Thoughts on the world, homeopathy, mindfulness and food...
A collection of blog posts - feel free to respond with your thoughts and comments - I love to have feedback - thank you!
Colin Campbell tells it how it is in his book 'Whole, Rethinking the Science of Nutrition'. Do we really want our healthcare choices to be guided by profit over wellness? Last week I read an excerpt of a study (funded funnily enough by lots in the dairy industry) which concludes that 'a diet that is high in dairy foods is not necessarily damaging to health.' Authors have links to McDonalds, Dairy Council, Dutch Dairy Association, GEIE European Milk Forum and Nestle amongst others. Hmm. Conflict of interests?! Let's start to look at WHY we might not want research showing homeopathy works to come out. Who it might be uncomfortable for. Because it's there. There are studies, and yes we need more. Perhaps Nestle would fund one for us?! To look at who it might be uncomfortable for. Studies like the one recently on depression and individualised homeopathy. Which showed positive results. Like hospital based studies from Brazil around depression, showing good results. Data from clinicians. Perhaps they're not so great for the healthcare industry. Then there's those who take the time to twist facts, manipulate data, discredit physicians who are discovering 'truths' that would rather be hidden. Enough ranting now. My model, as I chatted to someone recently who had been helped from working with me, isn't a great one for business. Well not repeat, here every week sort of business. Ideally I get people well. Not dependent on repeat prescriptions. Yes, sometimes it takes shorter or longer periods of time. And sometimes I don't get 'there' either as quickly as I'd like to it perhaps at all. But my aim is not to have people needing me forever, needing homeopathy forever. It is about using a healthcare that helps to make you well. So then the business side works when they tell others how well they are, and the others come to see you. Most Homeopaths I know work on building their practice on word of mouth. Yes we use social media to educate and share. Yes we write, talk, and get the word out about what we can do. And so we should. It's amazing stuff, even this week I have seen so many beautiful things that I would put my hand on my heart and say that homeopathy has been a big part of making that difference for people.
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So this may be just one for the girls out there, but I think it's an important topic for lots of us for many reasons, not least potential avoidance of TSS (Toxic Shock Syndrome (largely attributable to tampon use)) as well as reducing our exposure to chemicals in contact with our bodies and environmental motives. I went 'green' in this regard years ago. Probably about 15 years ago or so I think, when I bought my first mooncup. I loved it and did buy a second after I'd had my baby, although reverted to the first after all that. So really that's a huge investment, even with the two of them, of £34 I think. For 15 years of periods (albeit there was a 19 month absence during pregnancy and breastfeeding and then a 6 month absence whilst I was eating fully raw), on average one a month, I've made a fair financial saving. But that wasn't really my primary aim behind doing it. I read an article via a friend today from the Guardian about how individuals can't make a difference to the greater green movement, or at least to climate change due to the corporations making such huge impacts in the opposite direction. However I'm still all on board with trying, and this is a part of it. Less tampons out there, less disposable waste which can clearly not be recycled. Less landfill. I always have this image of tampons floating around in the sea. Yuck. Less yuck out there. I like that. And less toxic nasties, which has to be a good thing, especially in direct contact with our skin. So it's good in many ways. Maybe not the optimum, some would say we're supposed to have a flow which should not be halted by mooncups or the like. In which case the next paragraph may work for you... Then my sister told me she'd got some reusable sanitary pads. Which I left at that for ages, then realising it could be anytime when a little person in our house needs them (my sister was years ahead of me starting her periods and someone takes far more after her than me), I thought perhaps that was the way forwards. So I ordered some for us both. And am really impressed with them too. Hence my sharing here, in case it helps anyone else to investigate further if you'd been thinking about it. So full steam ahead on the green period train... I had the privilege of sitting today with clients, two of whom told me they wouldn't often talk about the stuff they shared with me. I think many people share the feelings they expressed and so many of us keep it to ourselves. My second client gave me permission to share information from her case if it would help others.
