5. Stadium/Gruppe

Vorbereiten/weiter machen # aufgeben

Vanadium. Niob. Tantalum. Dubnium. Praseodymium

Thema: Doubting if you can do your job

Doubting if you can use creative talents

Doubting if you can be a leader

Don't have much faith in them/too many doubts in their abilities/postpone their plans and they may fail at this stage also. Alternating stage of mind but not

changeability to another project.

Glech. Ib. Raph.

Jan Scholten not yet classified, possibly Gymnoclades.

Sankaran’s Malaria. Miasm.: Compositae. Fearful versus tough guy

Dazugehören durch Anpassung <-> doch nicht ganz dazugehören

Vorbereiten/zögern/vor + zurück (beginnen # aufgeben wegen Zweifel o. Widerständen - wieder neues beginnen); Vorsichtig wegen Zweifel an Fähigkeit;

Malaria.; Psora

[Sankaran]

Struktur ist fertig, aber nicht genug Fundament zum Durchhalten; beginnen, aber Zögern dann, vor und wieder zurück,

DD.: Stadium 5: Unentschlossen nur zur Hälfte machen/zögert, beginnt neu, hin und her/Verwirklichung nur mit halber Kraft;

Stadium 3 (hat Zweifel was er tun will) + 4 (weiß was er will steckt in Blockade weiter zu machen)

Va Zweifel und wechselhaft ob sie eigene Sicherheit gewährleisten können.

Nb wechselhaftes Zutrauen und Zweifel ob sie etwas Neues erforschen, darstellen können.

Ta Zögern und Zweifel ob sie Verantwortung für etwas übernehmen können

Zaudern + Zögern, vorbereiten, verschieben; provisorisch, unsicher; ich sollte/ich versuche; Selbstzweifel wegen hoher Anforderungen; Vermeidet Konfrontation mit der Realisation;

Denken # Handeln; geplagt von Entscheidungsschwäche und Wechselhaftigkeit; möchte im Mittelpunkt stehen, traut sich aber nicht; kann nur schwer Komplimente annehmen;

Begabung: schwierige Probleme von allen Seiten zu betrachten.

[Steph Nile]

Thursday, 10 December 2009

Keynotes on the Stage 5 Remedies.

Preparation and Postponing in the Stage 5 Remedies.

Dr. Scholten describes Stage 5 as “Preparation”. The project is just starting. It looks huge. You have the planning permission, the techniques but no previous experience or structure.

Its very easy to get discouraged, and postpone things - if you do you get stuck in Stage 5!

The sphere of doubt in the Ferrum Series is at work, in the Silver Series it is in creativity, in the Lanthanides it is in the outer expression of our inner power, in the Gold Series is in absolute

outer power and in the Uranium Series is in intuition and wisdom.

- The Stage 5 remedy of the Ferrum Series is Vanadium. All the Ferrums want to protect themselves but they are usually obliged to put up with “the rules of the game”, so their own feelings

get suppressed, and they can feel guilty if their performance is sub-standard.

In Vanadium the feeling is of doubt. They want success but feel that they might not be able to complete the project. They are tortured by their fear of failure. The result is that they become indecisive. They can loose sight of their goals and start to worry about little things.

* Ailments from domination - history of excessive parental control.

* Confidence - want of self-confidence.

* Fear, failure of.

* Irresolution.

* Yielding disposition.

- The Stage 5 remedy of the Silver Series is Niobium. In this series the focus is on performance and perfection. They are creatively inspired and want to be special.

In Niobium they doubt their creativity. They feel their ideas are special and want to strike out on their own. They set their goals high, but then the projects seems unrealistic. They are easily

slighted and hurt. Their creation will never be perfect and the whole thing becomes a burden. They can get stuck on the preparations. They don't know if they can do it or not and become apathetic. They would love attention and admiration but they fear that they are not good enough.

* Fear - failure of - examinations, in.

* Dreams - mistakes, of making.

* Hurry.

* Haughty.

- The Stage 5 remedy of the Lanthanides is Praesodymium. The focus of the Lanthanides is on self-control and inner strength. Their efforts are directed toward achieving and expressing strength

of mind.

In Praesodymium they doubt that they can prove their autonomy. They are very cautious because their plans are easily flattened - pushing themselves forward feels dangerous. They are afraid to say what they feel to some degree (not as much as Lanthanum or Cerium). Their realisations are a bit naive but still quite genuine.

In Praesodymium there is an urge to really start to confront the shadow and accomplish self-control.

* Hesitating to be autonomous.

* Hesitating to learn self-control.

* Hesitating to delve into the shadow.

- The Stage 5 remedy of the Gold Series is Tantalum. The focus of the Gold Series is responsibility. They use their power to rule – for better or for worse.

In Tantalum they doubt that they can be a leader. They have a strong desire to reach the top but their plans are not very well defined and their expectations are unrealistic. They don't really know how to put their plans into practice and spend ages on the details. They need a lot of encouragement or they will hesitate. If they become too arrogant someone will slap them down.

* Delusions, superiority of.

* Haughty.

* Intolerant of contradiction.

* Fear falling of.

* Dreams - poisoned, being. Failures.

Reflection: Once you get the context of rubrics their meanings become clearer.

For example, what could "Dreams of being poisoned" signify in stage 5?

In the Gold Series its a feeling that someone's going to obstruct your rise to power.

In the Lanthanide Series its a feeling that other peoples ideas "poison" or damage your beliefs.

In the Silver Series its a feeling that other people poison or obstruct your creative ideas.

In the Ferrums petty people and rules interfere with your work.

Conclusion: Being poisoned, damaged, or obstructed becomes a common theme within the context of stage 5. In Stage 6 one starts to overcome these obstructions, in Stage 8 we force our way through them and by Stage 9 they are merely irritating.

[Ulrich Welte]

“The Periodic Table in Homeopathy: The Silver Series” Stage 5. Preparations for Success

The first major hurdle has been overcome: optimism is in the air. You’re making progress. The goal is set, the direction is right, but now there is a wealth of options available. What’s the best

way to continue? The necessary preparations are being made so that the ascent can be successful. Ambitious plans are in the making. Yet after many sincere attempts fail, the undertaking

comes to seem too big. After initial success, it’s as if you’re facing an unconquerable mountain, although you can make out the goal in the distance. You try again and again, but after many

agonizing setbacks, the old scepticism returns: the goal is too far away and appears ever more unrealistic. Then you lack the necessary drive because you’ve failed too often. You’ve overreached

yourself and lose hope. Now you just make preparations, avoiding real exertion: you repeatedly postpone things. It’s as if the whole world is in league against you, and implacable fate means

you’re tragically doomed to fail. It’s like the fox who declares the grapes must be sour when he can‘t reach them.

Key concepts: Preparations. Progress. How to continue? Plans. Suggestions. Options. Steep ascent. Difficulties pile up. Repeated attempts. Up and down. Postponing things. Avoiding. Agonizing. Unrealistic. Tragic.

Combinations of key concepts indicating Niobium:

• Ambitious ideas and unrealistic scientific proposals trigger doubts about the feasibility: castles in the air

• Agonizing setbacks on the way to fame: provincial actor doesn’t achieve national breakthrough

• Uncertain journalist whose creative interviews lack the final punch

• Talented sportsperson can’t get beyond initial promising success: local matador

• Many ideas but only minor commissions: cautious inventor

• Programmer enters middle management but is overextended: bitten off more that he can chew

• Painter initially sells a few pictures, but is then dropped by the patron

• Disappointed intellectual: sour grapes.

Along the way, as he writes of cases, Welte indicates the considerable assistance he receives by utilizing the color preferences of his patients, as well as handwriting analysis.

At times, it was clear that the patient’s color preference first suggested the remedy to him; in other cases, it provided a valuable confirmatory ‘symptom.’

