THE NATURE CURE SYMBOL
The symbol is based upon one designed by Dr Henry Lindlahr about 90 years
ago.
According to him symbols
were the concise and comprehensible summation of knowledge at that time, and formed a
basis for further investigations.
It is a clear diagram of the derivations of
Nature Cure, disclosing our debt to the investigators and philosophers of all
ages.
Lindlahr's design can be likened to the chemical formula which, to the
uninitiated, may seem to be a mystical symbol but which, to the person who has
made a little mental effort, is a very clear "diagram" of a complete
situation,
Here, then, are its salient points:-
The SQUARE
This represents the "square of matter" as it was understood in
the earliest times. The marking at
each corner were the ancient conventional symbols for "Earth",
"Air", "Fire" and "Water."
Just as present day science is establishing that all matter is composed
of a very small number of fundamental forms of energy, so the ancients
postulated these four "elements" as the basis of their universe.
The Square is not complete, but is represented only by the four
"Cornerstones." This
denotes that, although our knowledge of matter may be incomplete, it is as yet
sufficient to serve as the foundation for the next structure.
The CIRCLE
This circle of consciousness rest upon the cornerstones, but is
not bounded by them. In other
words, our consciousness is not restricted by or to material things: there are
no limits to its expansion in space or time.
The three major conscious concepts of human existence are the physical,
the mental and the ethical. Of
these, the first two are relatively simple to understand, but the third may call
for a little explanation. Every
individual, whether he is a 'good mixer' or a hermit, is essentially part of the
community. As part of the community
he exhibits a group behaviour, which is in many ways totally different from his
behaviour as a separate individual. To
remain healthy it is essential for the individual to be helpful and friendly
towards his neighbours and to the other living things - plant and animal - which
surround him. He must be
co-operative - Symbiotic. The code of behaviour which this involves if the
essence of ethics.
From the three major aspects arise three faces of a pyramid.
The TRIANGLE
This represents the upward extension - "creative thought"- from
these sectors. From the physical
arises Science, from the mental arises Philosophy, and from the
ethical Religion.
The pyramid formed by these sides of human philosophy is truncated; it
reaches a small "platform" indicating the stage we have reached in our
journey to the apex. This platform
is labelled with the initials of the school of Nature Cure. (Students of Nature
Cure is another version).
The CROSS
According to Lindlahr, the meaning and purpose of evolution is the
completion of the co-ordination of theses studies and activities, Nature Cure
occupying the highest level attained in the coordination of Science, Philosophy
and Religion. Very important,
however, is the figure at the top of the symbol - the "cross of
Lorraine," which in ancient symbology as a formalised tree,
representing continual growth and progress.
The real difficulty for many people arises out of the different meanings
given to words with a high emotional content - such as "religion" and
"ethics." In certain
minds the mention of religion causes an eruption of hatred and vindictiveness. In others the response is wholly passive - a peaceful laying
aside of all self-responsibility. In
still others the feelings are of cynical contempt. Obviously with so many variables there are bound to be
misunderstandings and difficulties.
SELF-REVELATION
Nevertheless, there is much meaning in this part of the symbol.
Without it there would be a fundamental imbalance.
It cannot be omitted. I have
found some paragraphs by Olaf Stapledon ("What are "Spiritual"
Values?") which may help those
who genuinely wish to understand why religion must be retained in the N.C.
symbol):-
That is my response exactly. Admittedly
it is easier to represent such a statement as another way of saying "it is
silly when others use the words, but it is right when I use them"
but I believe that Stapledon has accurately observed and recorded certain
peculiarities he discovered about the use of words-and about himself.
The other points he makes are equally revealing and, to me, satisfying.
PRECISION THINKING
Human intellect is not yet sufficiently developed to form trustworthy
concepts in such high spheres. The chances are thousands to one that all our
most carefully conceived ideas on these subjects are more false than true ...
The self-centered individual can never even begin to seek it.
It is the way of for individuals, but only for those who feel themselves
to be "members one of another". . .
Both strict humanists and theists might, I think, be
persuaded to agree on some such terms. . . .The Human spirit, they might
say, is simply the form of behaviour or way of life which is distinctive of the
human species, even though no human beings succeed in living permanently on that
high level.
It comes to this. In this
great problem the heart is a more trustworthy guide than the intellect in its
present fledgling state.
I must insist, however that the symbol is not intended to have any
esoteric or inscrutable purpose. It
was designed to disclose the background of Nature Cure and indicate how it was
built up from ancient and modern investigation into natural phenomena.
Even if the basic meaning of the "element" is now completely
altered, one interesting fact emerges: The genuine Nature Cure practitioner and
adherent still finds much of his time engaged with the four elements of the
ancients.
EARTH:- the food component &
conservation of the living soil, composting, etc.
AIR: - ventilation - environmental and personal!
FIRE:-
sunlight, sunbaths, the fire of life found in living (raw) foods etc.
WATER:-
sanitation, baths and compresses.
The relative importance of the different elements can be shown by the survival in their absence:-
Absence of air - death in 3 mins
Absence of water - death in 3 days
Absence of earth - death in 3months ( food )
Absence of fire - death in 3 years (sunlight & raw food that has the fire of life )
Naturopathy / Nature Cure Atul Shah Bio Testimonies Seminars Retreats
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Article - Published in Osteopathy Today July 02
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