It’s a VERY blustery Autumnal day today, warm temperatures being tempest toss’d. The winds are reminding me of some of the odd things you learn as an homoeopath, notably how we can be affected, for good or ill, by the climate and conditions. I, for one, LOVE a good windstorm, it is invigorating and enlivening; nothing like having breath being given a push start! I am also aware that there are those of us who DREAD the wind, feel stirred up (not in a good way), irritated, ruffled through and through… and some of our pains can be triggered too. It also illustrates the fact that in homoeopathy, when we are searching for the ‘remedy’ for a person, we glean all sorts of individual and particular symptoms that help us to differentiate one remedy from another… but where to start?
I often have people ask me how to know which remedy to choose, say from a number of different contenders… It is a bit confusing at first, to find that there are several possible candidates for the job, and it’s important to realise that every symptom is potentially relevant when making a choice. Hence… in the case (for example) of earache, do you like the wind? or do you HATE the wind, do you even know it’s windy become important considerations. This one odd tidbit of information can be the deciding factor between several remedies…
One of biggest joys is to share the magic of Homoeopathy with people and in October, I am offering another series of Kitchen Table Homoeopathy. The seven part series introduces 36 common remedies that can be used for acute illnesses ranging from headaches to food poisoning, hang-overs to accidents, earaches (from wind or no?) to flu.
The course will extend over seven weeks. During that time we will look at 36 Common Remedies and how/when to prescribe them. The aim of the course is to provide you with the wherewithal to treat acute situations with confidence. The remedies span quite a large range of potential acute situations from headaches, to asthma, to shock, to post-surgical instances, accidents and injuries.
In addition to the 36 remedies we will discuss and learn a little about the history and foundation principles of homoeopathy, what is disease/what is health, vaccination, case studies, when to call the dr or homoeopath, how to assess if a remedy is working…
Notes are provided and there is scope for conversations, so that this is not just a lecture format but interactive where anyone who has experience of using remedies or questions are invited to share them so that the class as a whole can benefit from the query. It is usually a smallish group, so an exchange is possible and hopefully will encourage the development of community where people can share resources. Each session is recorded for future reference too.
The final session is devoted to creating a practical therapeutic model to help organise the information (which can sometimes be overwhelming!) in a way that makes it accessible for you.
If you are keen to take more control of your health, and to learn a little more about what health IS, come and join us.
When: Mondays beginning October 20th, 2025 from 7-9pm (UK) online – for seven weeks.
Investment: £275 – including recordings of the sessions and notes
Air is the third of the elements in the series, it is ubiquitous… we depend on its existence and yet we can do nothing more than observe the secondary expression of it as evidence of its presence. All we have are words… to convey the essence of Air, the idea. What is being expressed in words is essentially intangible, ethereal, fleeting, abstract and precise; it is thought.
Ancient texts remind us that ‘In the beginning was the word…’, which is necessarily propelled by air, vibrating the tissue of the larynx. Before the formation of words was the idea… Air might be equated to ‘before the beginning.’
Air as breath, In-spirit-us, Inspiration and our direct communion with Spirit. Birds are commonly associated with Air, their feathers represent the effect of air and its possibilities, they are masters of the invisible realm and invite our imaginations to soar to the heights. Air IS the space between…
Gemini, Libra and Aquarius – Ideas, Connection and Abstraction
GEMINI (the first air sign), is synonymous with communication.
Ruled by Mercury, the God of Communication, Gemini possesses a multiplicity of gifts. Trickster and truth teller, mover between all the worlds, Gemini is a traveller and story teller, gathering, as a magpie, every idea without prejudice or loyalty, and then putting it down again! Following on from Taurus, the earthy representative of WHAT IS, Gemini introduces the possibility of WHAT IS AND WHAT IS NOT. The glyph is comprised of two parallel lines, joined at the top and the bottom and destined never to meet.
Associated with The Twins, this is the first symbol to introduce duality into consciousness, Shadow and Light. The constant exchange of ideas and perspective happens at lightening speed and as the two pillars cannot meet (they are fixed on parallel paths) in fact, ultimately Mercury’s realm is ‘the Space Between’. If we consider the anatomy of the brain with it’s left and right hemispheres, it is as if there is no bridge between the parts and so the messenger, Gemini, is dispatched to make the link.