One significant benefit I received from Welte’s treatment of the Silver Series came from the case studies that illustrate the application of Element Theory. When reading Scholten’s treatment

of the topic, I had the impression that the themes of the stages should apply very specifically to the central themes of the Silver Series, such broad and potentially weighty themes as: creative

endeavors, inspiring ideas, aesthetics, artistic pursuits, science, mysticism, performance, etc. The Silver Series themes Welte lists, while coinciding in many ways with Scholten’s, are in general

broader and seem more widely applicable - communicating ideas, power of thought, disseminating knowledge, intellectual display, show, fame, publicity, science, art, culture, creativity, originality, aesthetics, elegance, sensitive sense of honor, subtle arrogance, first lady. Some of the case studies presented demonstrate that Silver Series issues needn’t relate only to creative or scientific, etc.

pursuits; they might also apply to much simpler everyday considerations. For example, one female patient felt that her daughter was not allowing her a say in the management of her venous ulcer;

she felt criticized and patronized. She was annoyed that she had to adapt to her daughter’s preferences, and in her unhappiness she seemed ‘heavy,’ more so than might be anticipated in either

Carbon or Silica Series remedies. The fact that she felt that she couldn’t say anything (stifled communication), plus themes of feeling criticized and adapting, suggested the Silver Series and

Stage Two, and thus the remedy Strontium; the remedy actually given was Strontium muriaticum. To say this was anything but a revelation to my mind would demean its significance to this reviewer, limited as my exposure to Elemental Homeopathy is.

It became apparent too from the case studies that remedy selection was very often based on the full presentation of the patient, both mental-emotional and physical. Pathology often played a role in deciding either the series or specific remedy; prescriptions were not only based on mental-emotional characteristics. The process of selecting an appropriate anion when a salt form of remedy seemed

more appropriate than a pure element, as revealed again in the case histories, is interesting. Anion selection involved far more than the case having some additional theme, such as mother or nurturing (muriaticum), or feeling exiled (halogens - Stage 17); more ‘basic’ characteristics such as Sulphur keynotes might justify the prescription of a sulfide, or tremulousness and the sensation that someone is looking over one’s shoulder might suggest a bromide.

After completing the series with Xenon, Stage 18, Welte goes on to offer very valuable differential diagnoses of the various stages; then he differentiates the series, providing new insights (Lanthanides). He closes with a history of the evolution of the periodic table and a compelling philosophical consideration of the homeopathic interpretation of the periodic table, as this quotation attests:

“The fact that we can, with the series and stages, therapeutically use elements that have so far not been used in this way -that the periodic table demonstrates a rule-governed ‘human chemistry’ with all

its mental ramifications, a psychological chemistry just as compelling as the well known physical chemistry- shows that human evolution and the evolution of the elements follow a similar developmental imperative. So we can rightly presume that the developmental steps of the elements in the periodic table and evolution in 7 series and 18 stages are universal facts

The Silver Series that are not only valid for humans but also for all forms of life.”

Elemental Homeopathy and the Sensation Method (of Sankaran) have, of course, generated a lot of controversy amongst homeopaths. Many classical homeopaths scoff at the notion that such methods

can bear fruit and dismiss them as “non-homeopathic.” Welte offers an eloquent defense of the Element Theory as consistent with homeopathic principles (Law of Similars):

“The relation of similarity, therefore, must not -as in classical homeopathy- be based exclusively on the proving symptoms, but can also arise out of the series and stages. If you find similarity between

the situation and behavior of a patient and the situation indicated by the position of an element, it is at least as valid as the classical similarity of symptoms. Ideally, these two approaches supplement each other and may also give a deeper understanding of symptoms.”

The Periodic Table in Homeopathy: The Silver Series provides a lucid, thorough, and quite practical grounding in not only the material medica of silver series remedies but also the intricacies of Elemental Homeopathy as a whole. For any practitioner at all interested in Elemental Homeopathy this book is an essential read. Studying it, memorizing much of it is bound to prove a rewarding endeavor.

One can only hope that, for the sake of completeness, Welte decides to cover in like fashion all the series

[Jan Scholten]

The individual prepares but doubts how they will achieve their goals. There is a tentativeness that causes them to remain in the proposing or temporary phase. Other caveats on their success

include provisory, conditional, unrealistic, postponing, avoiding, alternating and tantalizing.

Liebe zu gründlicher Vorbereitung (planen + beginnen, prüfen, verwerfen; neu planen); große Pläne haben, aber bei Problemen zögern wegen Unsicherheit, wieder neu anfangen, evtl. Verantwortung/ Verwirklichung nach Vorbereitungsphase hinausschieben (DD.: Stadium 4 Blockade); kann schwer Autoritäten ertragen, fühlt sich als etwas Besonderes, will der Kritik durch präzise Arbeit zuvorkommen; Zweifelt an nötiger Kraft/Macht zum Erfolg, Skepsis und Vorsicht können Vorbereitungsphase in alle Ewigkeit ausdehnen.

Project just starting. It looks huge. You have the planning permission, the techniques but no previous experience or structure. Its very easy to get discouraged, and postpone things - if you do you

get stuck in Stage 5!

Scholten proposes the following concepts of Stage Five:

Preparing, Advance guard, Scouts, Proposal, Doubt, Postponing, Evading, Preposterous, Unrealistic, Alternating, Torture, Tantalizing

Niobium is found in the Silver series, which has the following themes:

Creation, Inspiration, Ideas, Culture, Unique, Admiration, Aesthetics, Beautiful, Ugly, Show, Performance, Queen, Ambition, Hurt, Humiliation, Sexuality, Middle age, Town, Province, Science, Mysticism, Voice, Hearing

Scholten’s Group Analysis:

Doubt whether they will be able to develop their creative talent.

Doubt whether they are very special.

Hesitation in the development of ideas.

Indecisive whether they will exert their influence or not.

Art is an impossible task.

Unrealistic ideas about their creations.

Preparing their performance.

Evading their talents.

Preliminary creations: nothing gets finished.

Avoiding admiration.

Alternating admiration.

Tormented by ambition.

Tormented by not showing their talents.

Alternating use of voice: stammering.

The sphere of doubt in the Ferrum Series is at work, in the Silver Series it is in creativity, in the Lanthanides it is in the outer expression of our inner power, in the Gold Series is in absolute outer power and in the Uranium Series is in intuition and wisdom.

Stage 5 remedy of the Ferrum Series: Va. All the Ferrums want to protect themselves but they are usually obliged to put up with “the rules of the game”, so their own feelings get suppressed,

and they can feel guilty if their performance is sub-standard.

In Vanadium the feeling is of doubt. They want success but feel that they might not be able to complete the project. They are tortured by their fear of failure. The result is that they become indecisive. They can loose sight of their goals and start to worry about little things.

* Ailments from domination - history of excessive parental control.

* Confidence - want of self-confidence.

* Fear, failure of.

* Irresolution.

* Yielding disposition.

Stage 5 remedy of the Silver Series: Niobium: Focus on performance and perfection. They are creatively inspired and want to be special.

In Niobium they doubt their creativity. They feel their ideas are special and want to strike out on their own. They set their goals high, but then the projects seems unrealistic. They are easily slighted and hurt. Their creation will never be perfect and the whole thing becomes a burden. They can get stuck on the preparations. They don't know if they can do it or not and become apathetic. They would love attention and admiration but they fear that they are not good enough.

* Fear - failure of - in examinations.

* Dreams - mistakes, of making.

* Hurry.

* Haughty.

Stage 5 remedy of the Lanthanides: Praesodymium. The focus of the Lanthanides is on self-control and inner strength. Efforts are directed toward achieving and expressing strength of mind.

