EMOTIONAL HEALTH WELCOME back to our exploration into all things emotional. In this edition our Emotional Health columnist Leigh Smith, explores harnessing the mental health benefits from within the natural elements.
“It’s elemental my dear Watson”
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Jungian Therapy with Ali Morrish
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ORKING with our dreams is possibly one of the most intimate and individual journeys that we can make. Most of us dream and, indeed, it is a topic that fascinates a lot of us. Imagine the typical conversation around the breakfast table, “You’ll never guess what I dreamed last night…” However, there is more to it than just a casual topic of conversation. A lot of people appreciate that dreams have a deeper, symbolic nature that holds something far more revealing about our psyche. For people who might wish to discover more about their dreams, Ali Morrish RSHom is now offering Jungian psychology and work with dreams. Alongside her homeopathy, Ali has always had a fascination for this work. She said: “Some people may not be aware that homeopathy and Jungian work are quite similar in some ways and, for several years now, I’ve chosen to specialise in this area. “Many people who come to this work are at some kind of crossroads in their lives - maybe they’ve reached midlife, or they have a certain knowing that they wish to change things on a soulful level. Unlike regular counselling and psychotherapy, which of course are immensely valuable, Jungian work enables people to work not only with their dreams but also with stories and images that most will connect with. These insights can be fascinating.” Ali was particularly delighted to receive an endorsement from Senior Jungian Psychoanalyst, Julian David for her work. He said: “I have known Ali since 2002 and have been impressed by her natural skill with the soul and its needs. I support her expansion from homeopathy into dream-
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work and a broad intuitive therapeutic approach.” And what of her clients? One recently summed up their experience by saying: “Exploring dreams and their images is exploring the depths, complexity and wisdom of your own psyche. To me, it has been the most challenging and yet rewarding journey I have ever taken towards harmony and personal growth. Some people call this journey ‘soul-making’ and I’m very grateful to Ali for holding a safe and sacred space for my soul-making process. Her deep understanding of Jungian psychology, dream work, stories and symbolism, her intuitive guidance and soulful presence have been the greatest support I could ever wish for my journey. I find our work rich in insight and integration, and our exploration full of courage, compassion and humour!” Sometimes people choose to see Ali for homeopathy alone and sometimes patients of her husband, Mo, opt to have a few sessions with Ali to work with dreams. Others come to focus purely on the Jungian work, looking at a deeper more soulful exploration of the unconscious. One said: “My years with Ali as a patient of her homoeopathic practice were unquestionably enhanced by her knowledge of Jungian therapy. Her breadth of experience makes her a unique therapist.” l Ali holds clinics from her home on Dartmoor, and from Exeter Natural Health Centre. For more information, to book an appointment or a free introductory session: 01364 661397 enquiries@ thehomoeopathicpractice.co.uk www.thehomoeopathicpractice. co.uk
think Sherlock Holmes may well have hit the nail on the head! When looking for answers to our ailments, we may well find what we are searching for embedded deep in the oldest understanding of medicine. As early as 460 B.C. Hippocrates and Galen taught us that the four elements, or ‘humors’ of air, water, fire, and earth, each had a direct relationship and effect on our mind and bodies. And although medical science has come a long way since these rudimentary beginnings, it is still widely believed that the natural elements contain potentially health enhancing benefits. So how can Air, Water, Fire and Earth, play a part in my emotional well-being? If you think of each of the elements as separate ingredients, each one bringing a vital aspect of the meal, and all four contributing in different ways to create a well balanced and nutritious banquet. When you look at the spread of food laid out before you you might well notice that there is too much of one elements, and a lack of another, thus the meal lacks harmony, and something feels out of kilter, until a balance is created. Now think of your own connection and personal relationship to each of these elements, and consider: which do you absorb in abundance, and which do you lack. Each element has something to offer, a way to enhance our wellbeing, and can provide us with therapeutic benefits in the most simplistic of ways. Air When I consider the therapeutic effects of the lack of air, I see pollution and constricted breathing, I see a heavily burdened chest, weighed down with despair. Embracing this element encourages us to focus on effective breathing, to resource ourselves with clean, fresh air, and to utilise focused breath work (pranayama in yoga) to reduce anxiety and stress. There are some very simple mindful breathing techniques which can greatly enhance our day to day ability to regulate our nervous system and become centred and calm. Fire A lack of fire in my life results in lethargy, an unfocused, pointless and passionless existence. Bringing the element of fire makes me
consider the power of the Native American sweat lodge, I recall casting many despairs, and long held grief into the fire pit, the heat of the steaming stones cleansing my heart and soul as Carlos would share prayers to the ancestors, and I would emerge feeling reborn and unburdened. The positive effects of a sunny day on mood is tangible, and recently the sunshine throughout lockdown helped massively to stave off the dark moods and made the situation more bearable. Water When I imagine removing this element from my life I realise how much I take for granted living so close to the river Dart. The Dart snakes around me at home and at work, I travel along side her as I journey around doing my day to day chores. The serotonin boosting negative ions effecting my wellbeing, and the background sound of water against stone is a constant backing track to my days. Water is fundamental to our physical health, and results from experiments to monitor the effects of dehydration, report that along with the physical symptoms such as headaches, dehydration was also found to produce a degradation in mood. Earth Time spent in nature, connecting to the earth beneath our feet, forest bathing, and becoming aware of our natural environment, are all so rich with therapeutic benefit. During lockdown I was lucky enough to be able to spend time walking the lanes and exploring the local hedgerows, and I believe that focusing on the life in the hedges helped me to maintain a good balance of mental health. When I feel I am becoming anxious I sit or stand with my feet firmly on the ground, and allow myself to reconnect, sending roots down into the earth and anchoring to the very core. If I lack energy I can draw resources from deep in the earth’s core. The therapeutic possibilities of working with the natural elements are endless, free, and readily available. So perhaps it’s time to get your elemental fix, whether that be squeezing clay between your fingers, wiggling your toes in the freezing river, lighting an autumn fire, or filling your lungs with pure, fresh air…. Enjoy.
Leigh Smith is director of studies, course designer and tutor at Heartwood Centre for Counselling and Psychotherapy Training. Visit www.heartwoodcounselling.org or call 01803 865464.
Editorial: 01392 346342 editor@reconnectonline.co.uk
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