Chatty, articulate, restless, impulsive, playful, intelligent, entertaining and charming Gemini is the ultimate social butterfly. Gemini is keen to explore and is a perennial gatherer of ideas, people, and experiences without the need to cling to any of them. They are orators of great persuasive power, politicians in every sense of the word!
Provocative, deceitful, mischievous and conniving ‘the game is the thing’ and so they are not to be depended upon. Seldom malicious there is a curious neutrality to Gemini.
A characteristic that is often overlooked with this fast-paced character is the silence. In contrast to the witty public persona, Gemini also has the capacity and, indeed, need to retreat to an inner world of silent contemplation and reception.
LIBRA
Following the discerning endeavours of Mercury in earthy Virgo, Libra develops the ‘idea’ and ‘exchange’ of Gemini’s communication to the contemplation of opposites and thus, the pursuit of balance. The wheat has been sorted from the chaff and divided, Libra now steps in to weigh the merits of each, one from the other. Just as the glyph for Gemini represents the eternal non-union of opposites, Libra is charged with the task of RELATING them to one another and the symbol for Libra turns the pillars of Gemini on their side conjuring a horizontal expression of exchange.
Venus as the ruler of Libra invites a different quality of expression than we saw in Taurus. She is now in her guise of relationship, mediating, managing, adjusting, tuning and refining any imbalance perceived in view of the duality revealed by Gemini, the first Air sign. She is the ‘voice’ of reason.
Libra also marks the first opposition of the zodiac, as it is placed directly across from Aries. The age old love tussle between action and relating, will and harmony is the hallmark of the Aries/Libra axis. It is the Equinox point, a time of balancing opposites. It is easy to mistake Libra’s dedication to bi-partisanship for indecisiveness. However, Libra is every bit as active as Aries insofar as she is constantly adjusting, refining and fine-tuning the dynamics of balance.
Pleasing, beautiful, gracious, balanced, refined and discriminating. Libra’s iteration of discrimination is not about discarding or rejecting (based on utility, as with Virgo) but seeking the counterpoint that contributes to representation of ‘the Whole’.
Argumentative and oppositional Libra can sometimes be seen to be contrarian though far from the desire to sow discord, Libra is passionate about BOTH sides being fairly represented. The symbol of The Scales is the only inanimate symbol in the zodiac which indicates the abstract, airy and dispassionate quality of Justice. FAIRNESS and reason are the by-words for Libra and she’ll fight to the death for it.
AQUARIUS
Aquarius is the final chapter in the story of Air. If Gemini is what went ‘before’, Libra is how to relate to what is ‘now’, then Aquarius is undoubtedly ushering in the future. It follows the ultimate realisation of earth (Capricorn) and tips us into ‘what is next?!’
Capricorn and Aquarius are both ruled by Saturn, but with a twist… Aquarius enjoys dual rulership including Uranus. If Saturn (in Capricorn) is about rules, boundaries, material evidence and authority imposed from above and without, Aquarius takes it to the next level by internalising the authority, emerging as an inner-orientation based upon principles and concepts rather than physical structures, tradition or force. Uranus, as a planet has a very eccentric elliptic, the irregularity of this path is a perfect allegory for the nature of Aquarius.
Distant, cool, dispassionate and seemingly at a remove from the drama of human existence (disconnected?), Aquarius can be inscrutable, sometimes cruel. Alien, Other, different and unpredictable there is a sense of rogue boundlessness to the sign of the Water Bearer. The symbol is sometimes misunderstood to signify that Aquarius is a water sign, in fact, the wave like symbol represents radio waves or frequency underscoring its capacity for instantaneous transmission. Air creates no impediment to movement and thoughts occur at lightening speed.
Aquarius has an innate ability to see the BIG PICTURE, unclouded by emotions, material concerns and passions. This perspective invites us to enlarge our perspective and to move into a kind of timeless space. Uranus, the ruling planet, is also known as the Great Awakener, and so with sudden flashes of insight and awareness, direct knowing is afforded, lending the label of Genius to the Water bearer. The all-inclusive nature of Aquarius extends to all that is, humanity and all of creation and the most treasured value is FREEDOM. The concept of what ispossible and thinking beyond what is known, the development of technology and space exploration are very much within the scope of Aquarius’ purview.