They doubt to be able to prove their autonomy. They are very cautious because their plans are easily flattened - pushing themselves forward feels dangerous. They are afraid to say what they feel

to some degree (not as much as Lanthanum or Cerium). Their realisations are a bit naive but still quite genuine.

In Praesodymium there is an urge to really start to confront the shadow and accomplish self-control.

* Hesitating to be autonomous.

* Hesitating to learn self-control.

* Hesitating to delve into the shadow.

Stage 5 remedy of the Gold Series: Tantalum. The focus of the Gold Series is responsibility. They use their power to rule – for better or for worse.

In Tantalum they doubt that they can be a leader. They have a strong desire to reach the top but their plans are not very well defined and their expectations are unrealistic. They don't really know how to put their plans into practice and spend ages on the details. They need a lot of encouragement or they will hesitate. If they become too arrogant someone will slap them down.

* Delusions, superiority of.

* Haughty.

* Intolerant of contradiction.

* Fear falling of.

* Dreams - poisoned, being. Failures.

Reflection: Once you get the context of rubrics their meaning become clearer.

For example, what could "Dreams of being poisoned" signify in stage 5?

In the Gold Series its a feeling that someone's going to obstruct your rise to power.

In the Lanthanide Series its a feeling that other peoples ideas "poison" or damage your beliefs.

In the Silver Series its a feeling that other people poison or obstruct your creative ideas.

In the Ferrums petty people and rules interfere with your work.

Conclusion: Being poisoned, damaged, or obstructed becomes a common theme within the context of stage 5.

In Stage 6 one starts to overcome these obstructions,

in Stage 8 we force our way through them

by Stage 9 they are merely irritating.

Relationships between the Scrophulaceae and the Ferrum Series

Dig.: Mental sphere sad and depressed...

Ailments, from debauchery; from grief. Lascivious, (lustful).

Dipsomania, alcoholism.

Despair. Anxiety. Cares. Conscientious +/- Anger, trifles, at.

Delusions, light, incorporeal, he is (light à floating).

Reproaching himself. Delusions, wrong, he has done.

Suspicious. Company, aversion to. Fear, people of. Escapes.

Anguish, cardiac. Fear, suffocation, of, heart disease, in.

Heat flushes climacteric. Heat flushes sexual excess after.

Therapeutics: Heart. Liver. Kidney. Sexual sphere.

Sensations: Stitching. Miasm: Sycotic.

DD: Stage... Suspicious à S12-S15; Outcast => S16-S17

DD: Series... Done wrong à Ferrums

DD: Elem..... People, aversion à Cupr; Persued => Zinc

DD: Salt...... Lascivious à Carbs Nitricum Flour ;

Comparitive Extraction:

Delusions - light, incorporeal, he is: Dig. Zinc. Plut-n.

Delusions - conscience; anxiety: DIG. Zinc.

Death - presentiment of: Dig. Zinc. Zinc-p.

Nymphomania - ORIG. Dig. GRAT. Zinc. Zinc-p

Sensation: Dig: Acute: Sudden Break of Connection.

Disconnection (and holding-on) increases in Stages 12-15: i.e. Zn Ga Ge Ars. Could ALL the Scrophulaceae, from Rajan's acute to leprotic states, are grouped around ONE Stage? Lets look for a pattern by considering Gratiola.

Grat.: Haughty. Loquacious. Hates contradiction and will contradict you! Gratiola's haughtiness is actually a reaction to the humiliation caused by pride of others.

Loquacity, cheerful, exuberant.

Nymphomania. Sexual desire-excessive.

Anger, contradiction, from. Anger, violent.

Loathing life. Aversion. Mistanthropy

Relations: Zinc or Germanium plus the Fluors.

DD: Stage... Outcast à S16-S17

DD: Series... Hides inefficiency à Ferrums

DD: Elem..... Contradicts à Germanium

DD: Salt...... Lascivious à Flouratum;

Comparitive Extraction:

Misanthropy : Grat. Germ-met.

Quarrelsome: Grat. Dig. Zinc-met. Germ-met.

Contradiction: Grat. Nicc-met.

Haughty: Grat. Cupr-met.

Sensation: Grat: Leprosy: Despised therefore no more Connection.

Gratiola (S14) like Dig. (S12) in the Ferrum Series - some of the Grat. pathology similar to Fluricums.

Agnus Castus.: DD.: Ant-c.

Breakdown. An important remedy for the Sexual sphere when there is debility and depression, as in premature old age (high-living?). 1. feeling pretty special, 2. begin to feel useless and therefore worthless. The sexual urge is lost.

Clarke: Great sadness with a fixed idea of approaching death. This fear is not of an immediate death as with Aconite, but the patient thinks it is sure to come after a while, and there is no use in doing anything.

The selected rubrics give some indication of the state ...

Ailments, from sexual excesses. Amativeness. Satyriasis.

Coition averse to. Erections, wanting, desire with.

Vivacious. Exhilaration, alternating with sadness. Sentimental. Wants to be quiet.

Grief. Discontented with everything. Morose. Despair. Ideas, deficiency of.

Delusions - body is lighter than air. Doubt if anything had existance.

Delusions - he is worthless; of being nobody.

Loathing life. Indifference to external things. Death desires. Suicidal, thoughts.

DEATH -presentiment of -soon and that she cannot be helped; believes that she will die

Performance could be a major issue...

Ailments, from anticipation, foreboding. Frightful/anxious dreams.

Contemptuous of self. Confidence, want of self.

Intolerant of contradiction.

Discouraged # haughtiness.

Ejaculation - scanty/quick/failing. Erections either incomplete or strong.

Weakness from pollutions.

Some physical indications which confirm both Sycotic and Syphilitic miasms.

Gonorrhea, suppressed (sycosis). Urethra: Discharge, gonorrhoeal.

Sycosis. Syphilis. Mucus secretions yellow. Ulcers indolent.

Menses, painful. Protracted.

Nose, odors fish-brine; musk.

Pain, benumbing. Pain, drawing, bones in. Pain, paralytic, joints in.

Therapeutics: Gonorrhoea. Ulcers.

Sensation: Corrosive itching. Stitching. Tearing (muscles).

Miasm: Sycosis. Syphilis.

DD.: Stage... Loss: Discontented, Suicidal => S15

Series... Loss of ideas or performance => Silver Series

Element..... Sentimental => Antimonium Crud (the sulphide)

Salt...... Loss of Enjoyment => N2, O2; Relationships => Sulphur

Comment: Yet another Stage 15 Lamiales Remedy!

Reflection: In Dr. Rajans Gratiola case (Plants III) the Ferrum series is confirmed by loss of connection to society, i.e. to the village. However, several Dig. (closely related to Grat.) rubrics suggest that they are both morally and spiritually sensitive (Lamiales trait) and can therefore lose connection with their spirituality, which is clearly demonstrated in Dr. Rajans Veronica (Lamiales - Plantaginaceae) case in Plants II. This interpretation is born out by the info we have on Buddleah.

RELIGIOUS AFFECTIONS - too occupied with religion: Dig. ZINC-met. Stann-met.

THOUGHTS; profound: Grat.

This would suggest a different series all together; a second reading of such a case could fit the Lanthanides. Is their search directed within? Is the issue (Series) self-determination or work?

Definitions

Structural Theorists regard language as a network of systematic relationships between semantic units. The basic semantic unit is a lexeme - which is the main dictionary definitions of each word. These lexemes naturally belong to a semantic field, which is an array of words having a similar meaning. The lexemes for the various sensations in Homeopathy form a semantic field. This logic can be seen in the construction of Roget’s Thesaurus (1852).

Alphabetic ordering of lexemes destroys semantic structure, as in the the Thesaurus and in the Repertory. To go further into semantic structure we need to describe how lexemes are related by meaning. The first attempt was Mirillis Thematic Repertory. Semantic structuralists recognise several paradigmatic relationships:

Synonymy - the relationship of “sameness” of meaning.

