Paracelsus, a famous philosopher of the 1500s, who spent a great amount of time in nature, found his interest peaked in virtually every aspect of the natural world. One of his observations involved a pond near his home. During the spring the pond was very active with fish. During the middle of summer, the pond became heated and some fish died. During the winter time, the outside temperature became extremely cold, and the pond became frozen. The fish became less active, some swam deeper under the surface, and some of the fish died.
What fascinated the old philosopher was why the pond went through these changes. He reasoned that the sun, the earth, and the pond water were still of the same essence throughout the year. If all the basic elements remained the same, then what would cause the changes of heat and cold?
He then realized that the pathway of the sun across the sky was different throughout the year. He recognized that, while the elements had not changed, the relationship between the elements was different.
Paracelsus carried the theory of relationship to many other areas of life.
In observing people, he noted that when two particular people would come together, the relationship between those two people was sometimes heated, argumentative and volatile. Yet, both individuals were of a completely different nature when each of them was alone with other people, no matter what was being discussed. He believed it was the relationship of the natures of people together that caused a particular emotional result between them.
In the area of health, the philosopher noted that often a particular medicament, used for a particular health difficulty, would work very well for one patient, but not another patient who had seemingly the exact same problem. However, through his observation, he noted that when he would approach his patients, addressing each using a slightly different demeanor, then the same medicament would work in each case, as the patient was more receptive.
The philosopher also believed that everything in nature has an inherent energy, which might be destructive for some things in nature, but also a food or nutrient for something else in nature. He discovered that even the poison of a snake, something unheard of in his time, was beneficial to heal certain problems. He knew that even the sting of a bee held curative powers for some difficulty.
He developed salves and patches, made out of particular substances in nature, which drew out the energy of measles, poxes, toxins and other detrimental substances in people. His patches quickly absorbed these toxins as a needed energy. Then he removed the patches and placed them safely away in nature where they weren't harmful to anyone. He believed that measles, and even the plague, were a living energy that had some purpose or they wouldn't exist. He believed that everything that exists has a purpose.
This renaissance philosopher made all of his medicaments based on the astrological and seasonal relationships of the cosmos. Everything he produced was based upon the conception of relationship. There was a proper day, time, and month of the year to combine the elements in the optimum relationship that he used in his preparations.
Our system of medicating does not take this into account. In situations other than an immediate emergency, there are optimum times to give medicines and therapies to individuals based upon the relationship between the patient and the medication. Does this sound like a strange concept carried from the Middle Ages? The Paracelsian system of relationship, used in the 1500s and 1600s, produced remarkable cures for the most devastating diseases and illnesses of their time. Some of these same diseases and illnesses are just as devastating to us today.
The point is to not rush into some immediate judgment, regarding an approach, to help someone in a particular situation. Attempt to recognize all the factors that might be present which could enhance or detract from an approach you might be considering. How often have you had the experience where you share some information with a friend or loved one which they don’t accept at the moment? Then another person provides the exact same information to that friend or loved one, and it is accepted.
Perhaps we should evaluate some of our personal relationships and determine if they are ennobling or less than positive. It does not mean that one of the people in the relationship is bad or inherently toxic, it just may be that it is not the highest and best relationship for either person.
True health does not mean that you ae not ill at a moment. True health means that you have eliminated, from around yourself, those factors that can cause you a health difficulty.
Through love or affection people can achieve transformation and transmutation to neutralize, to some degree, situations that are not of the optimum relationship.
An old alchemical statement was ‘things sympathetically associated are nearer than in any other relationship. Things that are thus near, must be near in qualitative terms.’ Individuals can live under the same roof for a lifetime and never be near. Others can live on other sides of the world, never physically meet, and yet be in a wonderful relationship.
With love, in love and through love.