She's been taking the remedy Natrum Carb since March, in various forms, currently as an LM potency in water, most days. In the past the remedies Med, Nat Mur (from another homeopath) and Helium (from me) have been given. I thought I'd like to share a few things that were spoken today because so much of our work is behind closed doors, and so many describe feelings that many of us have, especially this 'not quite myself' feeling, and the number of times homeopaths hear 'I feel like me now' is quite extraordinary. 'I had the most amazing experience the other day, I was walking down the road and saw the dandelion seeds on the dandelion coming up through the concrete, I felt as though was seeing things in an extra dimension, I thought 'I am of this earth'. I felt connected to the dandelions in a lovely way. Things are changing.' 'I feel like I'm inhabiting myself - going outwards and inwards - I think I felt like a Russian doll before, not the middle or the outside but somewhere in between.' 'Becoming more 'there's one way to find out' in the little things, finding way somewhere or kitchen experiments, before I'd 'try' things, now I'll choose to do them.' 'Had less migraines and headaches' 'A friend texted and asked if I was OK and I typed back 'I'm getting more used to being human, am feeling at home on the planet' then realised that I can't send that but that's how I feel.' About the remedy - 'I love it - I feel we're on the right track - I'd like more of it! My confidence has increased and I've done things I never would have before. I feel like I'm saying to the planet "I'm an artist and this is what I do".' 'I've stopped counting calories in May (about a week after the latest 1M), I did if for years - to a crazy extent. Nothing bad happened. Stopped at the beginning of May, thought 'I can't do this any longer'" There are still things that can improve, and I'm not convinced we'll stay with this remedy forever (I'm on a quest for the most perfect match for clients that I see), but it's doing somethings quite beautiful and subtle and for now, I'm going with J.T. Kent's advice to not rush to change a remedy that's doing good things. So there's a flavour, a taste of the changes that we can see inside that clinic room, behind the closed doors. If you'd like to know more about homeopathy, working with me or anything else I can help you with, please feel free to get in touch anytime, With love, Em x Living in the modern way, we are surrounded by noise I realised this morning. We'd had a jolly school run (ha how middle class and Enid Blyton does that sound?!) singing away to Ed Sheeran (in case you're interested, Castle on the Hill is our current favourite school run song - I recommend it loud and sing along; the little one recommends it quieter and sing along) but once we were down to one in the car, I reverted to a silent trip home. It's constant if you let it be, the radio, TV, internet, car music, and where is the time for assimilation, for quiet reflection in all of it? It's possible that there isn't time, isn't space for it. We rush our meals, we rush through our whole lives - I rush through the day often, unsure how there'll be time for everything needed to be done so this can be as much to me as to anyone else - I'm learning still! And yet nature succeeds. One little inch at a time, one little drop more, one more leaf growing. Does it all have to happen now? Right now? I guess there's a balance. The bills aren't going to get paid if I sit staring at the rain and don't work, if I paddle along the beach and run with the wind. But there's also a time and place for rain staring and running with the wind sweeping your hair, brushing against your skin. So my feeling is maybe we need to dive into a more sensual way of living here and there, when we can. I feel often many of our senses are forgotten - our intellect is engaged and we spend much time living in our head, but how much are we centred in our bodies? How often do we taste our food, instead of shovelling it down, tasting mostly the first and last mouthful as we chat away, read or watch something. Too much at the same time. I feel we're becoming dis-engaged with ourselves. And the disconnect is driven deeper by our virtual living, albeit we connect constantly but at an ever increasing distance. We feel it's OK to cast judgement so quickly - what happened to walking a mile in their shoes and feeling how it really is to be another person? My invitation would be to walk in the rain, turn your head up and catch a raindrop on your tongue, feel the raindrops on your skin instead of turn away from them. Watch the delicate raindrops collect on a leaf, or recently in my case, on a strawberry - I watched the drop grow ever more pregnant, then drop, before we picked the strawberry and ate it in wondrous enjoyment of the sweetness of our first homegrown fruit of the season. Two weeks later it remains our first homegrown fruit, though we have eaten our way through the early potato harvest now too. I think we need to hug more. Not fleeting, glancing man pats on the back, but real, connecting hugs. To hold hands, to link arms, to feel contact with another human being. Not live in isolation. Should I have a zillion more hours, I think I'd be in an old people's