Physiognomy, the Unconscious and ART

[David Little]

Hello all,

There has been mention of facial analysis and the miasms. This has
inspired me to share my experience in similar areas.

Being a student of physiognomy, the Hippocratic temperaments and the
Mappa Mundi, I find that the structure of the head, face, body, hands,
palms, feet and soles great assets in case taking. This provides much
knowledge about the patient. It also offers more knowledge about the
disease state and pathology as much can be discovered from the physique,
iris, face, hand, feet, body parts, tongue, etc. Shapes, colors, lines,
marks, place of lesions,etc, all have relevance to the inner spheres. Past
masters have left many therapeutic hints about various constitutions,
temperaments, miasms and remedies. Over time we have come to know how many
of remedies 'look" as well as act through observation.

This is not, however, only a passive system of observing the signs. One
can also use eye modes, facial expressions, gestures and body language as a
feedback system while taking the case. When the complexes of the patient
are activate through word association during the interview there are
corresponding changes in eye modes, pupil dilation, facial expressions,
tone of the voice, gestures and body language. In this way, the homoeopath
can use the reactions of the patient as a guide into the deeper realms of
the Unconscious while taking a case. It allows one can penetrate the layers
of the persona, shadow, personal unconscious (anima-animus), collective
unconscious and the Self in an effective manner during.

First tune into your own Unconscious and make contact with your own
true Self. Then look gently into the patient's eyes and take up a
sympathetic body posture. If you are having trouble making contact with
the patient don't forget to *touch* them and say reassuring words at the
same time. This anchors the patient and promotes bonding and trust. This
method can also be used as a "lie detector" where the patient avoids
certain areas related to repression, denial or dishonestly. It will help
one to by pass blocks and restrictions and assist the patient in opening up.

Once you engage the patient's Unconscious the interview process it will
offer information on a number of different levels simultaneously. It will
communicate through symbols, images, voice patterns, reversed speech,
Freudian slips as well as facial expressions, gestures and body language.
This method invokes the living Organon within the patient as well as the
practitioner. Once this is accomplished case taking will truly come alive
and an interactive experience.To develop one's perceptions of physiognomic
signs and learn to understand the symbolic language of the psyche and soma
as a biofeedback system are advanced areas of understanding the objective
signs that go with the subjective symptoms.

Most patients while present their persona first. The persona is
identified with the sex and body of the patient. The persona will tell you
about the diseases that affect the body and offer an idealistic view of who
the patient would like to be rather than who they really are! This is the
mask the patient wears to be acceptable to self and others and hides the
activities of the shadow, which makes up a subconscious polarization. The
patient is only dimly aware of the shadow and often represses the shadowy
emotions that lurk in the dark. The emotions and instincts are usually the
opposite of what the persona wishes to present.

For example, a person that speaks in a overly soft voice with a
peaceful mask on the face and stresses show much they love peace, harmony
and openness in a contrived manner usually have a angry, irritable
controlling shadow that comes immediately in personal or professional
relationships. This is accordance with the ancient principle "big front-big
back". If you wish to know more about the shadow just ask the persona what
type of people they like or don't like or what types of situations they
avoid, etc. Suddenly one engages the more "judgmental" aspects of the
subconscious related to "shadowy affairs". He they will say things I don't
like angry, pushy, or noisy people, etc., which more often than not is a
side of themselves they don't wish to acknowledge directly.

I call this "reverse speech", which is the language of the shadow. The
shadow is a master of projecting and veiling. The voice and face of the
shadow is different than the voice and face of the persona. In our example,
the persona speaks overly soft and controlled with a corresponding
mask-like smile and facial expression. When the shadow appears it is more
identified with it own personal judgements and prejudices, which are stated
in a more firm, hard and disapproving manner with corresponding gestures
and facial expressions. The shadow, however, is only a partial reflection
of the complexes hidden in the personal unconscious, which often relates to
early childhood, orificial activations and developmental stages.

The personal unconscious is polarized opposite to the physical body and
persona. This is the level of the anima and animus. The personal
unconscious in a man is called the anima and more female-like in nature.
The personal unconscious in a women is called the animus and has a more
male-like nature. The anima frames much of its understanding in terms of
the mother figures. The animus frames much of its understanding in terms of
father figures. Although the personal unconscious has both male and female
qualities, it is predominately polarized opposite to the physical body and
persona.

The anima-animus axis is greatly influenced by the early development
stages like the intro uterine and birth experiences, early breathing, the
union-separation dilemma and the oral, anal, urethral and genital
actualizations. As the interview progress in following the emotional
feeling tones and sensations of the patient there comes a time when the
level of the animus-animus appears. The voice, body language and gestures
of the anima-animus level are very distinct. Usually a man's pseudo logical
gives why to pseudo feelings and a woman's pseudo intuition gives way to
pseudo logic. A man often becomes emotionally vulnerable, fearful, and
changeable and full repressed emotions. A woman often becomes judgmental,
opinionated and rigid and full of repressed notions.

