When Healing Becomes Educating, Vol. 2 - Waldorf Research Institute

Biography
There now exists a considerable body of anthroposophic work on
biography, taking into account many angles on the connection and interaction
between biography and illness, the case history, life history, pains
and pleasures.
The significance of the patient’s biography in the medical/therapeutic
anthroposophic psychosomatic approach is not founded on any formula
or overview of rhythms, mirroring or other laws. A biography is a process
of development in which entirely individual factors meet and interact with
entirely supra-personal ones. Development in the course of a person’s life
“is an important aspect in which we have to recognize overall laws which are
frequently altered while remaining valid in broad terms. In order to come to
grips with one’s biography and find one’s goals with increasing clarity one
must understand and respect these laws... During the first half of a person’s
life a rhythmic process comes into play but in the second half the limits are
no longer so clearly defined. Although spiritual science has always referred
to these limits they are, in fact, inexact.” 4
Events in a biography may be either surprising or expected. Everything
has its cause and is in turn the cause of what comes later. Illnesses and crises
within this evolution are like points of concentration, gathering up what
has gone before as though new strength must be collected for what is yet
to come. Both the new strength and what is yet to come are still only seeds
during the time of the illness and convalescence. They are inwardly present
spiritually and do not yet exist in the physical world. An inkling or a sense
and awareness of what these might be can be developed with the help of an
appropriate path of therapy to which the illness has given rise.
The background against which this individual biography stands out
are the supra-personal laws of development. What outward point has the
person who needs help reached? Where is he age-wise on this path that
passes before us against the background of the laws of development? Also:
What point has he reached inwardly in the development of soul and spirit?
What quality of sentient or intellectual soul is he at present living in? What
capacities of consciousness soul, or further stages of development has he
achieved himself? What help does he need for whatever next step he is
willing to take?
Recognizing what is at work in the background by bringing the past into
the present can awaken the patient’s confidence in the future. This enables
him to set his own next goal!
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