home, hand holding, massaging, being in contact with others. How we think we can get by - I suppose we survive with basic needs being met, but we can thrive if we let ourselves. I think our brains shut down valuable areas without contact. I could be wrong and haven't researched this enough so feel free to feedback your thoughts but it's a strong feeling for me. To swim in the sea, naked under a full moon with other mermaid like souls, is a wonderful recent memory and I would invite anyone to (safely) do this or similar. A recent quick dip of a swim in a local river following a run with the dog was a delight of the senses. To watch the heron fly and fish leap whilst swimming another time with a friend, quietly chatting, being, feeling the sensations of the water, cold water, creating burning, prickling sensations on the skin, until I'd adapted to it, then could enjoy the feelings of the water as I moved through it, the feelings of the ease of swimming with the current not against it as we swam up and down the river. Feeling fully alive and awake the the world around us, is a gift that can be forgotten but definitely shouldn't be. My daughter still laughs about the time a friend and I, stood outside our kitchen door, t-shirts abandoned to enjoy the rain on our skin. Wonderful times and it can still make me smile - I do prefer warm rain though and that day it was delightful. I feel the current life of fear mongering media streaming into our homes and phones at every hour of the day can make us small, cowed and easy to be convinced that the world is out to get us. To counteract that, I propose a revolution of the senses, to love and be loved by the world around us. To dive into the uncertainty, to watch the seasons, to see the change around us. And to savour. The kiss, the hug, the raindrop. Walk barefoot in fields if you can. I feel the benefit of doing that hours later. I feel alive, invigorated and it's a whole new world to explore in different ways. To be revolutionaries, plant seeds, plants, help the bees, wake up to the world, and people around us. Love to know what you think too... Em x It is with sadness this afternoon that I read of a great man leaving this life. He was an inspirational character, someone that I respected - although if am totally honest I was very shy and unsure around - I was somewhat intimidated by his presence and knowledge. I'm sure that was unfounded (not his presence and knowledge) but feel more than sure that was my stuff around figures of authority (that I'm moving through much better now!) than his goal.
It set me to thinking about death and what it really is. Possibly because alternatives were doing the hoovering, writing a book review (of a book I really like tbh) or starting my tax return and pondering in the sunshine with the dog lying at my feet felt a good option. There are, of course, many views. Some of my favourite books touch upon the topic. Dying to be Me by Anita Moorjani, Journey of Souls by Michael Newton both focus heavily on it, and both would be up there in my Top 10 books. Others will tell me, without hesitation that there is nothing following. This is it. It's a chat my dad and I have, with each quite polarised views. So what does it mean that he's gone? So many things to so many people, and as ever, like I see all the time with my work, there is no one set response, no one thing that's OK to do or not do. To feel or not feel. One thing that I feel is that there's a space. An invitation. A knowing that others can step up, step forwards, inspired by his path, his actions. To move forwards with love for him, to honour the memories and the joy that he brought to so many. And then is he really gone-gone? A feeling of really, truly, living in the moment, of being wide open to all that surrounds us. The truth, the lies, the humanity of it all. The trying to make the space a better place around us. Of kindness and compassion. Not sweating the small stuff but noticing the little things. That's what I feel when I remember the essence, the gentle presence of my Grandad. When I am at my best he guides me. When I'm not I can't blame him - that's all just me ;) So I guess, like with so many things, I don't know what death really means, though what it means to me is a passage to another time, a reminder to fully live, to lean into life with all its messiness and crazy times. A reset, a debrief and time of letting go. The pain, the tears, the joy. And I sit in the knowing that it doesn't mean the same to you, and send love for whatever is needed there. So if this is all there is, then being here right now is a sacred gift I suppose, one to find our way through with kindness to ourselves and others. And if there's more then being here right now is a sacred gift I suppose, one to find our way through with kindness to ourselves and others. With inspiration from so many, and love, Em x I'm puzzled at the moment by what seems to be our inherent need to label. 'I'm a _____'; 'Oh you won't get on with me, I'm a _____' is a conversation I've had before with someone with whom it turns out I get on really rather well in the end. Why we need to identify so strongly with labels I'm unsure, maybe part of our human need to have a 'tribe', or family group that makes sense to us...
