karen

Ahhh. Yes, and I'm no scholar of Steiner, but that seems to connect with what he says about the meaning of the internal organs.. that they are literally formed out of spiritual forces, cosmic energy turned into matter. He says we use those forces for growth but the process of spiritual development is to free ourselves from those foreign forces by transforming them into consciousness - a sort of digestion process of making foreign forces our own. To the extent we don't do that properly, the foreign forces become sort of dammed up and stagnant, and that's where disease develops. And of course TCM knows about the consciousness of the organs, but I think it's also interesting that the Greeks had so many different words for "mind", which were actually energetic (Steiner uses the term supersensible) organs. So that we think on different levels with all these different organs. I forgot the names of them...?

Hmm.. the Egyptians and Taoists knowing about it seems to me like the way Hippocrates knew about the law of similars (and actually it's mentioned in the Bible), but it couldn't be used in a scientific framework until later. And the way Reich "discovered" orgone, which wasn't a new idea of course

Just a thought here about the sexual/polaric nature of life in general ... Glad you mentioned Karezza, NW. That and Reich's work help explain the central nervous system/autonomic nervous system polarity. He says that polarity itself is a sexual function - and Steiner points out that sex goes all the way up from physical where we get the capacity for procreation, to etheric where we get the capacity for creative imagination, to astral which is creative inspiration, and then to creative intuition. It's all essentially sexual function. Reich showed how this pulsating life energy (orgone) is a flow of interpenetrating polarities at each level. We can become blocked or armored at each level and then don't have the orgonotic potency that penetrates, powers us up to the higher levels. On the physical level, the polarity is in the CNS/ANS, where the CNS activity provides a sense of satisfaction, but not deep fulfillment, because you're not intimately connected with the other - whether it's a partner or an idea that you're interacting with. So we have to activate the ANS, and that's more challenging!

Look for Dr. Gerard Judd.

Yep, good old Dr. Hahnemann does it again! It's really just the law of similars. Using the same substance has been criticized as isopathy, but really when you use the same substance in dynamized form, it's not exactly the same but similar. The same substance in dynamized form is always the closest similar. For arsenic poisoning, dynamized Arsenicum, etc. For iatrogenic disease caused by taking aspirin, dynamized aspirin. Whatever drug, vaccine substance or other poison, even herb if it's overused and causing an energetic disturbance. Good, thanks for sharing. His stuff is interesting - I've heard talks of his, but haven't read the book or followed his work very closely. -Karen

Good topic. What I find fascinating about oxygen is looking at it in terms of its polarity of function - we know that oxygen is associated with life but there's also the issue of oxidative damage. O2 has this life/death polarity - functions differently at the two poles of our being. Oxygen brings consciousness into the body, because it's an astral impulse. That's why breathing exercises are so immediately powerful. But we only need so much of the astral impulse for thinking and consciousness, and too much O2 is death. We need both oxidation and antioxidants, in the right balance. So I agree with Ian's caution about getting "too healthy!" I'm not sure that "flooding your body with oxygen" is the best approach, but maybe to activate the proper oxygen function. And look at why it's not functioning properly in the first place. Biochemistry doesn't go that far. There can be higher level causes, that no matter how much you flood the body, the O2 isn't functioning properly. Same as with hydration - you could drink gallons of water and still not be hydrating and only be stressing the kidney. So you could put more oxygen into the system, and generally most people could benefit from some of that, but ultimately you want to address the higher (or deeper) causative issues. And that's a whole 'nother conversation, heh. I've heard from many parents of autistic kids who are doing hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and getting some temporarily results but not moving further until they address deeper issues. Also, along the same lines, oxygen is actually toxic in crude form, and at high enough doses can be seen as creating iatrogenic disease the same as drugs do.. you can see what the materia medica of oxygen looks like. When people take oxygen or ozone therapy, the same substance can be used in dynamized ("homeopathc") form to remove the energetic damage. -Karen