Hyponymy - the relationship of “inclusion” - Families are included in Orders.

Antonymy - the relationship of “opposites” (which can be quite complex).

Incompatability - mutually exclusive groups or the same category.

Meaning

The study of meaning takes us by degrees through the linguistic framework of the whole of a language (I have studied English, French and Sanskrit). Interpretation of meaning is further complicated by aspects that cannot be covered simply by the analysis of lexemes.

Prosodic Meaning - describes the emphasis placed on parts of the sentence; the way it is stressed.

Grammatical Meaning - Subject + Verb + Object (e.g. I go home) gives the semantic role.

Pragmatic Meaning - describes the function. Is it a statement of fact or an implied command?

Social Meaning - describes the roles of the participants e.g. polite or rude.

Propositional Meaning - an approach which describes and test the subject matter logically (is the statement a value judgement or a fact?).

To sum up the debate on meaning:

Ludwig Wittgenstein: “The meaning of a word is its use in language”.

Ogden and Richards: observed that there is no direct relationship between words and things - the relationship only exists in our mind through and associated concept (Sassure - semiotics : signified + signifier = sign). Described the process as an “semiotic triangle” of Thought<>Symbol<>Referent. The difficulty lies in identifying the active concept.

Jacques Derrida: we have to deconstruct the expression and analyse all the hidden assumptions, preconceptions and even "myths" that are implied or inherited from the philosopical, cultural or political context.

Global Exceptions?

The interesting thing about Sanskrit is that it is the root of many languages and there is supposed to be a relationship between the name, the sound, and the form - hence the 'magical' chanting of Vedas by the Pandits.

So, in Sanskrit the word "Bound" carries/invokes the sensation?

This is opposite to the structuralist (Saussure) view - that there is no inherent relationship between that which carries the meaning - the signifier/symbol and its sign.

Conclusion

Semantics has difficulty in describing how language refers to the outside world. Real-world notions are indeterminate… Our images of a beauty spot may vary.

You would have to visit that place! Words are not enough (a picture is worth a thousand words). Semantics therefore restricts its focus to the relationship of words within the framework of the language. Sankaran’s Levels should take us beyond the restrictions of Semantics into the world of feeling, sensation and energy.

Application

In homeopathy we are advised to use the patients own words and not to extrapolate or interpret. This is correct from the viewpoint of semantics - it is crucial to reject any distortion of meaning. But as we have seen the real meaning is an external referent - it is outside our immediate experience. So are we stuck? How are we to proceed? Osgood’s paper on The Measurement of Meaning (1957) focused on defining a conceptual semantic space. He produced a plot of species vs. ferocity which worked because the dimensions of meaning are quantifiable. Similarly in Homeopathy we use MOPMEC scores to define “vitality” (Sherr) and Stages to define Individuation and Autonomy (Scholten).

Its seems as if the signifier and the signified have a natural and obvious relationship. It more or less “goes without saying”. In fact the Stages are purely conceptual - it is merely a fabricated semiological system which conjures up its own “generic images” which will never actually be seen in practice. In Sassures model its “too obvious too mention” generic image is a further level of “signification“… connotation (Barthes, 1967).

The Validity of Abstraction

In Sankarans system of “Levels” the primary sign is the diagnostic name of the complaint. It is a fact. As soon as we start to consider the emotional aspects of the experience we are delving into the language of abstract and the conceptual. As we dig deeper into the realms of the personal the images become more unique. Even more so when we try to comprehend the experience at the level of imagination, delusion and energy.

How can we remain an unprejudiced observer and avoid interpretation and yet do good work in the realm of the inherently conceptual? What makes a move from denotation (the sign) to connotation possible is the store of knowledge we have about each remedy - its components and its gestalt which is a shared code which we can draw upon. These images can be drawn and refined from the literature and from our own clinical and personal repertoire. Their best use is not through computerised pattern matching - they should resonate with us conceptually and intuitively and ideally in the same way the remedy resonates with the client.

In Practice

The words the client uses are only the tip of the linguistic iceburg. We have to understand his experience. The words are the signs. Their connotation is deeper.

Similarly Scholtens and Sankarans keywords are the signs of the remedy state. The state, itself, the connotation is a deeper level of abstraction. Without abstract thinking we are left at Rogets level - scanning the dictionary (or repertory) for broken semantic fields.

Abstract thinking produces Generic Themes - but the ultimate level of abstraction is the experience itself. Wittgenstein proposed that a basic sentence has three parts - two objects and a relationship between them:

[a]-[R]-[b]

Jan Scholten asserts that this is exactly the way we should break down a symptom ...

[Subject] - [verb] - [object]

[It] - [happened to] - [me]

So all we really need to describe an experience is a theme for the subject, one for the action and one for the object. This applies equally to the experience and to the description of the remedy.

DD.: depends on two aspects of the process:

- How we handle [It] [Subjective][Stage x Series]

- How our reaction to it is expressed [Objective][Salt]

Example 1 [Stage x Series]: Ord Lamiales, Fam Oleaceae, Spp Chionanthus: A nervous, hypochondriacal and pessimistic state, with apathy and a desire to be alone.

< Quarrels Ailments from quarrels. Irritability. Indifference.

DD.: Stage... Indifference => S14 <> S16.

Series... Quarrelsome => Ferrums series.

Element.... Anxious > confirms Stannum.

Example 2 [Salt]: If I lose my Mum and grieve you might think Mum is the subject of the grief and prescribe a Muriaticum. The actual process [How I handle it] is that I become hard. Subject and Object can swap round...

"I am hardened to my grief about Mom" [hardened=subject. grief about Mum=object]

The process [subject][how it is expressed] is my hardening. The Salt is a Fluoratum.

Ref: Repertory of the Elements by Jan Scholten.

Palladium <> 3rd Chakra <> Sycosis

[George Lukas]

Third Chakra:

Development: Autonomy. Individualty. Will. Self-Esteem. Power.

Blocks: Glamour. Rejection and criticism. Secrets.

The Miasm (Sycotic) - The sycotic person will show off - glamorous looks, recognition, and so on are very important. They crave attention all the time and keep their faults to themselves and hide their feelings. They are stiff because they want to stay in control of their emotions. They want things to be fixed so they focus on details and classifications. It can lead to dogma and pedantry. Doubts and anxieties (psora) are exaggerated and overdone.

Palladium typical: I lack confidence sometimes so I feel insecure. I'v got to be perfect so I must to hide my mistakes. If I'm appreciated I don't need to hide my mistakes. Thinking that, "My way is best" can lead to rigidity and fixed ideas.

The Autonomous Self

Big Mind - Vivacious and Idealistic: I'm it! I'm there! I'v worked for this. It feels great. I'm wonderful. Perfect. A success.

Big Heart - I deserve admiration: I need some sort of approval and encouragement. I'm not really appreciated.

The Powerful Self

Energised - I must please: I have high expectations which make me a bit anxious. I reassure myself by being focused, directed, in control of every detail, so enjoy the show - It's all for your benefit so don't criticise or insult me.

Depleted - Collapse after the performance: I made a mistake. My plan didn't work. I'v lost control of things and I'm feeling weak, lonely and sad. Am I still good enough? What can I do now to get their attention?

Rubrics:

* Ailments - mortification/wounded honour/being offended/egotism.

* Delusions - abused/criticized/insulted/neglected/tall/enlarged.

* MIND - HAUGHTY - wounded self-esteem; wishes to be flattered

* MIND - CONFIDENCE - want of self-confidence

* MIND - DICTATORIAL

Conclusion: The Power remedies of the Lanthanide and Gold Series all affect Sycotic aspects of the 3rd chakra? Most of these are normally considered Syphilitic remedies.