So to 'cure'. I'm not able to say that I 'cure' anything, according to ASA guidelines for my profession. Which is fine with me as I'm not sure how you'd define it really and truly. What if you thought you'd 'cured' someone and then years and years later they got that complaint again? I've just now though read a letter from a group of vets talking about how vets should be banned from using homeopathy. Without homeopathy in the world, I strongly feel we'd be in a far less healthy place. We would lose a valuable modality we have to improve health and deal with dis-ease. So I sit and wonder, what about the case I had (all cases have permission to mention for learning purposes here), where the lady had been on prophylactic antibiotics for 6+ years, still getting UTIs and having to take more antibiotics on top of that. Now, after a year of homeopathic treatment - with approximately 6 weekly appointments, there are no more prophylactic antibiotics needed, no more UTIs happening? How about dealing with eczema for the lady who would superglue her skin together, it would split so badly, and now her skin is lovely and smooth most of the time? I'm struggling to find a term for what it is but maybe I don't need one. Or then I think about the lady who had headaches and was taking over 200 painkillers a month and still in pain and discomfort, 5 months after we started working together no more headaches? Now 3 years in, occasional headaches resurfaced after a period of stress, but she's breezed through other stresses without them being an issue... What do we call that? The 9 year old who hadn't slept well since being a baby, who after a remedy slept but not only that would start to go upstairs by herself, settle herself back to sleep and no longer be in her parents room 7 times a night? Maybe though we have susceptibilities and slip back. And I think we can and do, so does that mean not better after all, or that we have an inherent weakness in that area (this is what I observe in my work, and it seems we are able to work together to strengthen the immune system, lessen the likelihood of the weakness being a problem)? In conventional medical cancer care you're considered cured if you have 5 years post treatment cancer free. But if it recurs then? Not so cured after all, but the medics have you down as all sorted and home free. So not 'cure' for homeopathy because that's a no-no. People who are then in better states of health. Do we need a term? Should we have a more accurate term than 'they're more able to handle stresses in their lives now'. I don't know, and as I'm getting happier to step away from labelling I suppose I should stop dwelling on it. Somehow though this attack on the vets is bothering me. A conversation about my horse's eye disease yesterday was interesting. Her recurrent uveitis could have been remission, not cure. Absolutely it could, and that's what we were told by conventional vets several years into her not having another attack. She did 15 or so years in remission though, so when do we decide that the homeopathic treatment could have done something, when options earlier were 6 weekly steroid injections into her eyelid or a possible removal of her eye to treat and cure the disease. For me it reminds me of the goal - 'gentle, rapid and permanent' when homeopathy is at it's best. 5 years cancer free = cured but 15 years uveitis free = remission?! Yes, we don't always get there straight away. Neither does conventional medicine. I don't think the image of my mare staggering around the field as if intoxicated will leave me in a hurry though it is at least a 7 year old memory. She had been put onto conventional Cushing's medication, and honestly, I'm convinced it nearly killed her. Fortunately there was an alternative, which had actually been documented in journals and a switch onto this meant a happy, healthy horse for several more years. The alternative? A blend of homeopathic medicines which she had daily. The price difference? I couldn't tell you but pretty huge. Vested interest anyone?! I don't really know the reason for the attacks - if these scientific minds who were so concerned about what we were doing would go sit in on clinics for 3 months with many of the practitioners I know or learn from, I'm sure they would see remarkable things that would question their views on health and healing. And as to 'cure'? Who knows what that really is anyway... Just going to keep on doing my best. With love, Em x There’s nothing worse than being excited about going for a trip and then suffering with awful travel sickness… OK perhaps there’s worse things but it’s not a lot of fun. Do you stop travelling? Suffer through it? Or maybe you could look