of the cosmos.
We encounter the serpent and the Ouroboros in
almost every ancient culture. And the almost universal thread of creation myths
with a saurian theme is, no doubt, an incontrovertible reminder of our
reptilian origins. Before Man entered the evolutionary picture, the planet
belonged to reptiles. And, that we are linked along the evolutionary timeline,
is evidenced in the prevailing anatomical feature of the reptilian brain stem
which governs our instinctive behaviours associated with fight/flight which
locks us into survival mode; that is, in the bottom of Maslow’s Hierarchy.
Interestingly, it has been suggested that the Milky Way itself was the
source of inspiration for this version of the infinity symbol, as one of the
myths regarding the Ouroboros tells us about a
serpent of light that lives in the Heaven and the Milky Way galaxy, which has
the shape of a circle, was considered to be this serpent. Ironically, “gala” is
the Greek word for milk; and, in dream symbology,
“milk” signifies success, the gaining of spiritual knowledge or immortality as
attained through ascension. So, this purported connection of the Ouroboros to the Milky Way gives us a possible perspective
regarding the thread of the serpent/spiritual knowledge myths. However, it
leaves me wondering about the exact meaning of the immortality association that
is enjoyed by the serpent, as it’s a mythological understanding that one needed
to be suckled by Hera to obtain immortality. That is to “consort with Gods”. It
is said that when she was disturbed when Zeus plotted to have her inadvertently
suckle Hercules during her sleep, her letdown sprayed across the Firmament
giving rise to the Milky Way… the Galaxy
of Stars.
“As Above; So Below”. That is why we have dreams of associating with
important people (royalty; movie stars; politicians) in Lac Humanum; highlighted in Sankaran’s
proving which records a dream of the prover climbing
a flight of stairs to have two doors flung open to be received by two gods. We
need, therefore, to be open to the idea that it’s a mother’s milk which
provides the key to that door and acknowledge that this form of nourishment is
unavailable to a reptile; and that we, according to Carl Sagan, are the “stuff”
of stars.
So, what has this got to do with oxytocin?
Well, for a start, it is oxytocin which
governs the letdown reflex which delivers milk from the maternal breast during
suckling as a consequence of a hormonally-driven (Ouroboros-like)
feedback loop. Additionally, (and for some it’ll be interpreted as having drawn
a long bow), I was more than intrigued while doing some research on oxytocin to notice that the shape of the molecule is quite
serpent-like in its configuration; perhaps a bit like a cobra. Furthermore, an
image in Wikipedia Commons of the molecule bound to its ribbon-like carrier
protein neurophysin transported me straight to
Chinese New Year celebrations with its central focus on the ceremonial dragon.
And so, it has struck me that since oxytocin
maintains homeostasis in the body and plays a pivotal role in reproduction (it
is popularly called “the hormone of love”) and, as a neuro-peptide,
is the primary mediator for transforming the epigenetic experiences associated
with breastfeeding and being well-mothered into permanent changes in the
anatomy and physiology of the developing brain and central nervous system
(CNS), (which, by the way, may be transmitted to future generations 1;2 so
underpins the concept of Evolution), and the serpent is integral to every
creation myth on the planet, there is possibly more to this than accidental
happenstance!
What is the Psoric/Saurian (= reptilian) connection?
Both dragons. and serpents have skins covered in
scales; as does the individual suffering from psoriasis. However, in light of
this discussion, it intrigues me that the word psoriasis derives from the Latin
word for itch: psora, and has phonetic consonance with the Greek
word for lizard: sauros. Is there a connection; and,
if so, what is it? The psoric miasm
is synonymous in our literature (among some) with “Original Sin” a term used
among early masters to describe our basic “flaw” as described by Hahnemann in
§81 “Psora is the true fundamental cause and
engenderer of almost all … forms of disease…”. So (the oblique reference to the
story of “The Fall” in Genesis, not withstanding; but, keeping in mind that
Eve’s apple was probably a green one) oxytocin, due
to the association that it has with homeostasis and the pivotal role that it
plays during conception, birth and lactation in driving positive epigenetic
outcomes is, in my opinion, what drives Psora in its
compensated form.
Because we focus on disease, Psora is
traditionally associated in homeopathic philosophy with: hypo-function; lack;
weakness and an empty, all-gone feeling. All of these are the generally
accepted keynotes of Psora, and relate to functional
disturbance on a cellular level and this is what precedes pathological change
if homeostasis is not restored.
