Owl of Minerva Herbal Advisory
We are a small group of herbal practioners with a unitary goal. Our goal is to promote self-healing using the wonderful oportunities that nature has given us all. Our rationale is based on the belief that your needs are of the utmost importance, whether you prefer using the ancients remedies derived from alchemaic traditions using the laws of nature for healing, or using remedies that have been validated by science. Our philosphy is to committ to meeting those needs. The guiding principle we follow is, "As above, so below; as within, so without." This belief of a universal symathy expression in nature was a fundamental belief in Hermetic philosophy. It as also been known as healing by "similars". In contrast, modern medicine often heals by use of "contraries". Both terms were written about by Hippocrates and have been called similia similibus curentur and allopathic medicine. Alchemy and modern medicine are both "guided" by the laws of all of nature.
What is alchemy? Alchemy is an ancient practice focused on the attempt to manipulate metals, plants or any organic entity to speed up the change of them into more desired objects of use. For example, metals can become other metals, and crsytals other crystals in the right environments. Unusual properties are explored even if science has not fully categorised them to a function. Transformation from a past condition to a new or altered condition is it's basis. It includes investigating the preparation of the "elixir of longevity", and achieving ultimate wisdom, involving the improvement of the alchemist. Our inspiration derives from Minerva (Greek name: Pallas Athene), the goddess of wisdom. As Minerva Medica, she was the goddess of medicine. Her favorite bird was the owl, and the plant sacred to her was the olive.
Our Beginnings
Owl of Minerva Herbal Advisory has its beginnings from the developing interest of a small group of people dedicated to the healing arts who have used theoretical knowledge from the past applied to the present day. Members of the group studied ancient diets in Archaeological Science and Geology at undergraduate University level, the relationship of human psychology to the natural environment in Evolutionary Psychology and psychological science both at post-graduate University level. Herbal medine has also been studied. All this combined knowledge led to the creation of a group with a core aim of promoting the hidden alchemical properties of acting agents in plants and minerals. Hidden meaning, that modern medicine has yet to identify any specific single acting agent in many herbal remedies; this failure of modern medicine to identify "single" active agents which heal, may reflect the untappped symbiotic nature of the properties of the whole plant used in healing.
Alchemy and Ancient Medicine vs. Modern Medicine
From the earliest of times, people sought herbs and other remedies from the environment to cure sickness and injuries. The Medicine Man or Women assembled this ancient knowledge and passed it on to successive generations. Even though wars and persecution slimmed down the number of natural healers, much of this knowledge prior to 2000 BC was still passed on, finding its way into the culture of early and modern society.
Knowledge of the power of healing through plants and other natural means was held deeply within the field of alchemy. One of the key areas of human endeavor that the alchemists were involved in was medicine. The essence of medicine is transformation, and the alchemists transformed active organic substances into valuable medicines capable of bringing about beneficial healing transformations in the organism.
In the distant past, medicine often involved a holoisitic approach to recovery (eg using mind body, spirit & environment). This situation has now changed. Today, modern medicine, derived from alchemy, is confined to targeting single or clusters of symptoms, not the cause, or prevention of an illness. This somewhat practical approach has logic. If you break a leg, you have it repaired, and you do not worry about why you broke it. Again, if you catch a virus, you just recover from it, not worring about why you might have caught it. In contrast, ancient healing methods can provide both practial and preventaitive strategies in overcoming health problems. A strategic triad of options addresses healing: 1 ) identification of a cause 2) preventing relapse 3 ) recovery; You might first identify if you were initially stressed or run down, a state of being more vulnerable to catching a virus. Following this, remedial action is taken to preventing a repeat illness... Keeping energy levels in check and taking appropriate remedies when certain symptoms appear. Recovery may be faster and symptoms less severe should you follow the said triadic actions.
It is important to recognize that modern medicine is not ancient medicine. Modern medicine is offered within a legal framework with it's own checks and balances. Ancient medicine uses the laws of nature not those of man, and good recipes are maintained through their effectiveness and reputation. The theoretical links between the two branches of medicine are strong and deep, but the practice of them now diverges. Modern medicine has confirmed the benefits of ancient remedies in many cases, but not all. This distinction between modern and ancient medicine is important. You should not dismiss modern medicine. Equally, ancient medicine should not be forgotton. Both are linked in many ways to the harmonies of the earth.
The alchemical tradition in Greek Medicine is based on Hermetic philosophy, which was founded by the legendary Egyptian philosopher king Hermes Trimegistus, or the "Thrice-Great Hermes". Most medical historians now agree that the main source and reservoir of medical knowledge that the ancient Greeks drew upon came from Egypt, whose civilization was already old and well-established as the Golden Age of classical Greece was dawning. But exactly how this medical knowledge was transmitted from Egypt to Greece is still disputed.
Many medical scholars maintain that the Minoan civilization on Crete served as the intermediary in this transmission. But two other figures also stand out in this regard: Pythagoras and Thales. Pythagoras is known to have traveled widely, and Thales received his medical training in Egypt.
The guiding principle of Hermetic philosophy is, "As above, so below; as within, so without." In its overal form, structure and composition, the microcosm of the human body reflects the macrocosm of Nature. To provide an example of this relationship, reference can be made to the plant kingdom, where certain varieties of wine start to ferment and "sound" in the vat in the very same night in which vines from which they came burst into bloom. This captures a generic sympathy in nature. Artificially cultivated varieties of flower will disappear all over the world at once. Remember the French Rose!! All the artifically bred roses in France died together in unison regardless of distance. Similarily, during the Irish potatoe famine, the potatoe plants showed strong evidence for sympathies residing within nature; When the plants were dying of potatoe blight, the harvested potatoes also succumbed. Today, similar bird flocks and fish swarms are dying, possibly in unision. Maybe this is linked in some way to a generic sympathy of sorts which has become negative to earthly life forms. Earthly sympathies can be shared between humans and plants, and can be both postive and negative, or even both positive and negative, often depending on the nature of what is directing the symbiotic relationship. If we consume whole parts of plants, we may absorb hidden or known about sympathies in nature which may help to harmonise any chemical imbalances. This is the very nature of what we want to educate others about.
Disease and dysfunction arise when the microcosm of the human body becomes desynchronised from the macrocosm of Nature; healing consists of bringing the microcosm of the human body back into balance with the macrocosm of Nature. Use of artificial chemicals or genetically modified products interferes with this macrocosmic balance. The mass death of French Roses in history provides analogous evidence of an artifical v natural endpoint to an in-correct balance. Use of herbs or other plants, along with crystals and minerals taken in conjunction with a complimentary diet may assist you in keeping this balance.