So consider Gadolinium - also Stage 10, and (from a 3rd chakra perspective) it seems to be complimentary to Palladium - Jan says they give you an impression of being self-satisfied or even haughty. Balance and Control are very important to them and can lead to rigidity. Its anxiety vs. self-esteem again. We are back in 'Sycotic' territory!

[Leela D'Souza]

Chakras

Labels: Pt3.Ch4.Archetypes. Pall-met.

Tuesday, 29 September 2009

Conan the Samarium

Samarium Praxis - the struggle to acheive, from page to stage.

[Jan Scholten]

That the experience of Samarium is extreme pressure and heaviness. They have to force their way through life. They have amazing inner strength, and they will put incredible pressure on themselves

to get things done. Their own expectations are the driving force. Their forceful attitude to life might be expressed as ....

"You just have to get on with it".

"Lets get it done. Whatever it takes."

"Nothings gonna bring me down".

A typical Samarium dream is of driving at great speed trying to keep the car on the straight and narrow.

They still feel that they have lots to do and that they will go far. The reward for their struggle is independence and autonomy.

They have to get over, round or through every obstruction. Opposition is felt as harsh criticism, in fact it can seem like everyone's a critic. Its easy to criticise, but much harder to DO!

Provings often give a mixed bag of results. In Clinical trials the remedy is judged to be suitable for the person, which means they will be sensitive to it and their reactions will be good indicators of its therapeutic role. One person who took part in an early proving seems to have experienced the expected result with Samarium, which is a Stage 8 Lanthanide (autonomy/power) Remedy:

"I feel self-confident and assertive. The sensation is that I am who I am."

Various others described feelings of "hindrances" or of "breaking boundaries" which are, in general, typical of Stage 8 - the theme of "pushing through".

Labels: Pt1.Ch3.Lanthanides.Samarium

Saturday, 26 September 2009

Lutetium

End Game - Lutetium.

Lutetium has suffered so much that there is nothing left. The connection to this world is crumbling and or broken. They are dissociated and dysfunctional.

They do not want or need anything the world has to offer, are alone but they don't care. Its a state beyond desire, without hope. The "emotional body" isn't flat - its dead.

Its one stage from the Autistic-like states of the Halogens and it looks a bit like some of the Bird Remedies - the captive ones, for sure. They still have a sense of playfulness and humour - but it arises from their own distance from the world and its clarity and wisdom are pervaded by nostalgia and emptiness.

Think of a survivor stumbling around the sterile war-torn landscape of Judgement Day.

Holmium

Investigating the Power remedies of the Holmium Group (Stages 12 & 13)

In the Lanthanide Series we're talking about the power to assert our autonomy.

What's coming though in spades with Holmium is a sense of previously subdued Power coming to light - and subsequently the Wisdom of learning to deploy Power morally and responsibly.

The power, once awakened can manifest as anger - and old anger turns to resentment. The repressed feelings come out as a rage against the machine... Its exact expression depends on the Salt:

In Holmium-ox. anger at injustice and a sense of being wronged.

In Holmium-n. anger could be caused by feeling second best. Like Nux-v they want the best - they put themselves first and are assertive, expansive and want to be admired. They do not want rules or limits.

In Holmium-p. anger or frustration caused by betrayal by friends and loss of contact. Phosphoricums define themeselves by these boundaries and fear loosing them. This is comparable to the spacey, boundless, gaseous state of the Nitricums (perhpas expressed in the 'polarity' Nitrogenium delusion - everything is meaningless). Phos wants to be earthed to some degree.

In Holmium-m. anger is about the grief from deeper relationships - broken trust, neglect or loss of security.

Without wisdom and compassion power gives you the ruthlessness of a dictator, which is traditionally associated with Mercury, in Stage 12 of the Gold Series, the realm of external power. Mercury feels suspicious and threatened.

Thallium, next to Mercury in Stage 13 of the Gold Series, tries to hold on to his power by being stubborn and dogmatic. He needs to be stubborn and irritable to get his own way because he has almost lost faith in himself and, more importantly, his strength. He eventually withdraws into himself.

Similarly the pathological Holmium (Stage 13) has lost faith in his inner self - his own being and is also on the back foot. The remedy brings back some of this lost power.

Looking at my own life I can see a continuum of very closely related states that goes:

Dysprosium -> Holmium -> Erbium.

Dysprosium at Stage 12, feels independent but under constant attack. They are brave people who challenge the world with new ideals. Sometimes they can get such a battering that they feel like giving up. That point - giving up the fight - marks the transition to the next stage Holmium, where they can no longer preserve their autonomy and have to take a step back. This is felt as a heavy defeat. Hence the bitterness.

In Erbium (Stage 14) they have really lost the fight. They feel powerless. After that comes the despair of Thulium (Stage 15) a state so dark it would frighten you to even read about it! Beyond that lies dissociation and ultimately - madness :)

Refs: "Elements" (blue book) and "Secret Lanthanides".

Lanthanide themes in Lachesis?

Snakes in general are quite solitary and avoid people. There is Secrecy, misanthropy, and delusions of enemies. Some are quite egotistical. These signifiers place the

Snake remedies between Stages 12 and 17. The Series is more difficult to discern, but one clue is that there is a strong focus on Sexuality which suggests the Silicium Series - establishing relationships outside the family.

Lach. seems to resonate with Stage 12, Crot-h. with Stage 15 and Cench. with Stage 16.

[Philip Bailey]

Lach.: hints of Lanthanide qualities such as autonomy, independence, depth, sexuality and so on.

Lach. seem to hate restriction and have inner tensions > discharging emotions in the form of loquacity or sexuality. Philip says the hatred of restriction can also manifest as a need for their own space in a relationship or a loathing of being ordered about (typical teenagers).

Can be quite extraverted and enjoy being the centre of attention which reminds me of Stage 10. Often known to be quite philosophical (Sulphur).

You get a slew of remedies in bold type (incl. Lach.) In the rubric:

Contradiction - disposition to contradict: ANAC. CAUS. HEP. LACH. LYC. NUX-V.

What's really confusing about Lach. that it comes out on top if you "collect" rubrics that might suggest a Lanthanide, e.g. philosophical, thoughtful, curious, sympathetic, and mystical (Sulphur too!). To understand this we'd have to go back to 1828 and step into Hering's shoes. But Lachesis may be alive and well today...

The primary Lach. conflict between Morality and Instinct.

This path is seen in Buddhas sutra teachings; but these are the common preliminary practices, and can also be found in many world religions. This path, on its own, can be merely intellectual spirituality. It has neither the depth of Mahamudra nor of the Lanthanides.

Kali-br.: (Under construction).

Dr. Rajan: Kali-br. mind: Structure Vol II, P. 561.

"Delusion: impression of danger from his own family". This means that the feeling is that those you depend on (Kali) will harm you (Brom).

In that situation you have to be careful to conform to your parents wishes or you get punished swiftly and harshly. You end up thinking even a small mistake is a crime, "Delusion, crime: committed he had".

Sex becomes riddled with guilt, and since any sense of normality or morality is eroded, perversions arise.

Kali-s.:

Big Mind: I have to look after my partner and friends.

Big Heart: I must bring kindness, love and joy to my family and friends.

The Protector: Having the respect of family and friends makes me feel secure, so I have to stand by everything they do. I worry about others. I'm afraid of the people at

work. People should always take care of each other.

The Seeker: I work hard for my family because I need their respect (Delusion: disgraced).

The Shadow: I feel proud when I have the respect of my family and friends. I'm upset by trifles, such as rudeness at home. I'm easily offended. I can get angry and even

hysterical when the harmony of my home is disturbed. I'm easily discouraged so sex is out! I sleep lightly but I have vivid dreams ... robbers, murder and accidents.

Exploring Stage15: Yielding and Loss

Stage 15 is well on the way down-hill. The remedies in Col 15 fight back against the odds fiercely when put under pressure but there comes a point at which they give way and become very dark and very ill.