Air, the invisible link… free and unimpeded, unformed and abstract, ever present.
COMMUNITY NOTES! In keeping with the theme of The Space In Between, my friend and colleague is hosting a Summer Solstice Day Retreat
Honouring and celebrating the magic of Summer Solstice 2025 with Emma Kerr (Somatic movement), Lisa Sibley (Breathwork) and Marlow Purves (Astrology)
A day of Meditation, intention, ritual and deep relaxation with a Sound Bath to conclude.
Refreshments and lunch are included, all the be shared in the beautiful Anstey hall, Trumpington, Cambridge. Hope to see you there!!
Following a successful two-day event this past summer, I am delighted to announce another upcoming collaboration with Elaine R Harris and myself.
In this one-day workshop, Elaine and I will be combining our skills to create a unique and exciting opportunity to marry Constellation work with Homoeopathy in support of the constellation process.
Homoeopathic remedies offer grounding to the issue holder as they encounter new awarenesses, enabling them to consolidate their experience and take it forward in a sustainable way.
About The Event
Saturday 9th of November – 9:40am for 10am start to 5:30pm
Sometimes we have recurring patterns in our life, either personal or professional, where nothing we do seems to make a change and we are left wondering where we are ‘going wrong?’ We feel we ‘should’ be able to fix whatever it is at issue and still the solution continues to evade us, regardless of what we try to do or how hard we ‘search’ for the answer.
The Family and Business Constellations process explores these kinds of life challenges in a different way – Using a wider, more systemic lens, it looks at the individual or business as part of a greater system of family, culture, environment and conscience, rather than seeing it as something that functions as a purely independent unit.
The Question/Issue Holder – the one who wishes to take a deeper look into their personal or organisational dilemma. There is often more than one Question Holder in each group and thus a Question Holder may also act as a Representative in another’s Constellation.
The Representatives or Resources – the ones who offer themselves in service of the Field ofthe Question Holder, to represent people or elements within the Question Holder’s system. Taking part in other people’s constellations as a Representative is entirely optional and you are not obliged to accept the invitation when asked. It must be noted though, that it is very common that another’s work can touch you as deeply as your own, and even just being a witness to another’s constellation can be a powerful experience…..
Question holder places are limited to 10 so if you would like your Question Constellated please book early to avoid disappointment.
Total places are limited to 12, so plenty of room if you want to come along and be a Representative – you can often get just as much out of doing that as you can from being a Question Holder.
“Many workshops claim they are transformative. This one really, truly is!” Christine.
Breaking New Groundis a courageous exploration of your soul’s unfolding facilitated by Sue Smith and Marlow Purves. Explore your unfinished business, how it affects you, and how to heal old and new trauma.
Those who’ve already attended the course say:
“By far the most powerful workshop I have ever attended…I was amazed at Sue’s insight, intuition, energy and her ability to read energy and pick up exactly what was going on for all of us [without us saying a word]… she made it safe to go deep …” Caroline
“… friends were in awe of the experience I had. I wish I could do it all over again!” Camilla
“Sue held a very safe environment not only with compassion but tremendous humour in the right places.” Liz
Lucie wrote – “It was truly a gift.”
Selena wrote – “ I just want to say thank you! Thank you for such an amazing experience, life changing!”
Sue is a homeopath, a healer and a teacher of energy work. She brings extraordinary warmth, compassion and insight to her work with groups, creating and holding a safe space in which people can gently explore, heal and grow.
A pivotal life experience awakened and opened her awareness to her own energetic body and it’s many subtleties. She developed an acute sensitivity to others and an ability to listen deeply, to read the truth in energy and to actively respond to what’s alive in the moment. Since this time Sue has been steeped in Chakra work, in both Eastern and Western wisdom traditions.
A key component of her work is experiential – an invitation to come out of the head and into embodied knowing, self-trust and transformation freeing you of outdated habits and patterns that no longer serve.
Marlow is an homeopath, healer and astrologer. With a background in movement, meditation and Shamanic journeying, she synthesizes a variety of disciplines and tools to create sacred space.