to deal with it on a deeper level. Homeopathy often offers that alternative and I’ve quite a few clients who now are no longer travel or motion sick – a great achievement for a happy traveller to help others be happy to travel. On a personal note, our dog was horrendously travel sick – she would have saliva running down her mouth, vomit or sometimes even poo in the car. We did try to common travel sickness remedies – and no avail. Looking closer at who she is as a dog (the all important individualising aspect in homeopathy) we were able to sort it with 2 doses of the remedy. Success and happy us, happy dog. We’ve since been all over the country and previously she’d get sick travelling down the road 5 miles. So without further ado - some remedies that may help: Borax – Specifically for motion sickness that is worse for downward motion (those who are sick eg when a plane lands or boat dips/car going down steep hill – when they go down everything comes up). Generally feel better for fresh air. Cocculus – For those who experience motion sickness with dizziness. Waves of nausea are accompanied by belching (in people a faint, empty feeling in the stomach and a metallic taste in the mouth). Nausea worse for smell and sight of food. Getting up makes dizziness and nausea worse, as does fresh air. They need to lie down to prevent vomiting. Feel anxious, dazed and confused. Nux Vomica – motion sickness with irritability and impatience. Constant nausea and vomiting which can feel like food poisoning. Copious saliva with the nausea and painful retching, with difficulty vomiting. Want to lie down and feel better for doing so. Petroleum – motion sickness that is worse for fresh air, less dizziness than cocculus. The nausea is accompanied by an accumulation of water (which isn’t saliva) in the mouth. Empty, hungry feeling in the stomach and a dull, heavy headache. Phosphorus – may be clingy and unsure, possibly scared of loud noises. Excess of saliva and look really miserable whilst travelling in the car. **Our dog did so well with Phos after other travel sickness remedies failed as it matched her as a whole dog, not just the sickness symptoms. She’s a real ‘people’ dog and phos types love to be around people, in company, can be afraid of the dark, fireworks (is often given to those dogs who spend Bonfire Night cowering under the table) – this doesn’t all have to fit as she loves to watch fireworks!! Staphysagria – very touchy, irritable and indignant when they’re travel sick. Don’t want to be touched or comforted. May have a colicky stomach ache but often no strong symptoms. Tabacum – deathly nausea which is intermittent – like cocculus with weakness, profuse salivation and sweating. Face is white as a sheet and feel wretched. Nausea is better for fresh air (unlike cocculus) though may make them feel more dizzy, and, curiously they want to uncover the abdomen. I would give a remedy for travel sickness 10 minutes or so before you were about to leave to undertake the journey. It may be you wish to give the remedy during the trip or on arrival if the individual is struggling. Re dosage, I'd use a 30C as a first option. It may be that you seek advice from a homeopathic practitioner and are prescribed a different potency to take, but in a home-help situation, a 30C is a good choice to go with. If you’re struggling to differentiate between which remedy may most help (though do try as this is where the beauty of homeopathy really lies - matching the symptoms of the dis-ease with the remedy or medicine picture), then my feeling is the most commonly given travel sickness remedy is cocculus, followed by tabacum and petroleum. Trying these in this order may lead to a happy solution of the travel sickness. If symptoms still persist – there is hope but you may need to look further at the symptoms, try one of the other remedies or seek assistance from a homeopath (www.findahomeopath.org) – or if it’s animals that are struggling with travel sickness then get in touch with a homeopathic vet (http://www.bahvs.com/find-a-vet/). With credit to Miranda Castro for most remedy descriptions, Phosphorus is my addition. Some practical tips from Miranda follow. Her full article is here: http://www.homeopathycenter.org/homeopathy-today/motion-sickness-going-against-flow Practical solutions The following are all tried and tested practical solutions for motion sickness. Ginger—in any shape or form helps motion sickness although children tend not to like the taste. For those that do like it ginger tea, crystallized ginger or ginger cookies all work well. For those that don't like it, ginger "pearls" (Gingerall by Enzymatic Therapy are highly recommended) are the answer. Fresh air—helps