We All Have Our Own Journey To Enjoy

From Dawn D. , Alton, NS

I have known for a very long time that my vocation in life would be somehow connected to my love for both science and the natural world. A profession in health care seemed a logical conclusion but even with this realization my career path was not a direct one. It contained many twists and turns before arriving at this point in time in which I finally move forward with my decision to become a professional homeopath. I explored many possibilities along the way before I came to realize that homeopathic medicine was the path I was intended to follow. It has provided knowledge and insight for questions I had been asking most of my adult life. I am a firm believer that the culmination of our experiences makes us who we are in the present and are part of the life lessons that eventually lead us to where we need to go. I have come to realize that there have been three distinct phases or events in my life that have caused me to stop and question my direction. In each and every instance homeopathy has provided the answers I was not previously able to find. It had already started defining my life and I decided to allow it to continue to do so and eventually make it the main focus of my health care practice.

The first phase of this journey began back in university. As mentioned, I had a strong interest in science and so it was the natural progression of things that this would be the focus of my undergraduate course of study. I chose course concentrations in chemistry and psychology as these held the most appeal for me of all the sciences but in actuality I really still did not have a specific career goal in mind. I felt that this would reveal itself as my studies progressed but as time went on this did not transpire. I increasingly became dissatisfied with my university experience and did not feel a sense of wonder and desire to broaden my horizons that I thought that I would find in a place of higher learning. I realized that scholastic achievement and aptitude do not always equal success or satisfaction in life. I often felt that I had made a huge (and costly) mistake. This bothered me very much for a very long time. I felt that it was somehow my fault that I did not fit the mould that everyone expected of me. It was not until many years later when I picked up a copy of James Tyler Kent’s “Lectures on Homeopathic Philosophy” that this changed for me. As I read and reread his words I realized that this was the kind of engaging teacher I had envisioned so long ago. At this point I had already been introduced to homeopathy and I had been intrigued enough to seek out a local study group to attend where I could learn more about this “new” science. But it was even more than that. I could almost imagine myself sitting in those lectures that happened so many years ago; this man’s brilliance and love for his life’s work was so apparent. His teachings inspired me to seek out more knowledge and challenge some of my long held beliefs and to be open minded to new concepts and ideas, at least new to me! With this came the realization that my missing sense of accomplishment and fulfillment from my university days were not my fault and had nothing to do with living up to other’s expectations. I had quite simply lacked a source of inspiration and hence the motivation to move forward. I merely had not yet found the discipline I was meant to study. Kent’s lectures served as a catalyst to instill this new found awareness in me and light the fire that had been set many years previous. It was the fuel that I needed. My first attempt at post-secondary education only served as the springboard to what was to come. This was my first indication that homeopathic medicine would be the key to my growth and development as it had already righted some long held and incorrect beliefs I had applied to myself. And all because I had picked up a book!

After university I entered the workforce still unsure of a direction. I had jobs that left me unfulfilled and wanting more from life so much so that I developed health problems. This direct response to my unhappiness and internal conflict was my first glimpse at the reality that the mind and body are connected, although I didn’t fully realize it at the time.

I still felt that a career in health care was my best option so I changed direction and started working in community pharmacy. Here was a job that made use of my science and chemistry background and was in my desired field of health and wellness. I thought that I had finally found a winning combination but once again I learned that just being proficient at something does not constitute the type of inner satisfaction and sense of accomplishment I was looking for. As much as I enjoyed working as a health care professional in the public, I soon started seeing the limitations of conventional medicine and how many of my customers simply were not improving in health and instead were being palliated. In many cases they were not seeing any real cures for their chronic conditions and in fact only regressing further into deteriorating health. As much as I could commend many of the new miracle drugs and procedures available to us , I was starting to realize that the pharmaceutical industry was more about marketing strategies and profits than making people well or focusing on prevention.

I had been studying natural medicine on my own for some time, mostly natural nutrition and herbal medicine but had come across homeopathy several times in my studies and was intrigued to learn more. This led to me joining the previously mentioned study group. These studies provided a respite from the disappointment that I felt in my decision to work in pharmacy and this was my first real inkling that perhaps homeopathic medicine might be the path for which I was intended but I had no idea how that could ever be possible at this point.

As time went on, I developed more of an ethical and moral conflict between what I did during the day in the pharmacy and my developing beliefs as to what constituted good health. I considered beginning formal homeopathic training but finally decided on a diploma in holistic nutrition from the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition. I felt this would be a great foundation for any field of alternative medicine that I chose to study. I had finally made a choice and felt like I was getting closer to reaching my goals.I continued my homeopathic studies on my own and knew that if I still wanted to study it formally after I graduated from CSNN then I would seriously have to revisit it and make a final decision.

After graduation however I was given an opportunity to take part in a business program for entrepreneurs so I decided instead to start a private nutrition practice and learn all I could about running a small business from my program mentors. This was the beginning of the third instance in my life where homeopathy provided the wisdom and answers I needed to find in order to solve yet another dilemma and move forward.

I was very well versed in the concept of the holistic approach to health and acknowledging the body, mind and spirit and strived to provide this to my clients in my practice. However, without any other modalities, with the exception of Bach Flower Remedies, it did not take me long to realize that I would not be able to help clients in the capacity that I wanted to. Nutrition is an important and often necessary starting point but not enough on its own to help everyone. I saw clients with long standing chronic health concerns that did show some improvement with nutrition and lifestyle changes but they did not achieve the results they were ultimately looking for. I was not always able to help them address the underlying cause of their complaint and therefore total healing could not take place. By this stage, I had enough experience with homeopathic medicine in my own life to know its profound effects and success in one’s overall health and I wanted this for my clients as well.  I could no longer keep it to myself or let life get in my way any longer as far as this next phase of my life and career were concerned. The longer I waited until my life aligned perfectly to begin my education only meant that there were people who would also have to wait longer for my help. My own personal experience confirmed that homeopathy could make nutrition therapy better and more effective and likewise a client who was being counselled in the principles of holistic nutrition would only respond that much more positively and completely with homeopathy.

So it seems that I have finally come full circle in reaching my decision to be a professional homeopath. Perhaps it was not so much a decision but a necessary journey that I had to travel on. I have always heard that one does not simply learn and practice this form of medicine but that one experiences it. In effect it becomes a part of the fabric of your life and who you are. That probably best sums up what I had been missing after university. The fabric simply had not been woven yet. My experiences thus far provided the materials and homeopathy wove them together for me and set me on this path of lifelong learning and study. Let the journey continue!

Image courtesy by chanpipat (freedigitalphotos.net)