Finding Stillness to Hear Your Inner Voice

One of the most important tasks as a homeopath is to hear the case before you. This involves being a non-prejudiced observer, to hear and understand but have no judgment about the case. Yet understanding the case requires that we use our judgment. So how can both be true?

This is often a big hurdle to overcome for new homeopaths and some older ones as well. Our minds will generate many thoughts that can lead to prejudice, how a case is similar to another case, or seeing a remedy picture and starting to fit the case to the remedy, etc.

When these types of thoughts start to arise in the homeopath's mind, they can be very distracting or, worse, can influence the case. When thoughts are running out of control, there is no way to remain present for the case. This is especially true when we identify ourselves with the story and have our own emotional response to the person before us.

So how do we avoid this monkey mind, as I call it? This mind that is generating so many distracting thoughts that we can no longer be present for the case?

The proper state of mind for case receiving is more akin to meditation than any other state I can describe. The mind needs to be acutely aware and completely unattached to perceive the case in totality. This state of mind can be attained and cultivated with practice.

Having a daily meditation to still the mind is a wonderful practice to have. This will give us the predisposition for it to happen during case receiving also. Learning to still the mind is a valuable tool in life as well as homeopathy. There are many ways to do this from different meditation exercises to contemplation. But having a practice is most important. You will draw from this learned stillness of mind consistently during case receiving and analysis.

When the case is being given, it is like a constellation of stars that form a figure or picture. Or like a painting that appears slowly from many different and seemingly incoherent brush strokes. If we are looking so intently at each brushstroke, we may miss what the picture really is.

The most effective way to see the picture as it develops is to have a very still mind that is allowing all information to be synthesized as it is collected. By not holding on to the thoughts that arise in the mind, we can stay current with the case. The case will then develop and appear before us in knowingness and not so much through analysis.

This stillness of mind will allow the inner voice to speak to a correct and full understanding of the case. There always comes a time when this process completes itself and then I know what is asking to be healed as well as the remedy sometimes. But this process can only happen with a still mind and not forcing any aspect of myself into the case.

Thoughts of, "Oh, the time is passing and I still don’t know what's asking to be healed," or thoughts of doubt, "Will I ever find the remedy,” only serve to pull me further from my still, centered place and will always add to the mounting frustration and move me further from the goal. Thankfully, I have learned to still my mind and rarely have to make a conscious thought about it.

One might question whether this still mind is akin to being absent-minded. Not at all. It is very actively aware and recording every aspect of the case as it unfolds. There is simply no attachment to it. No prejudice.

Setting an intention is also key to this process. Before each day, I set my intention. Then before each case, I again affirm my intention. I state to myself that the case will be easy. Everything that I need to know will be revealed. I will understand the case completely. I will find the remedy quickly. And it will all work out perfectly.

Having a clear intention coupled with a still mind leads to knowingness. Thoughts that arise will then be serving you much better than the monkey mind. This stillness will allow your inner voice to be heard. This will lead to greater understanding and knowingness.

The reason I write about this is because it is probably the most important part of being a homeopath. It is the self-development part of being a homeopath and doing homeopathy. Unfortunately, it is not emphasized much in most schools of homeopathy. I repeatedly tell my students to "let go and allow" when they are sitting before the client and receiving the case. They get to practice this all day, each day in class, seeing clients.

It takes practice and having a routine to still the mind. I encourage all homeopaths to develop this skill. Your job will become much more enjoyable and easier. Not to mention that your level of case receiving and prescribing will advance. You will like it and your client will like you for it also. You will be a better homeopath.

Keep the conversation going! I would love to hear your thoughts and questions below!