Good therapy is also about having someone model a healthy relationship for you, that you haven't had before. That safe relationship itself allows you to let go of old patterns as you experience directly the emotional content that was too threatening to experience before. So that healthy relationship facilitates that process in you. Even if a counselor could tell you an analysis of exactly what your patterns are, that kind of information won't do you much good until you make the important emotional connections yourself. And that's an unfolding process. Even when you have the understanding intellectually, it can take time for the deeper emotional levels to connect up. It can be a very powerful relationship, way beyond counseling that simply helps you consciously understand the patterns and focuses on coping with the existing conditions without digging into the unconscious conent. To make the deeper changes takes a different kind of work - most people are working hard and doing the best they can, so I wouldn't say "just work on yourself harder", because usually the false ego defense system is very strong, for a good reason. Then simply trying to work harder just allows the defenses to get stronger. Many therapists will say that they provide a safe space to explore your stuff, but the therapist needs to be healthy enough to be present in a totally non-judgmental way every step of the way, when the going gets rough. And I wouldn't expect a psychiatrist to do that kind of therapy. -Karen

I agree with NeutralWire; the profession itself doesn't necessarily corrupt the practitioner, and it depends on the individual practitioner, just like in other professions. Although it's not common to find an excellent psychotherapist who has worked through their own fears to an advanced degree so they can be truly helpful to you. Conventional medicine has its place - if you were hit by a truck, you want to go to the ER, not to a homeopath (although a homeopath could give you remedies on your way to the hospital). The question is, where do these practices really fit in to a rational system, and when and for what is it wise to use them. That requires more consciousness than the typical knee-jerk reaction of going to a shrink if you have emotional issues and going to an allopathic doc if you have physical issues. Weaning off the drugs without the proper support can be destabilizing, and conventional medicine doesn't have anything to offer in place of the drugs. That's why it's good to see a holistic or nutritionally oriented MD who can give you guidance with the drugs and at the same time work with a protocol for supporting you through the process, coordinating it all. There are good nutritional protocols for this including orthomolecular medicine, using certain amino acids and vitamins in high doses. If you're interested, look at www.acam.org for local listings of nutritional docs. If you need more help finding someone, PM me. About good therapists, it's often hard to find one locally, and I know a couple of excellent ones who can work by phone. Personally I'd rather use an excellent one by phone than one who isn't helping me in person . Best, Karen

BG, Most therapists really don't know how to work at this level, even if they were getting paid top dollar . They have to have gone through their own personal journey and resolved their own fear first. The academic training and required therapy they go through doesn't necessarily go to that level. I'm sure that being on this track will be rewarding for you.. and I should have mentioned that it doesn't have to take everyone 30 years Blessings, Karen