Jan Scholten.: elements in this column have a profound sense of loss.

This sense of loss is associated with the Tubercular Miasm, where there is a rush to savour lives wonder, right down to the last drop. The lighter elements in this column, Nitrogen and Phosphorous types, when healthy, seem to mirror this stage, where there is a rush to travel and savour society (Phos), enjoyment and freedom (Nit).

But make no mistake, there is a dark side to the phosphorous extravert. The tubercualar miasm is a precarious and dangerous place to be because, in the not too distant past, the diagnois of Tb. implied the most awful and incurable degeneration of the lungs imaginable. You were just left to get on with it. So, this miasm has another side to it, a narrowing down of lives enjoyments, leaving only the threat of darkness, despair, utter loneliness and ultimately defeat.

One moment the Tubercular person is elated and happy to be alive, the next they feel very poorly, and frightend of feeling so close to death. This can actually be the case in the lung complaints that call for Phos, Ars and Ant-c. There is an air of death in all these.

Once the pathology takes hold the battle is lost. The patient yields.

Definition: yielding (adj) Wordnet

(n.) a verbal act of admitting defeat

(adj.) tending to give in or surrender or agree -> docile -> gentle;

(adj.) lacking stiffness and giving way to pressure ->soft;

(adj.) inclined to yield to argument or influence or control;

Similar to: compromising -> flexible, conciliatory -> appeasing.

Repertory Similars: Retaliate, cannot. No, cannot say. Mildness, etc.

A closer look at Yielding through Stage 15

They are very susceptible to bad news. The delusion of being in a law suit shows the sense of threat and their aggressive response. They lack the power to fight of this level of threat alone. When things go wrong there is a fatalistic attitude in Nit-ac. the yielding attitude shows through in the rubric,

'DELUSIONS - will power; as if loss of'.

Like Phos. they can be agitated, ill humoured, hypochondriachal and afriad of death.

Phos shares some of the agitation of Nit-ac. Phos. can be very agitated about work. If they are too poorly to work it can really feel as if everything is shutting down; its not just loss of income, its also the loss of the social context in which they thrive that means so much to them. They become very worried and anxious, even driven to suicidal thoughts.

Ars. Alcoholism from weakness of character. Yielding is still a theme in Ars.(>Mildness) but she has lost so much that she has gone into a despair beyond merely yielding.

Likewise, a yielding state in Antimony is expressed by a combination of rubrics such as "cannot bear to be looked at" (>Cowardice), 'carried, desires, to be' and the depth of fear is described by the rubric: fear - recover, he will not. Loss is evident in the sense of nostalgia.

Bismuth kills herself - the suffering is almost unimaginable - constriction of chest, angina, palpitation and so on - desperately clinging to anything or anyone.

The Bismuth state is reminiscent of the ultimate yielding of Hara-kiri, where all the power and respect is lost.

And Thulium?

Jan Scholten: Thulium gives up autonomy for the sake of gaining Self. What could this mean? Well, he adds that giving up their personality is their Achilles heel. Its much more than backing down out of politeness like Phos. Is it yielding the ultimate... submission? What kind of submission?

Is submission the strategy that runs through Stage 15?

Jan Scholten: Loss, Surrender, Handing over, sacrificing and refusing.

Stage 1 nat-c nat-m (>Mildness. >Cowardice) Caust : Yield because they are submissive and unsure of themselves.

Stage 2 Mag-m Calc-sil (>Mildness) Bar-c (>Benevolence. >Cowardice) Bar-m : Ditto. Timid. Flexible. Indecisive. (Bar-s. servile, obsequious, submissive)

Stage 10 Carb-v Sil : They are uncertain and unstable and therefore easily influenced (>Servile, obsequious, submissive. >Benevolence. > Cowardice).

Stage 10 Aur-m-n : Gives up (>mildness) when she feels she has failed. (>Aur: servile, obsequious, submissive. >Benevolence. >Cowardice)

Stage 11 Cupr: Proving & Holding on through rituals. His perseverance softens under criticism (>Servile, obsequious, submissive. >Cowardice).

Stage 12 Zinc: Repeating, copying & overproduction. Yields under pressure of failure (>Cowardice. >Mildness).

Stage 15 Phos. Ph-ac: Fears loss of friendship so she appears submissive and polite (>Benevolence. >Mildness. >Cowardice).

Stage 17 Flour-ac: Gives up and becomes indifferent to business and to family.

The issue of identity in Row 3 and the Lanthanides

Speculation on the relationship of Row 3, the identity series, and the Lanthanides.

Consider a hypothetical case where the impact of an alcoholic abusive father causes suppression of identity in Alumina,Al2O3, [R3,Stg3].

Sankaran, Structure, P427: Where the parent continually dominates the child saying “No, that’s wrong, you know nothing, I’ll show you how its supposed to be done”.

The result is seen in the rubrics:

Row 3 Right Side of P.T.

“Irresolution, timidity and fear”.

“Confusion, identity to his“.

“Delusion, I am small”.

"Obstinate".

Now Row 3 is about the childhood development of one’s ego and identity (P. 308). The child needs support.

Rajan Sankaran: “It is an important issue in man to develop his individuality, have and identity, choice and ego”. On the Right Side of the Periodic Table (figure above) the sense of ego, self and individuality is more developed - Sulphur is well known for its selfish or willful posture towards the outside world. It's the instinctive relationship of our ego or self, to the outside world that is brought to maturity in the third row.

Now please compare the above with Row 7. The sense of control and power over our inner world is improved by the remedies of this row. We are told that the issues are of autonomy, independence, inner control and inner self. These are very adult themes, but see how damage at the level of row 3 effects someone’s realisation and fulfilment of this row? Are we going to prescribe a Row 3 remedy or one from Row 7 or a combination? Combinations of remedies from these rows can be dramatic because their relationship is extremely complimentary - being able to resolve both inner and outer conflicts.

Consider the rubrics (themes) of Lanthanum Oxydatum, R7,St3, it has the same anion as Alumina, and it demonstrates a recurrence of issues: They are unable to state their autonomy and independence. Jan points out it’s the result of feeling that they are not worth very much (Lanthanides P. 117).

My dilemma as a Practitioner, was to decide which remedy to give to a 40yr old woman who‘s found refuge in T.M. (or some simial ethical structure) for 20yrs …. Would Alumina suffice to reduce her dependence on her adopted ethics? The case has Autonomy and Row 3 issues. We hope the client will become free to express her identity, which would also be important in an Alumina case. Alumina is the childhood expression Stage 3 issues.

I would expect a deeper penetration and reaction from Lanthanum (or perhaps La-Oxy, because Alumina is an oxide), which enhances our sense of being firm and grounded.

Conclusion: As predicted by the theory of 'Stages' in the Periodic Table, remedies from the same stage of row 7 and row 3 are closely related - but act on deeper levels of self expression.

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Labels: Pt1.Ch3.Lanthanides.La

Kali-n.:

Big Mind - I enjoy my work, its part of the good life.

Big Heart - Enjoyment is the main thing!

The Protector - Happiness is my reward for a job well done. Its a philosophy of life that everyone should adopt.

The Controller - I'm bored by this! I'm anxious about work, but it isn't everything - life's too short.

The Seeker - Don't try to stop me. I want it all and I want it now! I don't care about morals, or sexual restrictions. When I'm discontented I dream of carousing or journeys. I wake easily.

The Vulnerable Child: very cautious, and anxious about the future. It gives me headaches. If I don't do my duty they will be after me. I've a horror of loosing my penis.

The Damaged Self - I'm angry and a bit paranoid. I feel trapped by these four walls. I cry when I head sad music - I'm missing out on so much. I feel as if I'm dead already.

Kali-p.:

Big Mind - I have to look after my family and my close friends.

