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Chelsea Smock's avatar

Thank you so much for articulating this immense challenge we face as classical homeopaths. There are laws, principles and standards to guide an effective practice -- if we only honor them. This is such a powerful healing modality; to watch sloppy research, claims and practices discredit homeopathy is heartbreaking. I am studying with George Vithoulkas and have heard him express his frustration about modern provings, and also call for a unification of homeopathy as a discipline. If we could find a way to stand together on the strength of good practices, even with the diversity of ideas and research, what could we do for the health and healing of humanity? So much.

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SARAH PENROSE's avatar

Chelsea! Great to hear you are an IACH student! Hands down the best available education in homeopathy - good work! And, yes I remember these lectures well - you would think in a profession named 'homeo'pathy there would be only unity (& uniformity), right?!

On this, there is a homeopath who has published their (Masters?) work in conflict resolution and, as you might imagine, it contains really critical info which will be of immense benefit to our profession - I am trying to secure a bit of an interview with the author so watch this space for more on this.

LOVE your insights here thank you, study well!

Sarah

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Chelsea Smock's avatar

Thank you for your kind words! Have you also studied at IACH? I’m so glad I found it. I apprenticed directly with a long-time homeopath for 5 years and IACH has been a great compliment to that training.

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SARAH PENROSE's avatar

Wow, an apprenticeship - what an interesting way to learn ! And yes, I studied with IACH and was awarded the diploma in 2022 (my third homeopathy qual... spot the nerd). It is fantastic to be in touch with you as an IACH fellow too - keep us posted as to how it all goes please. I will be following!

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Veronika Bond's avatar

Great article Sarah, thank you! During my studies in classical homœopathy (3rd year grad. and postgrad.) I have participated in some provings. I have also participated at various seminars (as simultaneous interpreter) where provings were conducted. And I have translated the entire 'Complete Repertory of Mind' from English into German singlehandedly (which should have never been allowed. Such a project really requires a team of people!)

Anyway, that's what happened, and the experience made me very wary of the resources we have at our disposal as classical homœopaths. As you say, our repertory and materia medica has been diluted with dubious results of experiments conducted by (presumably well intentioned) groups and individuals.

Unfortunately it doesn't support the cause of homœopathy, feeds into the 'quackery claims' of its critics, and makes it harder for people like you (+ me) to do your precious work.

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SARAH PENROSE's avatar

Hello Veronika!

Agreed, this type of 'work' sadly does feed and bolster the pseudoscience rhetoric, but we can see why, yeah?, hence my stance that this is controlled opposition. I am waiting for the literal feathers to fly for simply stating this here too...

Quite the back ground you have in homeopathy - and again, I agree with you re your translationary work (which, judging by your current writings, would no doubt have been first class) as there is always more than one interpretation right? I studied Ionic Greek in university and a lot of our course work was translating of scholia - talk about exercises in differing opinions and their influence on the final text.

I have recently published (in a print journal? re the importance and critical role of the editor in the verification and subsequent publication of provings, which currently seems to have been lost in translation.

Thank you for your contributions and keep them coming! Yours is a valid perspective, one I follow with interest.

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Veronika Bond's avatar

thank you Sarah!

I wish I'd studied Greek too. Unfortunately 'only' Latin.

It's not just the different interpretations. I think there is always so much to be gained from 'real' discussions, the thoughts that are born in between the spaces of different ways of seeing.

I love following your work too and look forward to continuing our conversations.

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