Ita Wegman, MD (born 22 February 1876 in Karawang, West Java; died 4 March 1943 in Arlesheim, Switzerland) is known as the co-founder of Anthroposophical Medicine with Rudolf Steiner. In 1921, she founded the first anthroposophical medical clinic in Arlesheim, now known as the Ita Wegman Clinic. She also developed a special form of massage therapy, called rhythmical massage, and other therapeutic treatments.
Archetypes might seem like a mystical notion and in one sense this is true. When Plato describes archetypes, he is referring to the perfect, spiritual origins of things which reside in the world of forms. All things that have a physical manifestation, according to Plato, can attribute their source to an archetype. In another sense, an understanding of archetypes can lead to deep personal insights into the forces of the psyche – our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviors. It was Dr. Carl Jung (1875-1961) who brought an understanding of psychological archetypes into play in the field of depth psychology. Jung believed that standing behind our individual personal unconscious, which is unique to each of us, “there exists a second psychic system of a collective, universal and impersonal nature that is identical in all individuals”. (The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious, p. 43). When someone mentions a warrior, for example, we easily conjure an image of what this means. A warrior has courage and discipline, can focus on goals and aims to win. The Warrior is seen as an archetype in a Jungian framework. We all have this energy in us, at least as latent potential. It seems that nothing related to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is simple or straightforward, no broad statement immune to disputation. The prevalence of ASD, most especially in the United States, but also elsewhere, appears to have increased dramatically in the last 40 years. (The most current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] estimates for the US are that 1 in 68 children is identified with an autism spectrum disorder; for boys: 1 in 42.) Some voices, however, insist that this apparent increase is due to better detection techniques and broader awareness; while more than one study has suggested that the increase can not possibly be attributed to these factors alone. Then there are the complex (and controversial) questions of contributing factors: genetic predispositions versus environmental toxicity factors such as the mercurial preservative thimerosal that is widely used in vaccines. As a phenomenon of our current moment in history, the broad examination of ASD, its consciousness and controversies, as a symptom and as a riddle, can undoubtedly be a useful entry point for discerning something about the world in which we are living. And yet, lest we become too theoretical, there is also the ever-present reality of the individual human being to consider. For parents and grandparents, teachers and caregivers, doctors and therapists, this is the first consideration. And this is the focus of our program. From a purely therapeutic standpoint, and in the presence of a unique living individual human being, these broader questions, disputes, and controversies can take a backseat to the utterly singular person before us. Here the tools and insights of anthroposophical spiritual science are not merely useful but ultimately necessary.How can we use these insights to meet the one before us with an even greater love and out of a deeper wisdom? More ...
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Sophia Institute offers a variety of programs, courses, publications and other resources to anyone interested in Anthroposophy and Waldorf/Steiner inspired education. Currently there are students from all over the world enrolled in the Sophia Institute online courses. Sophia Institute publications are available worldwide. The Sophia Institute newsletter and blog provide insights and information concerning the work of Anthroposophical initiatives, Waldorf/Steiner Schools, the Camphill Movement, and related endeavors. More ...
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