Big Heart - I have to stay in touch. I would be lost without my family.

The Protector - My job is to protect myself, family and friends. My sense of duty extends to anyone in trouble. I'm a good Samaritan.

The Controller - I work and study hard because if I do well I can look after everyone. I'm open, sympathetic and honest.

The Seeker - I like excitement. I'm always doing something. Life's too short. I rove around the world because I love making new contacts and friends.

The Vulnerable Child - I have so many anxieties and fears! My health, the future, and of death. I'm very jumpy. I have frightful dreams. I don't like heights or open spaces.

The Shadow - I am excitable and impressionable, almost clairvoyant. I see frightful images of death and destruction. Time runs away from me.

The Damaged self - When I overdo it I become sad, weary and indifferent to everything. I feel forsaken and everything looks strange and dead. My memory is weak, but I'm very sentimental.

The Autonomous Self

The Integrated Self - My main issue is the fear of losing my power.

Big Mind - I must protect my failing, rotten kingdom any way I can.

Big Heart - I'm a hypocrite, totally alone. I've lost faith in everything.

The Powerful Self

The Protector - My job is to protect the Self from harm. I want to protect my position and my luxurious lifestyle. I do this by being guarded and suspicious of

everyone, especially backstabbers. I don't like open spaces, or crowds. Anything could happen. My enemies might try some trick on me.

The Controller - My job is to control. I'm disgusted and discontented with everything. I'm terse, rude, hateful and dictatorial and I will destroy anyone who offends me or gets in my way.

The Seeker - I'm bored and cynical about everything. I'm sick of empty flattery. I love flashing money around but then I go gambling to claw it back.

The Vulnerable Child - I want to be at home. I feel frightened and forsaken. I have a horrible sensation of falling.

The Reflective Self

The Voice of the Dualistic Mind - I struggle to control all sorts wild and frightful ideas, even of my own impulses. I'm lascivious and will try anything. A slight offence makes me want to kill anyone, even my loved ones. I have a "thing" about knives.

The Shadow Self

The Damaged Self - I feel as if I'm dying. I'm not afraid of death. I want out! Its Hell anyway!

The Skeptic - My job is to be sceptical of everything. I keep trying but I worry about the future. It's all going to end badly. I loath this life sometimes.

The Big Mind Process applied to Platina.

The Autonomous Self

The Integrated Self - My very soul is exalted!

Big Mind - I am proud of everything I do.

Big Heart - I'm a sexual egoist too, above anything common.

The Powerful Self

The Protector - My job is to protect the Self from harm. I want to protect my pride. I might have implants or a face-lift, because I fear that i'm not appreciated. I have a real temper, even from trifles. I'm contemptuous and easily offended. I can be violent and cruel. I don't like being ruffled by children.

The Controlling Self

The Controller - My job is to control. I'm dictatorial and contemptuous of everyone. I'm beautiful and I'm rude to everyone - because I'm worth it! If you lend me money I'll treat you to a lavish night out, but once I'v spent it all that is it, you'll never see me again. As long as my lawyers and bankers are happy I don't care.

The Searching Self

The Seeker - I'm already spiritually accomplished. I'm self-absorbed and narcissistic about it. I don't really care about religion. I like expensive things, gaiety and excitement, catch up with me at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Reflective Self

The Voice of the Dualistic Mind - I struggle to control my excessive sexual passion and frustration with everything. It's all beneath me really, but that makes me feel strange, disconnected and alone. I don't really care about my family.

The Shadow Self

The Damaged Self - I can be highly erotic or highly egotistical. I have to express my exaggerated sense of self somehow! The other side of my ego is a feeling that

I'm a disgrace. My temper tantrums open up my dark side. I can commune with the dead. People look dark and devilish. I'm haunted by a fear that I could easily die.

The Vulnerable Child - I feel frightened and alone, because I don't really belong. I don't want to be abandoned. I'm sad, sulky, anxious and weary of life.

Misha Norland's approach to Symptoms.

Phlegmatic Axis

Stg 15 [N Ph Ars Sb Bi Tm]

Choleric HOT/DRY Sx are dynamic and decisive. Irritable and explosive.

On the Phlegmatic COLD/WET Polarity we get static, indecisive, faithful, feeling engulfed and loss of identity.

Take Bismuth. Morose. Suicidal.

The Bismuthum subnitricum delusions of superiority, of falling and of being alone. Amoral. Fear of death and of suicide. Moods are obstinate or sad, longing for female company. Cramping.

Do the complaints fit with your idea of HOT & DRY vs. COLD & WET? Bismuth is heavily phlegmatic but there a some choleric aspects (extremities: coldness vs. skin: burning).

Looking at the evidence what would you expect Thulium to be like? Yes, serious and heavy!

Dr Scholten: loss of autonomy. Annihilation. Darkness. Falling. Doom. The very epitomy of the phlegmatic temperament, but Thulium can also express the choleric polarity, becoming excessive, wild and murderous.

Compare Thulium and Bismuth with Opium. There are similarities which suggest that Opium has an affinity with Stage 15 (or 16) [Xref]. The disturbance is mainly of affect and to the formation of ideas - Silver Series. Antimony (S5,St15) has shades of these polarities e.g. Ecstacy, walking in moonlight, Lascivious vs. Loathing, Morose, Sad.

Opium symptoms seem to lies mainly on the Choleric - Phlegmatic axis.

It seems to be a very changeable state, with a variety of dark moods and polarites.

The other Paperveraceae may have a similar shaped plot (Chel, Morph and Sang all have deep moods with similar polarities of anger and excitabilitiy). Dr Sankaran gives the passive reaction for the whole family as Analgesia, Coma, Painlessness and Numbness. He gives the active reactions as rage, spasms and convulsions.

In Ignatia, which is representative of the Loganaceae family, rubrics indicate that the main axis is in the direction of water. The warmer sanguine and colder phlegmatic temperaments merge into a watery gradient.

The polarity, the choleric temperament is an equal blend of earth and fire.

Remember that these are soft relationships - their function is primarily to create a deeper "neural network" of memorable associations, but they can also help us access unfamiliar or unknown remedies and predict how they might behave.

We've strayed quite far into foreign lands already, lets get really eccentric now, and plot the planetary aspects (which represent the Inner Self in Huber Charts) of my birthday, 4/9/55 onto a Misha style map to show where I should be at in good health ...

Does this show the type of remedies that might be useful to me in this life? I wonder. If I was convinced I'd select one of the corresponding Misha Remedy Maps (in McRep or his book).

The ones with a main vertical axis, crossed by a minor 45' axis are: Calc-phos, Sul-ac, Ars-Iod, Iodum, Iris, Anaholium and Agaricus. These are Maps of the totality though - you'd have to include the Astrological Houses as well to get such a complete picture. Still, these suggestions are not that far off the mark.

A further use for this system of plotting hot/cold against dry/wet is that has the potential to represent data on the plant's natural habitat and ecology e.g. Pulsatilla has an affinity for sandy soil and fresh air.

Hawks and Doves and the Dysprosium State

Hawks and Doves refers to J. Maynard Smiths work on "Evolution and the Theory of Games". It is a sort of Transactional Analysis using the replicator equation which demonstrates the fitness landscape of various population types.

It is assumed that every genotype has a well defined replication rate (fitness). This fitness is the "height" of the landscape. Genotypes which are similar are said to be "close" to each other, while those that are very different are "far" from each other. The two concepts of height and distance are sufficient to form the concept of a "landscape".

The analysis is applied to a situation in which there is a competition for a shared resource and the contestants can choose either conciliation or conflict.

That's the theory part of it. I once used it to draw similar inferences from a cluster analysis of the social interactions of a group of Orang utangss. That's the long way round - a research project!

The short way is just to observe ... and to get a feel for the comfort zone of each subject.