some people. Breathe evenly, deeply and slowly into the belly as the tendency is to tense up and breathe shallowly (depriving the body of much-needed oxygen) once the nausea gets bad. Eat lightly—when traveling stick to small, light meals, both before and during the journey. Take some soda water to sip and some crackers to nibble on when the nausea starts up but before it gets bad. Caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods and large meals can all exacerbate motion sickness. Wear comfortable clothing—especially on a long journey as tight clothes around the abdomen aggravate feelings of nausea. Sit upright—and look straight ahead (at the horizon or a stationary object). Looking down (especially to read) or looking at passing views from the side of the car can both aggravate motion sickness. Or sit with your head leaning back on the seat rest and close your eyes. Lie down—if you want to and are able to do so, with your eyes closed, and concentrate on breathing slowly and evenly. Sit as close to the front as possible ... of cars and planes. Sitting in the driving seat helps those who are easily motion sick—as long as they are old enough to drive and possess a current driver's license! Ask the driver of a car to drive as smoothly as possible—to stop and start gently, as jerky driving can make the most stalwart feel nauseous at times. Make frequent stops (every hour or so for children) to stretch, get some fresh air and build up confidence in those who have a history of motion sickness. Be calm and soothing when dealing with motion sick children—tension and anxiety can be contagious! Use distractions—music and story tapes are good for children of all ages—and grown ups! Good luck - and shout if I can help! With best wishes, Em Make travelling by boat a joy...
It’s 10 years this year since I graduated from the North West College of Homeopathy in Manchester and walking to the car yesterday morning I was musing over how I’m really enjoying my practice. It was somewhat of a rocky ride in the beginning, graduating in 2007, with the recession in 2008, sceptic attacks intensifying and really continuing over the past 10 years; and on a personal level, a separation and divorce. Things are much calmer now, though I work around being a mother, pet owner and somewhere in there have occasional time for myself to encourage creativity, run, swim, read, as well as fitting in getting out there to seminars and learning from some inspiring people. So, me as a homeopath; it’s been 14 years in the making. 2003 I began, keenly in February 2003 at my interview for college. I had thought that it was like university education – I had to apply early to get a place. And so I sat there, and was told I should read The Organon, read The Science of Homeopathy and Medicine for the New Millenium by George Vithoulkas. I went away and read them. Maybe I’d not recommend reading all of those before you start studying (if anyone is reading thinking about studying homeopathy in the future) but definitely for those interested in learning more about homeopathy could check out Medicine for the New Millenium. Hugely important too, the philosophy and very foundations of homeopathy, The Organon is a must on any homeopath’s reading list. Chatting this weekend to the Principal at the North West College of Homeopathy, she was talking about a homeopath she knew who would prescribe remedies but then be frequently confused by the response of the patient. He’d had less of a philosophical training than her and was helped massively by conversations with her about Kent’s writings and Hahnemann’s work in The Organon. In fact, she mentioned he was a convert, went off and read the texts she recommended, and his practice was enhanced by them. So it seems to be tangent time again, but whilst I’m here, I would recommend anyone interested in homeopathy or how it evolved take a look at A Homeopathic Love Story; The Story of Samuel and Melanie Hahnemann. I only read it this year, but wish had done so earlier. Tangents aside, what I’d like to talk about here is a blog for those starting out in practice this time, or recently graduating getting going. Firstly we need you! I truly believe that our profession is in need of more homeopaths right now, we have so many more people seeking out natural healthcare, in need of really getting better. More people are growing tired of palliation, of there not really being an answer, of antibiotics no longer working, of antidepressants not dealing with the real issue. It takes time to build your practice - I dived out of college, full of enthusiasm (and a 6 month old baby!) determined to set up and be busy immediately. It took time. 5 years until I was