Minutus

Russell wrote, regarding the Doctrine of Signatures:
"The fact that many symptoms from a remedy can be explained in terms of the
signature doctrine does not mean the signature is the cause of those
symptoms. Andre Saine wrote an article maybe a year ago illustrating this
fact by selecting many remedies whose proving symptoms are completely
inconsistent with the signatures."

Dear Russell,
Of course I can't make a case that ALL symptoms can be explained according
to the Doctrine of Signatures. Yet I think it is highly interesting that so
many symptoms can be tied in this way. And since we are dealing with
energetic medicine, I don't have any problem accepting that the energies of
the substance come through directly. What else would they be caused by? (I
didn't mean to say the Doctrine itself is causing anything--it is the
substance energy from which the remedy is made.)

Blessings,
Charlotte

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Soroush wrote, regarding Apis and the Doctrine of Signatures:

"... it seems that at times with some colleagues on this site that unless
one is in agreement or silent, then any attempt to state any point to the
contrary gives rise to great upset which is reflected either privately or on
list. (CONTRADICTION AGG)"



"As long as we agree that DOS does not have UNIVERSAL application in
Homoeopathy, then I think we have general agreement on this issue.

Sorry to be DRONING on! "

Hi Soroush,

I apologize for my snippy tone in my message. I actually wasn't very upset,
just a little annoyed at the cumulative dismissal by many in the homeopathic
community of ideas and methods that are very dear to me, because they bring
a lot of magic and joy to my practice, not to mention much better results.

I do agree that one has to continually go back and forth between provings,
materia medica, and the symptoms of the client, confirming any intuition or
connection one might see with the Doctrine of Similars. There are
definitely pitfalls in using signatures exclusively across the board. But
if well-confirmed, using signature symptoms make for "a very rich analogy",
as Jayesh Shah puts it. There can be such astonishing beauty and poetry
that can come forth by learning to draw clients out, so that they speak from
their depths. Then it can often seem that they are speaking for a plant,
animal, or mineral whose energy they represent and carry, as Nancy Herrick
infers in her book of animal remedy provings, "Animal Minds, Human Voices."

So let's let it BEE! ; -)

Charlotte

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Wendy and Joy asked about the sand tray I use as part of my initial
consultation:

objects

Fabulous idea!! Can you tell us a bit more about this?

Dear Wendy and Joy,

I took a workshop on using sand play therapy as a diagnostic tool for
homeopathy. Sand play is a therapy used by Jungian analysts. Though there
is an elaborate methodology when used as a therapy, it can be a simple tool
for people to sidestep their rational mind and speak their inner truth in
symbols. Recently I had one taciturn teen who was obviously troubled, but
had trouble expressing himself in words. He got fully absorbed in the sand
tray, and set up a complex scene depicting the inner struggle that he felt
within himself between the darkness and the light.

I have typed notes from the workshop that I don't have on this computer. I
would be glad to send a copy of the notes to anyone who sends me a SASE and
another 34-cent stamp (to cover photocopying). My address is:

Charlotte Gilruth
572 Hampshire Hill Road
Worcester, Vermont 05682

I have a great time collecting miniature items of every for my sand tray,
and almost all my clients exclaim with delight when I pull it out from under
the couch. There have only been 3 clients I can think of who hadn't loved
it, and their reactions in themselves were enlightening to me and fit with
the remedies I gave them.

Warmly,
Charlotte
***********************
Stewart wrote, regarding Hering's Law:

" Subtle bodies are very complicated and every patient will be in a
different state. How many of us can pull out a case which shows every single
set of symptoms neatly unravelled in EXACT temporal order, with all SIX
conditions fulfilled, and with symptoms marching obediently to the fingers
and toes?
Naturally, I agree that symptoms should be pushed out to less important
organs etc and I must say it is wonderful when there is a clear 'Hering's
Law
type of unfolding. I don't think it is necessary though.
The main thing that annoys me is calling it a Law. The dogmatic style plays
into the hands of sceptics and they sometimes have every right to see us as
somewhat wacky."

******************************

Hi Stewart,
Are you a Hering's outlaw? (Just kidding!)

The way I've always looked at it is that Hering studied his cured cases and
noted certain patterns throughout the course of their healing process. I
think the different conditions he listed are simply the various
manifestations he noticed of the same general idea you mentioned, "that
symptoms should be pushed out to less important organs." Maybe he didn't
experience them all in one case either. Too bad we can't ask him directly!

As with the teachings of any deceased genius or saint, the spirit gradually
gets diluted over time and the words and concepts become rigidified to
dogma, set in stone. We see this of course with Hahnemann's teachings as
well, which is an unavoidable trend that each individual has to struggle
with in their own understanding.

Warm regards,
Charlotte

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Charlotte,

I conceptually can agree with the idea that since all matter is composed of
energy, the physicial properties it displays is also "shaped" by the energy
pattern of which it is composed. The danger is that people will do exactly
what we are seeing occur in homeopathy today. They will look at the
physical/behavioral and make assumptions about the energic properties. These
assumptions will be filtered and tainted by personal experience and bias. In
addition, we really do not understand in any objective way what all this
energy shaping matter stuff is about. This borders on a
religious/philosophical issue and homeopathy is no place for these. Five
elements, four elements, four humors, chi, prana, etc, etc. Homeopathy began
and should continue as a scientific system based on observation and
inductive reasoning.

There are way too many exceptions to the DOS to use it in any way other than
a mnemonic device in those cases where provings have confirmed the symptoms.
DOS is a very slippery slope and can lead to the destruction of homeopathy
if it is taken too far. As I said in an earlier post, Hahnemann himself
denounced the idea.

I think it is also important to bear in mind that allopaths descend from the
use of herbs, many of which were used according to DOS.

be well

russell swift, dvm