To get a feel for the landscape of our own comfort zone consider the game of chicken ... where two drivers both head for a single lane bridge from opposite directions. The first to swerve away yields. In the game of chicken we automatically evaluate the risk of the confrontation in terms self-esteem and self-respect as well as the intensity of the physical danger. The point at which we yield demonstrates the limit of our comfort zone (i.e. fitness, in Hawks and Doves).

The Transactional analysis model (Eric Berne), also demonstrates that we manifest our personality through a mixture of behaviours or ego-states which can shift between dominant and yielding, the parent, the adult or the child. If these states cause us sufficient embarressment and discomfort they can become disowned, and exist as shadow parts of ourselves - organised clusters of unwanted perceptions, cognitions and affects [1,2].

In the Homeopathic study of the elements the landscape of our comfort zone and deeper constellations of "hidden" energy patterns, is measured by a sliding scale of characteristic "Stages" (1-17)[3] (the stages represent distance in Hawks and Doves).

An example to illustrate: I asked a college if he would like me to find a more deeper acting remedy than the St John's Wort he uses. The answer came back with depth and force (Scorpio?) and with a steely/iron determination,

"Not if it interferes with my creativity".

That's enough to indicate to me that we are looking at the self-determination of the Lanthanides (not the creativity of the Silvers) , and then Stage 8 at the very least, and more likely at Stage 12 - Dysprosium.

Dysprosium can be suspicious of people interfering with their freedom.

Do try repertorising it ... where would you end up? Rubrics can only give a fragmented glimpse. It is very difficult to choose a group that really expresses the 'gestalt' ...

Suspicious - medicine will not take [anac ars Cimic Lach]??

Dictatorial. [anac. ars. aur. aur-m-n. Aur-s. Camph. carc. Cupr. falco. ferr. Fl-ac. lac-h. lach. lil-t. LYC. Med. Merc. ozone. pall. Plat. puls. Sulph. thuj. verat]

On this analysis we might be prompted to take a closer look at anacardium, or the aurums. Other interesting ones might be ...

Lachesis (Viperidae), in some commentaries Lachesis sounds like a deeply spiritual remedy, but its only a snake! Its about self-grasping and self-expression coming out in a very materialistic way. It finds is home in our primitive, shadowy, reptile brain - the medulla and parts of the limbic system. These areas of the brain are the home of suspicion, jealousy and rivalry and also the source of our agressive and seeking dreams.

Camphora (Laurales, Stage 15?), feels isolated and alienated. The image of the Steppenwolf, the ranting philosopher who is forsaken, out in the cold. He alternates from vexation to rage (Sulph).

Cimicifuga (Ranunculales, Stage 13?), Trapped/Vexed. Hoyne: Miserable, dejected feeling; feels grieved and troubled.

Ozone (Stage 16) is a special case - usually prescribed as an Oxdatum, e.g. Dysprosium-Oxy, which has the feeling that they need to keep self control in order not to be abused. I think that's about as close as you can get from the information given.

Oxygen is Worthless?

Exploring the theme of Worthlessness in Oxygen (Stage 16).

A portrait derived from the Oxygenium rubrics ...

The Oxygen client is normally sensitive and sympathetic. They have a sense of what is just and fair, and are easily offended. Then they rationalise everything and loose contact with their emotions. The resulting depression extends to diminshed self-appreciation. They can try to compensate by being sarcastic and egotistical.

The Oxygen rubric, "Indifference external things to" describes the state that arises from the feeling that everything is worthless. A similar state (Worthlessness + Indifference) is also found in Agnus Castus, Anacardium, Thuja and Perigrine Falcon.

Agn.: arrogance, discontent # self-contempt, deep sadness and a worthless feeling.

Anac.: tries to impress because she feels helpless, insecure and has a lack of confidence.

Thuja feels unlovable - lonely and empty.

The Peregrine feels trapped.

The rubric "Indifference to external things" lists several other remedies. Do the other remedies listed in this rubric express the same sense of worthlessness?

Schroyens: [agn. am-c. am-m. anac. Berb. bit-ar. Bov. buth-a. calc-p. cann-i. cham. Cic. coca-c. con. Euphr. falco-pe. Hell. Kola. Lyc. merl. olib-sac. Op. ozone. part-ra. Ph-ac. plat-met. polys.

Rumx. Stann-met. staph. SULPH. tarent. Thuj. Verat. Vip.].

Roger van Zandvoort: [achy. allox. Bac. Bos-s. choc. Heroin. Lsd. Oxyg. PHOS. Pyrite. sulo-ac.]

[Steph Nile]

The expression of 'worthlessness' can be determined by examining each remedy in the context of our best understanding of its totality. Some examples:

Achy.: Psychological themes: rationalizing, lack of feeling, depression; Apathy; Remorse, repentance; Fear of suffering.

Achy.: indifference looks like the expression of a moral dilemma - the amoral polarity swings back to quietude, fear, repentance and remorse. This is one-step removed from Pyrites feeling and two-steps removed from the Oxygen feeling.

Bos-s.: = Frankincense - Boswellia serrata: Sapinales. Normally, Religious, sensitive and clairvoyant, harmonious, loving and altrustic, he can loose his state of grace and become worried about trifles, ashamed and discontented with himself and even confused about his identity. There is detatchment and misanthropy.

Am-c. and am-m.: Both contain Nitrogen. Nitrogen (stage 16) has the delusion that everything is meaningless, which is only a short step away from getting into the indifference of Oxygen (stage 17).

Am-c. also contains Oxygen so it's no wonder that it is estranged, indifferent and has a delusion that things are empty.

Carbonicums can also feel that their self-worth is in doubt and to them the world is a hard place - carbon adds a softness to any compound. Carbon compounds dissolve harsh realities into soft tears and the world takes on a softer aspect.

Am-m.: (the chloride ion is at stage 17) has its own special take on loathing and aversion to everything. The tears of Chlorine compounds (Muriaticums) can flow from self pity. The bicarb decomposes to the chloride which mirrors the homeopathic change from stage 16 to 17 ...

Allox.: produced by the oxidation of uric acid (ammonia again)!

Pyrit.: Psychological themes: rationalizing, lack of feeling, depression; shame, offence; despair; loneliness; self-appreciation diminished; Delusions, he is being beaten. Dreams, stealing, persued. Misanthropy. Quiet wants to be. Sadness. Weeping.

Pyrites seems to have an Indifference that is similar to the Oxygen feeling. Generally Ferrums push hard, but can breakdown (weakness of will) when they are criticised. The sense of worthlessness may be due to the disulphide since Sulphur (Stage 16, like O2) has various degenerate themes, e.g. "He is disgraced". Sulphur also comes up emphasized in capitals in the rubric.

PHOS.: Stage 15: Psychological themes: Altruism. Compulsions, responsibility decreased, avoiding. Distance, reservation. Apathy. Desires nothing. Discontented - everything. Disgust - everything. Estranged. Indifference.

The indifference in Phos (Stage 15) is close to the Oxygen state (Stage 16) but a healthy Phos is usually very affectionate so the state of indifference develops as a result of being let down or being put upon, if there is a feeling of worthlessness it arises from a different cause. Oxygen needs respect, Phos wants love.

Bit-ar.: Forsaken. Homesick. Delusions: as if far off; separated from the world. Everything seems unreal. Spaced out feeling, as if he had taken drugs.

Vip-b.: The European adder: Indifference. Discouraged. Forsaken. Hatred. Revengeful.

Indifference in the two Vipers considered above seems to be because their feelings are so intense that they are out of touch with reality. Its not a lack of self-worth.

Structuralism and the Plant Kingdom

Steph Nile

Frodsham (Chester), Cheshire, United Kingdom

Interests: Philosophy, Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Buddhism, Psychosynthesis, Hypnotherapy and R.E.B.T.

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