The most common times for the anima-animus to surface is in personal
relationships. Once that anima-animus dialog starts the man becomes a
"nagging, emotional old hag" and the women becomes a "judgmental,
opinionated old bag". Then they go after each other in the least
compassionate manner. This can be either overt or covert but is the reason
why so many couples break up. The onlookers are often amazed when a seemly
decent couple descend into the hurtful dialogs of the personal unconscious!
One access this level when the patient begins to speak about their
childhood, sexual relationships and their relationship to their parents. I
can not go into an detailed explanation of the anima-animus level due to
time and energy constraints but I thought I would raise the subject and
offer a few hints.

Collective symbols, images and altered states of consciousness come the
collective unconscious level. This is the driving level of the dynamic
archetypes that supply the raw energy to the personal unconscious, shadow
and persona. This is the realm of images, dreams, daydreams, fantasies,
altered states and existential dilemmas. This is the origins of myths,
mysteries and magic that comes through in mythology, religion, legends,
fables, children's stories, poems and rhymes. This is the level where the
gods and goddess where Pan, Dionysus, Zeus and Aphrodite still live. This
is were the Warrior, the Hero, the Amazon, the Medium, the Priestess, the
Fool, the Wise man, etc., are all active. It does not matter if modern
person no longer believes in such things they are still under their control
for better or worse depending on whether these powers are integrated in a
heathy manner or drive the person crazy

The person may say that they must be more tempered but the undigested
Dionysus archetype in them may make them fall to mind boggling drugs,
unbridled sex, destructive rock and roll, gangster rap and violence. They
will not be able to stop these destructive actions until they channel the
creative side of Dionysus, who on the higher level is an image of life,
death and resurrection. Aphrodite can either manifest as a true love and
satisfaction or as Aphrodite porni who is a nymphomaniac. The Warrior may
lead to wars with destructive of the innocent or peace and protection of
the underclass. The Medium may see what is really needed or mislead self
and others with new age babble. One can not run away from the dynamic power
of the archetypes that lay behind the personal unconscious. There is no
power on earth strong enough to repress or suppress these fundamental
powers. One can only integrate the energy or disintegrate and fragment.

Archetypes and mythologems are found in both patients and remedies.
Nux-v is a Warrior or Amazon whether one likes it or not! Like the remedy,
in the raw state they are pure poison, but if refined they are the
medicine. Their persona seems charming, strong and dependable but their
shadow is irritable, repressive and possessive. Their anima is jealous,
trickily and deceitful and their animus is angry, violent, and prejudiced.
They will struggle, fight, push and pry until they get what they want. The
will climb up on the back of others and throw those in their way down to
reach the top of pile. Unless this warring spirit finds a true cause to
channel their energy, and through this become a more self sacrificing
compassionate person, they will destroy self and well as the others they
compete with. This energy can not be removed or repressed. It can only be
channeled. If they move toward the path of individuation and hear the Voice
of the Self they may become true Heros who protect others and fight for
justice for all humanity.

This level of the case is revealed in the whole personality and
preconscious drives and impulses. It is mirrored in symbols, images,
dreams, delusions, fantasies of the collective unconscious. This is where
mythologic figures long passed reappear in present days. It is said there
is nothing new under the Sun. Certain persons remind one of those who came
before and have become myths. Alexander the conqueror is still seeking to
rule the world and Sapho is still on the Isle of Lesbos. When you realize
the archetypal level of the patient you understand the inner power that
drives them that is beyond their emotional control and intellect. This is
the source of the raw energy that drives them no matter what they do they
will never escape it. One can only integrate its powers or will tear one to
pieces like the monsters in the labyrinth.

When these methods are combined with the ERA/ART methods one can not
only ask the vital force questions and interpret the answers. One can also
test the potential remedies and potencies through the medium of the
autonomic nervous system. This can be done by observing the reaction of the
iris, pulse, heart beat, respiratory rate, tissue tension, pain response to
pressure, percussions sounds, postural alignment, galvanic skin response,
etc. to remedies while they are still in the bottle! This is a method that
transforms the traditional clinical examine into a vitalist discussion with
the vital force about possible remedies and potencies. This is another way
of communicated with the Unconscious and the vital force. It should be
noted the Dr. E. Whitmont MD, who introduced Jungian psychology to
Homoeopathy used the ERA/ART on his patients as it is also a means of
communicated with the Unconscious consciously!

I would advise students and colleagues to contemplate these advanced
areas of our vitalist knowledge.
Sincerely, David Little