In that regard, Psora is recognised as the
primary (fundamental) miasm and I think that
Hahnemann got it right when he nominated but three miasms
and Joe Rozencwajg (interestingly proposes that these
three miasms are not so much about the epigenetic
imprint of grand diseases, but rather more about the three basic human
metabolic pathways of homeostasis (Psora), anabolism
(Sycosis) and catabolism (Luesis).
This is a perspective with which I agree. Psora,
in its oxytocin-moderated compensated form, enables
the individual to maintain balance (homeostasis), while Sycosis
(which is driven by adrenalin, nor-adrenalin
and cortisol; all antagonists to oxytocin)
has an anabolic function. That is, it helps us to “grow” if we’re prepared to
face up to life’s challenges and fight them.
In a practical sense a little bit of Sycosis
serves us well and possibly allows us to find success in the minutiae of daily
living, whereby we’re “up” for the fight and can well attend to Maslow’s lower
order priorities.
Furthermore, if we accept that the catabolic pathway is associated with Luesis, it is possibly driven by insulin. It’s the lock and
key hormone which can underpin “mature onset……”pathology when the telomeres
shorten and all bodily systems degrade as the time for transitioning from Life
approaches. On the one hand, we associate Luesis
with death and destruction; but, on the other hand, it is also about
breaking through and regeneration. For those who acknowledge the process of
reincarnation, it is possibly insulin which rules over the final “choice”; that
of being offered the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven or of being locked out such
that the soul/vital force needs to do it all again.
And so, the business of doing Karma is a bit like that of the snake that
needs to grow another skin in order to live another day. When one is done with
“the lessons”
the “higher purpose of existence” is attainable. The serpent, therefore,
probably does not hold the answer to immortality (self-realisation) but ties us
to the pathway leading
to reincarnation. The reptilian energy (fight/flight; focused on
survival only) is essentially sycotic so the shadow
is where it best lies; it eschews the light.
Adaptation in evolutionary terms is associated with the instinct to
preserve the genes; to survive. So, traces of our genetic heritage are always
going to be part of our current makeup. And, while on one level Psora is possibly corrupted by a saurian genetic tag
associated with our reptilian evolutionary origins, it is possibly that tag
which drives reptilian behaviour during the primal period where reproductive
practices tend to circumvent the oxytocic pathway
leading to the production of offspring with a dearth
(= Mangel) of oxytocin
receptors, bereft of a suitable microbiome, and
caught up in the grip of Sycosis.
I believe Psora can be our ally if, as a
species, we embrace the oxytocic agenda and conceive,
birth and nourish our offspring as Nature intends, such that the negative
attributes of hypo-function and lack will be balanced out. Furthermore, if we
acknowledge that, since oxytocin is a direct
antagonist to the stress hormones, we will
(when oxytocin receptors have been adequately
established during the primal period), derive maximal benefit from the positive
attribute of ebullience which allows us to
fully engage in Life. This makes sense when we acknowledge that an
“itch” is just as likely to refer to a sense of dissatisfaction with the
status-quo. So, if we trust in our ability to make good choices when guided by
a sense of curiosity, and are prepared to keep up the struggle to be Human, and
the desire for positive social engagement which encourages us to “Seek so that
we might find” we can fulfil the dictates of §9.
Enlightenment is an interesting word. It is a state of “being” arrived
at as a consequence of good choices and implies that you’ve attained Wisdom and
figured it out; you’ve moved from the shadow into the light. And as the
songster-poet Leonard Cohen so exquisitely explained to us: “There is a crack
in everything…that’s how the light gets in”, using the positive attributes of Psora will facilitate self-realisation; and this is
possible when Psora is well-modulated as a
consequence of acquiring maximal oxytocin receptors
due to being born and mothered well.
Keep in mind that primates lactate for six times the gestation rate. So,
when humans have access to the maternal breast for such an extended period and
wean when they are ready, they are best able, according to Erikson’s Schema,
(see Figure 1) to engage in Life from a position of Trust and Autonomy as a
consequence of having resolved Life’s initial two crises in a satisfactory
(i.e. positive) psoric manner. When the infant has
not been able to get established on the psoric tread
of “The Stairway to Heaven” then he is consigned to the shadow of Sycosis and the luetic miasm will greet him at the end of his days and the
reincarnation pathway, instead of the ascension pathway, becomes his only
option. Click Erikson’s chart below to enlarge:
“The Author of all good, when He allowed diseases to injure His
offspring, must have laid down a means by which those torments might be
lessened or removed.” (Hahnemann Lesser
Writings)
Vorwort/Suchen Zeichen/Abkürzungen Impressum