Distance learning programme launched
We are pleased to announce the availability as from 31st January 2000 of our new Distance Learning Programme (DLP). The new course is an introductory level course that is aimed particularly at people who find it difficult to attend a classroom-based course. Students completing the course will receive a Bach Centre Level 1 certificate.
Initially the DLP will be offered in English only, but we hope that other countries will start to offer it from 2001 onwards. Indeed, one of the main considerations in writing the course was to produce something that could be translated quite easily. The course does not contain material such as remedy indications that is already in print and widely available. Instead it acts as a framework, guiding students as they explore the remedies with the help of whatever material is available in their language.
Students will receive five lessons, one at a time, and as they complete each lesson they will send their work to specially-appointed registered practitioners who act as mentors, marking students’ answers, suggesting further reading and answering any questions on the remedies and their use that the student cares to ask.
Unlike many correspondence colleges around the world, we don’t consider distance learning alone a suitable way to train practitioners. Personal interaction with a tutor and with others in the class, a chance to exchange views and a sense of a shared commitment, are as you know important parts of the practitioner course. But the new course will allow students to go directly onto a Level 2 course and from there onto a Level 3 practitioner training course if they want to, and it does mean that for the first time we will be able to offer potential students in countries where there is no established education programme the chance to learn the original simple system of Dr Bach, straight from the horse’s mouth.
Spirituality days
In the last bulletin (January 2000) we featured a report on the spirituality and philosophy forum held at the Bach Centre last year. We have two further forums on this subject planned for this year. They will run on the 16th June (code R2/00) and on the 16th October (R3/00).
A place on one of the day-long forums costs £38. To reserve your place send a cheque for £38 to the usual address, specifying which day you want to attend. Please tell us if you can attend the other day as an alternative. Your cheque should be drawn on a UK clearing bank – ask your bank to help you if you live outside the UK – and don’t forget to include your name and address!
Places are limited and will be filled on a first-come-first-serve basis, so act now to avoid disappointment.
Animal courses grow apace
When we started doing animal days at the Bach Centre in 1998 we planned a straightforward one-day introduction. But it soon became apparent that one day only gave enough time to scratch the surface of working with animals. Our teacher, animal behaviourist and Bach practitioner Heather Simpson, was besieged with requests to do more.
As a result we increased the scope of the animal courses, and in 1999 Heather ran three one-day ‘follow-on’ courses for people who had attended the introductory days, as well as more introductory days. Instead of decreasing the pressure, people have again asked for more.
So – we are delighted to announce a complete programme of courses for people who want to use the remedies to help animals.
Stage 1: Introductory day
The introductory day takes place at the Bach Centre. It includes an introduction to the behaviour of cats, horses and dogs, and an overview of how the remedies can help animals. Groups are kept small (no more than twelve people), allowing time to ask questions and benefit from the experience of learning at Mount Vernon.
Stage 2: Three-day continuation course
This course takes place at the Natural Animal Centre in East Sussex, Heather’s own farm. On the first day you will look in-depth at the psychology and behaviour of dogs, paying special attention to the different behaviour characteristics of different breeds. Day two concentrates on cats, and includes an introduction to how animals learn. Day three shows how you can apply your knowledge of animal behaviour to identify behaviour patterns in all animals. Case studies will help you select remedies for other species, including horses, reptiles and other companion animals. All three days will give you the opportunity to study examples of animal behaviour, and a full course manual will be issued.
Applicants must attend a stage 1 introductory animal day before attending the stage 2 course.
Stage 3: Four-day examination course
This course also takes place at the Natural Animal Centre in East Sussex. The first day gives you an opportunity to revise what you have learned so far by looking at live case studies. The course allows you to try out your observation skills by looking at live examples of animal (and animal owner) behaviour. Guidelines for treating animals will be explored, including ensuring personal and public safety, how to work with vets and the requirements of the Bach Foundation Code of Practice.
Day four is exam day, with a multiple choice assessment followed by a written exam. Once you have passed the exams you will be asked to complete further written work from home, and then undertake and write up a case study of your own, including the selection of remedies for an animal. We will issue a certificate of achievement following successful completion of this course, and amend your registration details to include you on a list of practitioners who specialise in animal care.
Who can come on the courses?
All registered practitioners can attend these courses at a special reduced cost. In addition, members of the public can attend provided they complete Bach Centre-approved Levels 1 and 2 first. The Stage 3 course is recognised by the Bach Centre as a Level 3 practitioner training course, and veterinary surgeons and nurses and others who pass all the assessments will be given the opportunity to apply to register with the Centre as Bach practitioners specialising in animal care.