Marlow brings 30 years of experience working with individuals and groups and has a remarkable ability to perceive underlying patterns and bring them to the light. Marlow’s natural ability to lead others in light-hearted investigation allows magic to occur, creating space for transformation and healing of old wounds and restoring the flow of energy.
The path that unfolds is unique for each person, Sue and Marlow tend them with a synthesis of playful and grounded enquiry.
This event is being hosted by The Homeopathy College, but it is a stand-alone workshop and requires no homeopathic leanings.
If you’re open, curious, ready to heal old wounds and move your life forward, join us on October 15/16 2016 for a weekend to remember.
Saturday/Sunday 15/16 October 2016
Saturday/Sunday 10/11 December 2016
and there will be one more in January 2017
Hurry! Spaces are limited – only ten places for each weekend workshop.
Contact Christopher by email chris@homoeopathytraining.co.uk or phone 01803 865 780 for booking details.
There’s fire within and once again the stirring of the season is making the yearning for life known to us all. Brigid is tending the forge and though the crust is cool and the winds can be bitter, the life within is palpable.
New shoots, true signs that our season of slumber is drawing to a close; dark nights are receding and we are being coaxed into the light. Dreams hover ever more closely to the surface and we are gently ushered into wakefulness – potent and potential in the coming year.
It feels different than before, this year feels more pliable somehow, more elastic, promising change and growth in unexpected ways. Every new year has it’s unique promise and this one speaks to a sense of movement, quickening.
What withered husks must be shed in order for the fires of new life and inspiration to shine forth? We are urged now to begin those tentative steps toward the realization of un-manifest dreams.
Brigid guides us surely as she holds sway over the arts of healing, poetry and smith craft. Letting go of and surrendering that which no longer serves us, reveals a new level of vulnerability and of strength. It is a true kind of healing that reaches beyond mere restoration, moving us forward fearlessly into new versions of ourselves; a whole-r sense of who we are. The poet, echoing the voice of the mystic, seeing and revealing what is to become before it has found its final form. The words you choose conjure your next creation into being and you are being urged to listen muse and be inspired. Conversations with Spirit find their expression in many forms and most surely by the pen of the poet. What whispering have you been privy to in your wintery repose?
And now the final piece (they always come in threes!) The forge is fired and the hammer is calling for your hand… you are entering ‘the fashioning time’, wielding, wrestling, gripping and hammering the material of life into it’s new rightful expression.
Each of us is charged to renew our resolve, stir from our sleep and listen heart-fully to the yearnings of a creative spirit. It is no small thing to pledge yourself to creation, it will call upon all your resources and yes, you will be changed!
Blessed Imbolc, may the fires burn brightly and light your way!
The days are DEFINITELY longer and the earth is just beginning to emit her irresistible fragrance, JUST. Snow drops are appearing and gardeners’ fingers are itching and turning to trays of seedling hope in anticipation of a warming soil and softening in the fields. On this sunny day I look around and see evidence of the sun’s fire drawing forth the abundance of a sleeping earth. Hope surfaces, tentatively, tenderly. It is truly an exquisite time of year and in ourselves, new-born time.
All this fiery energy holds us in its thrall because of it’s juxtaposition to the vulnerability of newly emerging life. This is animal time, where an appetite for life is making itself felt in our deepest selves. Raw, not wholly formed; wet with the fluids of previous hidden existence, we are being called to show ourselves. We are invited by Nature herself to rise in consciousness and make a bid for life.
Commitment time, Imbolc is a dedication and initiation festival. Making a commitment is a radical act of courage and of hope. It must be tended with care, protection and loving nurture; a dangerous undertaking, worthy and requiring support. Commitment has had a bit of a bad rap in the past, alluding to constraint, bonds and limitations and yet it provides the vessel from which to grow, a stable and faithful promise to protect new life, nurture it and bear witness to its unique creations.
Brigid, the Goddess of Poetry, Smith-craft and Healing sings the heart’s song, creates the containment of a manifest vessel and heals the wounds found on the path of emergence. Feel the fire and tend your vessel with loving kindness, there is a promise of oh-so-sweet bud and flower and fruit for the faithful.
marlowpurves.net 