supporting us on my income from homeopathy, and during that time I did part time, flexible jobs to support us. We had to eat (and buy lots of books - didn't matter how little we had - books for both of us were a key priority)! Secondly, I have not found anything as exciting and all encompassing as homeopathy yet in my life. Working with this I have seen changes I would never have expected, seen people get better who had been recommended surgery as the only option, and then not need the surgery at all. Been recommended doses of medication that they were reticent to take, agree with their consultant for a window of time, then see improvement in blood results, to the point they no longer are recommended the medication. Seen people come off antibiotics that they’d been on for years. Others reduce other drug medication and be more well than before. Get rid of symptoms they’d had for many years. Once you get deeper beyond the symptoms and a remedy, which are all important and clearly also much of what we do; the connections that you make in life, the remedy connections are so exciting. You’re seeing the natural world reflected in people, in actions, in films, poetry and stories. Seeing archetypes all around us. Sitting in with Dr Jonathan Hardy over the last two days, seeing patient videos, seeing people basically read from the Materia Medica (our books describing the medicines we use in homeopathy), knowing that patients have been helped on a level that unlikely anything else would have managed. And several times other systems had been tried, many other systems in some cases. So, so beautiful. Which brings me to my third point – get out there and learn. Go listen to the experts – don’t feel disempowered by them; remember that they were beginners too once and spent time learning from many others. So read, learn and listen. Go meet people, talk homeopathy, lap it up. Be like a sponge and take in all you can. Find a place that resonates for you – practitioners that make sense and go learn. I’ve gained so much from working with practitioners for periods of time – I studied the periodic table for 3 years in courses with Jackie McTaggart, then another 2 and a half years with Jeremy Sherr on his postgraduate Dynamis course. Delving into full weekends with homeopathic teachers is suiting me well at the moment and I write this on the back of a weekend with Dr Jonathan Hardy, following last weekend with Dr Prasanta Banerji. The conferences which give a flavour of many practitioners work are great too, but my leaning at the moment is this way. For now… And the fourth point – meet other homeopaths. We are often isolated in practice, doing our best to help people, in a situation where we rarely talk about our work – confidentiality binds us to keep quiet, do our work and then move on, not chatting about the specifics of our day. So to be amongst those who understand, to share difficult cases (with client’s permission always), and to be understood. So refreshing! That brings me along to a sub-point here, do regular supervision. I see my supervisor every 6-8 weeks and think it’s really important. I also regularly see my homeopath, and feel that’s relevant to mention too. It’s easy to forget about oneself whilst working in a caring profession – and if no one is looking after the helper, it’s easy to not be able to help quite as well. So if only for your clients – look after yourself!! I think that’ll do for now. With perhaps one last point of learning how to talk about homeopathy to others. That might mean you study how to give a talk, get out there and give a talk or just learn how you chat to someone in the supermarket about what you do. We need to be communicating a clear message to the world about the potential of this amazing medicine. I was chatting to a couple of newly qualified practitioners about the beauty of using social media to help us get the word out – in simple terms - and I am really passionate about helping others to do this. This year I’ve talked at the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths conference and in 2015 at the Society of Homeopaths conference, as well as a day workshop with the South West Homeopaths group in 2016. So that really is it for now! Get out there, get doing what you love and I’d love to hear more about how it’s all going for you! With love, Em x |
AuthorI'm a Homeopath working in the Skipton (North Yorkshire) area. I am also able to offer food intolerance testing using Kinesiology and advice around diet and lifestyle. |
07734 861297
em@emmacolley.co.uk Em Colley Homeopath Practitioner of Classical Homeopathy BSc(Hons) Psychology and Neuroscience Laughter Yoga Leader Focussed Mindfulness Practitioner |