Yes. I can tell you from my own personal experience, that I've struggled with chronic illness for over 30 years, having done "all the right things," and then it comes to the deeper karmic issues that have little to do with diet or faulty regimen. Of course many people think they're doing regimen correctly and they're really not, so that can take some sorting out too, and you need that foundation in order to get moving on the other levels. Yes, and also that we're never "stricken," because that has a sense of victimization, like we had nothing to do with it . It's actually our higher self that has chosen this situation for learning. It's only the fact that our conscious awareness is out of touch with that higher choice we made, that makes us feel like it wasn't our own choice. The ego self feels indignant, like "this isn't supposed to happen to me." . Yes.. even poverty and illness can be what we "need" - there is a lesson there, that we get what we need even when that includes what we don't want. Illness is a divine gift in that sense, although it feels like a curse. Finding a job doesn't fix the problem - it's the other way around. The outer circumstances are just reflections of our inner condition. So when the inner condition shifts, then the circumstances that are resonant with a healthier consciousness will start to manifest. I think the place to start is to embrace whatever you're feeling, without judgment. You have anger and resentment, allow those feelings so that you can follow them to their source. Where do they come from. What is the old pattern that this current job situation is triggering. If there was no old pattern, there would be no emotional charge on the current situation. Look at how you felt trapped and helpless as a child, what were the circumstances. The thing is, we're never trapped and helpless in reality, as adults. But often the unresolved issues from childhood, or past lives which are simply replayed in this life, keep us relating to the world from that place of helplessness because we didn't get to resolve it. First the feelings need to be experienced, and connected to the earlier pattern, and then you could have a dialog between your higher self and the one that experienced that victimization. You find out what that victimized self needs *emotionally* in order to feel safe. Not a job or anything like that, but emotionally. Your higher self knows that there is no longer any victimization, and that you have choices, and you can "teach" that frightened self that he will really be taken care of well, this time. There is no need to react from past hurts anymore. This can take considerable exploration, and time to work through the many layers to get in touch with the core levels of fear and what they're really about. Fear of not having a job isn't the core. Being sick often is what the ego self uses to try to stay safe. So we have to look at what the payoff is. What purpose does being ill serve for this part of you that is feeling like a victim. This is usually really hard to face, because we don't want to look at how we chose this situation. We're used to feeling like a victim, so "this isn't my fault" is the usual sense. It's never a question of fault, but responsibility. We created this reality, and it has an important meaning for us. The problem as it manifests is like Hansel and Gretel's breadcrumbs to help us find our way home. We need the message in the form of symptoms until we can find our way home ourselves. For anyone working with illness consciously, it's a journey through the labyrinth, and can be a beautiful and terrible one, with the greatest rewards. Blessings, Karen PS. Also it helps to have a really good guide through the labyrinth. Very rare to find a therapist who is healthy enough to go there, but I know a couple.

Hi BG, Illness always has a higher purpose. If you feel it's "undeserved," that's only because you're seeing it as a punishment, but it's not. It's a non-judgmental message, and the challenge is to embody the meaning of the message consciously so that it doesn't need to manifest in your body unconsciously as illness. You might start with exploring the feelings of "undeserving" and connect them to an older emotional pattern. Where does this feeling really come from. Gout is often connected to resentment and rage, a feeling of being trapped and helpless. There may be feelings of scarcity or "poverty consciousness" associated with that. Hyperinsulinemia often contribues to gout, so look at the carbs you're eating and cut down on the starches and sugars. Whole food sugars like honey are different from processed junk sugars like corn syrup. Aajonus Vonderplanitz says that cooked meats and poor quality fats contribute to gout - by poor quality fats he means cooked fats, so switch to raw fats like virgin coconut oil, avocados, etc., and raw protein like raw dairy and raw eggs. Cut out all refined salt and replace with Himalayan salt or Celtic salt. Rudolf Steiner talks about the deeper meaning of gout on a spiritual level. I'd also highly recommend Heilkunst/homeopathy treatment for any chronic condition. Arnica ointment is for injuries only, not just any pain. Re. drinking water, be careful that you're not overdoing it and stressing the kidneys. The healthy fats and salts will help keep this in balance, but the deeper emotional/spiritual issues need to be addressed. Best, Karen

I've done days, weeks, and months at a time. There's no general rule - each retreat has its own sort of culture, so it's good to talk to people who have been to the particular one that you're interested in. Also see if you can visit beforehand to get a sense of the energy. Talk to the retreat leaders, find out what the routine is like, how people contribute their individual skills, ask about accommodations and any particular customs followed. When you immerse yourself in that kind of intense environment, there can be a disconnect when you leave, unless you have some guidance in how to integrate your experience back into your life wherever you go from there. There's usually a comraderie because of a shared purpose, but often people are focused inwardly on their own personal practice. Again, depends on the particular community and what type of practice it is.