The crisis remedy in treatment bottles
We often hear of people using the crisis ‘rescue’ formula as a short cut for other remedies. For example, if someone needs Clematis as the type remedy, Impatiens as a mood remedy and Star of Bethlehem to overcome a traumatic event in the past, some people add four drops of the crisis formula instead of two drops of each of the single remedies.
In fact it is better to think of the crisis formula as a single remedy with its own particular indications. Only add it to treatment bottles when a crisis, emergencies etc. are ongoing, and where it isn’t possible to be more exact.
In practice it is almost always possible to be more exact, especially after a consultation. In our example, adding two drops each of Clematis, Impatiens and Star of Bethlehem will focus better on the actual problems. The unnecessary remedies Cherry Plum and Rock Rose won’t be clouding the issue.
And if all five remedies are needed? – just give the person a stock bottle of crisis formula, which is in effect a pre-prepared treatment bottle.
Welcome to…
Since the last (January 2000) issue was prepared, 34 new practitioners have joined the register:
- in Belgium, Lieve Indesteege, Ingrid Retour, and Rudi Hermans;
- in Brazil, Sirlei Maria Deczka Telles, Noêmia Maria Antoniazzi Abaid, Rosana Aparecida Rodrigues, Neusa Panuncio Cirilo dos Santos, Maria Emilia Pimentel Duarte Lacombe, and Salete de Lourdes Santos de Oliveira;
- in Canada, Ann Kirwin, Moneca Litton, and Sharon Chevalier;
- in Italy, Nicoletta Zucchello, Lesley Arnold, and Vera Termali;
- in New Zealand, Tracey Killick;
- in the UK, Elizabeth Bailey-Conlon, Alison Hudd, Susan Rigg, Lesley Holloway, Alison Cooper, Virginia Colin, Peter Bryenton, Pamela Wells, Jean Goodman, Anne Inzani, Andrea Williams, Heather Owen, and Deirdre Barron;
- in Uruguay, Orestes Casella Bogani;
- in the USA, Bettina Rasmussen, Marilee Marrinan, and Estelle Ritter;
- and in Venezuela, Marielena Nuñez.
There are now 702 practitioners on the register.
Asterix
by Teresa Munro
On 16th November last year my Weimaraner dog Guy died. He had a serious heart condition and we were told over two years ago that he had three months to live, so we were very grateful that we had him for so long. He was 13 years and 5 months, which is a good age for a Weimaraner.
This has left us with Asterix the English springer spaniel, who is pictured left. He is now 12 years and 8 months, although he probably is aged about 8 months mentally.
Asterix has always lived with other dogs, as we originally had two Weimaraners and Asterix. After Guy died Asterix wasn’t too bad at first, but after about five or six days he started to really mope. He wouldn’t eat properly, wouldn’t come out of his bed and more disturbing he didn’t want to go out for a walk. This was not like Asterix.
I decided to try the remedies with him, as I have used them in the past with all my dogs. The remedy I made was as follows:
- Vine – for his personality
- Walnut – for the change in his life
- Mimulus – for known fear, and the now timid Asterix
- Gentian – for known depression
- Crab Apple – I used this as he had an irritation on one of his back legs, which was where a grass seed had to be removed in the past
The remedy was added to his water bowl, and some titbits that we used to entice him to eat. The change was almost immediate. I continued for about a week after this with the remedy, and we now have our old Asterix back.
Your letters
We want you to use this Bulletin to keep in touch with each other. If anything wonderful, funny, interesting or just plain typical has happened to you in your work with the remedies, or if there are any questions that have been nagging away at you, or if you simply want to say hello, please write to us at the Bach Centre, marking your letter clearly as being ‘FOR PUBLICATION’.
We can’t promise to print every letter in the Bulletin, but even if we don’t use your contribution we always love to hear from you.
If you have had experience working with the remedies in a hospital or hospice environment I’d love to hear from you, to discuss how it went and what questions and challenges were raised.
Bella Bunce, UK
In a future Bulletin I think it would be of interest to practitioners to include a photo, culled from an old newspaper, of Edward Bach’s advertisement in the national newspaper, which drew down such approbation, and caused him to tell the establishment that they could make of it what they would. It should not be difficult if you know the name of the paper, since they can reproduce birthday papers back to the turn of the century.
And in a book I once saw, whose name escapes me, a photograph of him with his young daughter in his arms. You could cut off the cigarette in his hand, although in those days cigarettes were thought to be good for you. It would be a change from the usual photograph, and nice for practitioners to see that for a time he was a family man.
Thanks for all you do for us practitioners.
Joy Burling, UK
This archive material has been edited to remove some out-of-date advice and information.