Minutus

Hi Soroush, Melanie, Andrew, and others,
I can understand the points you all raised about provings. I don't have the
time to answer point by point, so will just mention a few things I haven't
already covered in my seminar review:

There are advantages to a group proving that can't be had any other way.
(Rajan Sankaran writes about the comparative value of different types, which
can be read in his notes on provings in Reference Works.) I submit that it
is not necessary for every proving to be conducted according to strict
guidelines to be of value. The group energy field is a real phenomenon,
just as is the proving itself, and teaches a lot about energetic medicine.

The participants in the seminar where I did the proving were all
practitioners. Therefore, the foremost reason for the proving was
Hahnemann's specific urging for physicians to conduct provings on
themselves. Anyone who has ever met Jayesh Shah could never assign selfish
(or lazy!) motives to him in conducting provings. He is one of the
hardest-working homeopaths i've ever met. He would often stay up until 2 am
or later, working on remedy choices for the patients we were seeing in the
class.

As far as having to pay to be a prover, I can only say that the direct
experiences of proviings has been the most valuable single teaching of my
whole homeopathic training. My understanding and sensitivity to clients'
energy fields has been much more accurate ever since. I'm sorry to hear you
had such a difficult experience, Melanie. I don't think anyone in our group
felt that way, though. The group synergy was very supportive of the process
in itself, and most of the proving energy was dissipated by talking at the
end. People were free to share their experience or not share as they
wished. It was not forced. The accuracy of the proving symptoms was
preserved in that all provers were taking notes independently, recording any
new symptoms. It's fascinating and inexplicable, but true, that even those
who have not physically taken the remedy develop symptoms as well, often the
strongest symptoms of the group! This has occurred in numerous provings.
Go figure!

I sense in the critical remarks some of the same rigidity and fear about
unfamiliar approaches that we are pointing out to the critics of homeopathy
itself. I was fearful of these provings at first too; now I have a real
trust in the Spirit of Homeopathy, which I believe is a real protective
energy of some kind, guiding and aiding those whose intentions are to
further homeopathic understanding.

Warmly,
Charlotte

In a message dated 11/24/01 1:34:15 AM, cgilruth@sover.net writes:
>

Charlotte,
Thanks for your thoughtful response. You miss one point however. The reason
the group is supportive, is that the group is self-selective.
By this I mean- I would like to study with Jayesh as I have in the past. But
I cannot. Because studying with him while he ( and others) conduct provings
at seminars, jeopardizes my health. I am not rigid about how provings are
done. I am the best example of sensitivity. I am a strong believer in the
"group energy field". In fact, it is not a belief, but a health issue for me.
I am only asking that we all take GREAT CARE. This is not a cute phenomena,
to be played with.
I like to study homeopathy with people who respected each other's
sensitivity enough to provide them with safe learning environment, away from
the "group energy field".
This constant exposure to group dynamic sensitizes us to group hysteria.
See recent media coverage for another example of what happens when we all are
overexposed to the same stimulus simultaneously.
Jayesh is a great teacher. For those not as sensitive as me, this is fun, and
educational. For me, it is a big drag.
I wish I could have attended the seminar. I hope in the future, when the
excitement about creating group epidemics wears off, that I will be able to
attend seminars freely, again.
Melanie