From the perspective of Earth evolution, snakes were the first creatures to embody the process of separation, to initiate the incorporation of ego forces by way of a nervous system housed within a bony canal or vertebral column. As Rudolf Steiner puts it, “The snake is the first to enclose within a tube the selfless undifferentiated gaze of the Earth Spirit, thus forming the basis of ego hood.” The group soul that propelled the evolutionary development of snakes was more deeply connected to the physical form than it was with any other previous creature, hence their being horizontal and earthbound (or ‘fallen’), a characteristic that was never overridden. It is no wonder that the serpent was the tempter in the Garden of Eden: it is with the serpent that the independent ego, the I-forming capacity, finds its origins. That snakes repeatedly shed their skin can be seen as a symbol of the necessity of ego transformation (or as the presence of death forces in the ego structure). The serpent teaches us the importance of relinquishing outdated, obsolete material of the self. 

Lachesis is a homeopathic remedy made from the venom of the bushmaster viper. This is a remedy that has a great deal to do with survival, instinctual life, power, speech, sexuality, and passion. The lachesis patient is often highly expressive, strong willed and strong minded, exhibiting an unbounded intensity, or even mania, on many levels. They may be the type of person who experiences truly ecstatic states of being, which they wish to share with others and speak about incessantly. On the other hand, lachesis individuals can suffer from and have little control over their jealousy, tendencies towards anger or violence, paranoia, and a sense of persecution. Alcoholism and drug addiction may be a part of the picture, along with extreme lasciviousness. Characteristically, the lachesis patient sleeps into an aggravation (e.g. the patient’s breathing may stop as soon as they fall asleep, or they may wake up with crippling headaches in the morning). 

Complaints tend to be left sided and made worse from heat. The patient is also intolerant of constriction, especially around the neck (turtlenecks and scarves are unbearable). Swallowing can be difficult, especially the swallowing of liquids. There are several very interesting peculiar symptoms covered by this remedy, including the feeling that one is an animal, that the heart was hanging by a thread and would be torn off were it to beat violently, waking up with the feeling that one has no friends, and that all the day’s events were but a dream. 

The articles in this series are intended to help give you a sense of the beauty and scope of homoeopathy, a truly holistic system of medicine – the medicine of experience if there ever was one. If you’d like to learn more about what homeopathy has to offer, please feel free to be in touch.

Sepia is a homeopathic remedy made from the ink of the cuttlefish. The cuttlefish uses its ink to darken its watery environment, help capture its prey, and as an aid in concealing itself from its predators. The cuttlefish’s body cannot be extricated from its enclosing shell. This fact finds a parallel with the patient in need of Sepia, who feels the need to break free from constricting and inhibiting temperamental, sexual, and emotional patterns of thought and behaviour, but who finds herself utterly unable to do so. When well indicated, Sepia can assist a person who is suffering from such tendencies, which cannot simply be disowned and rejected, to gradually integrate and transform them. Sepia can promote the development of “a conscious understanding with which to complement the world of instinctive feeling” (Edward Whitmont).

One of the prominent mental-emotional symptoms of this remedy is a pervasive feeling of apathy, dullness, confusion, and stasis. The Sepia patient is well known to exhibit a strong degree of indifference and neutrality to those around her, especially those who are loved best. The desire for solitude is prominent with this remedy, along with an aversion to company, a feeling of needing to break free from mundane cares, worries and burdens, and a tiredness stemming from the many overwhelming and seemingly inescapable demands of life. Sepia patients can be tearful and weepy, and report feeling overwhelmed by an all-encompassing sense of dissatisfaction and uneasiness. A tendency towards anger and impatience may be present. Additionally, a high degree of intuition, even clairvoyance, may be suggestive of Sepia.Homeopath Richard Pitt describes the underlying idea of Sepia as follows: “my survival is dependent on my ability to move and to be active, to free myself from the restrictions of life and not be dragged down and suppressed by social and daily pressures. I need to be independent to know who I am.”