Prompted by the name on the door lintel in the photograph – this blog considers the role of the homeopath.
“Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble. Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog…”
Shakespeare’s Macbeth Act IV
Well you get the idea….
I was intrigued – maybe a little taken aback – to read a recent editorial in The NewHomeopath (the Journal of the Society of Homeopaths) that homeopaths were the new witches!
True enough, the gender of the Homeopath today is most likely to be female; the mix for must be 20:1 in favour of women. Yet, none I have met would meet the picture of a witch.
Permit me a brief digression here. Bring to mind the stereotypical image of a witch and compare it to the male equivalent, the wizard. I suggest that one is artistically treated rather more favourably than the other, which might tell you something.
So, what has all this to do with the picture? Well it was the words “The Good Intent” above the door lintel that caught my eye as I walked past
I will explain…
Now, I happen to be a Church goer, and come across some fellow attenders (very genuine people) who treat homeopathy with great suspicion; possibly even a dark art.
You can guarantee, that any opinion goes no further than that; an opinion without much knowledge.
Still, to my mind, very strange.
The keyword is “Intent“. Otherwise put, what is one’s intention? In children’s Sunday clubs I have heard taught, “What would Jesus do?“, which rather hits the same mark.
It is our intention that is most important; in all things. And, I have to say from my experience of the many homeopaths that I have met, that their intentions are solely to help their clients to the best of their ability. And certainly not to engage in sorcerery!
Homeopathy does pose some interesting questions about who we humans really are. Are we just a bundle of molecules dancing in some sort of harmony? I touched on this subject before.
Our current understanding of the human body is remarkable tribute to modern science, but there are many mysteries still, and over time these mysteries tend to multiply rather than diminish. Who are we? What does it mean to be conscious, to be alive? These are big unanswered questions. Take a look at the work of the Galileo Commission here.
Complementary medicine in its various forms may not provide all the answers, yet its strength is in its recognition of both the material and non-material nature of man. This is the holistic perspective.
Returning to the matter of intention, a cursory recollection of recent news stories, will bring to mind plently of examples of bad intent. Sadly, all too often from within organisations that are held in high regard.
So, in short, I rather liked the name of the house in the picture.
Does it reflect the spirit of the owners, or is it two words to make those crossing the threshold pause for thought?
The Society of Homeopaths sets down clear requirements of its members which can be found here. Complaints upheld against practitioners are very rare.
Unfortunately, complaints of a vexatious and mischievous nature are significantly more common these days, often orchestrated by a small number of people whose world view is dominated by a rigid scientific materialist model (which roughly put says if you can’t see it it doesn’t exist).
They are entitled to their opinions of course. However, whilst constructive criticism can often be of good intent; destructive criticism rather suggests the opposite.
None are forced to try homeopathy, but it offers a different perspective on health which has proven to be of value for many.
Wishing you a good Christmas and good health. Next month, I will return to less combatative territory and consider homeopathy as first aid in the home.
Disclaimer: I am a qualified professional homeopath and not a medical doctor. The NHS has many resources, and seeking the opinion of your GP is always of value.
Dibden Purlieu, Southampton