X-factor butter oil is raw, clarified butter from cows grazing on grass as its peak of life energy. Ghee on steroids . Weston Price found an important synergy between this butter and cod liver oil. The stuff is expensive, but you only use about 1/2 teaspoon per serving. Raw butter from grass fed cows is great, but the butter oil without the solids contains more dense nutrition. In the spring, you can get "yellow butter" like the Irish Kerrygold brand, which is higher in nutrients than commercial butter, but it's pasteurized. Re. calcium, it's an individual matter.. lack of calcium in the tooth enamel doesn't always mean there's lack of calcium coming in - some people have adequate calcium but are not metabolizing it well, and in that case you don't want to just increase calcium intake and have it be deposited in the wrong places, like dental plaque. Tissue salts can help the body to metabolize minerals better - for calcium, Calc phos and Calc fluor in particular. Also eating to balance your metabolic type - fast oxidizers can use more calcium than slow oxidizers. -Karen

It's an important point. We were talking about hygiene, but diet is of course more foundational. The X-factor butter oil is a wonderful source of K2, although a bit tricky to find a way to make it palatable! But doable.

. Then when the mood strikes for literate, soul-stirring lyrics and gorgeous melodies with that bit of edge, there's Richard Thompson. "I know your signs and I know your lines but I don't know you..." http://www.toolshed-media.com/ts/richard-t...-whose-sake.mp3 Wish there was video of this one.

I second that.. Raph Moss' book is a good look at the industry and its agendas. Gary Null is also a good resource for that. For a summary of the work of Dr. Hamer and Dr. Reckeweg, articles here: The German New Medicine of Dr. Hamer (5-part series) Understanding Symptoms in Context: Introduction to Dr.Reckeweg's Homotoxicology And, as for a complete system of therapeutics, the Heilkunst system, which incorporates the principles of all the above into a rational system of medicine.

A little swelling is normal. The body is trying to heal it by bringing more blood to the area. Make sure the bandage allows for air flow.

Homeopathic remedies to remove the deeper energetic disturbances. Internally - In 30C potency, can be taken together: Arnica for the trauma Staphysagria for the deep cut Calendula for abrasions That can be taken several times a day for a few days or until you notice improvement. Topically- If you also keep the wound constantly slathered in calendula ointment (not lotion), it will heal well. Or Traumheel (combo of Arnica, Calendula and others).

Nice handmade soaps on that site! Haven't tried the Tooth Savior Soap.. interesting to see such a formula. I'm not crazy about using tea tree oil on a regular basis.. that would be my only reservation, although not a big one. About xylitol, yeah, it's not a totally wonderful food, and I wouldn't use it over the long run, but it seems to be useful at least in the short run. I'll keep looking at that, and let me know if you have more thoughts on that. I'm not too excited about products for tooth brushing, in general.. I think oil pulling and blotting do much more than any regular brushing (as far as hygiene goes), and I prefer to stick with simple peppermint soap. I do use Ipsab once in a while just for a change! -Karen

Beautifully done cover. Thanks.

Great! The video showing Dr. Phillips is good, but the info can certainly be summarized and shown in less time than 20 minutes. Look forward to seeing it.

Oil pulling might be enough, but you'd have to judge for yourself.. it's a very individual thing. For some people, oil pulling can be too detoxifying to do every day, but if you're okay with it and not getting plaque buildup, then you probably don't need to do blotting in addition. If you're still getting plaque buildup, might be a good idea to do blotting too, and make nutritional adjustments. I think it's the other way around - if you do your own hygiene you probably won't need the professional hygiene - or not nearly as often. There are reasons to avoid professional cleanings if possible - if you have amalgam fillings, a lot of mercury vapor gets released. Also it's a considerable stress on the body and trauma to the tissues even if it's not that uncomfortable. And it's expensive! They call that prophylaxis, but we can do more to prevent the need for that kind of invasive prevention . You might need to have the professional cleaning once in a while, but it would be interesting to see if your check-ups are better since oil pulling. (Also, the polishing paste the dental hygienists use contains fluoride, usually, so if you get a cleaning it's good to pass on that one). -Karen

I think of myself as a latecomer - worked with a Unix system starting '82, but didn't get online with my own PC until '93. Managed the natural medicine forum on CompuServe, where it was a thrill to do real-time chats IF your 300 baud connection didn't bump you every 5 minutes! Then the latest buzz was the thing called the world wide web. I checked it out, but didn't find anything too interesting. Oh well.

Okay, here's the link about instructions for the Blotting method. I'm offering it free to clients, and to others for $8.