The Periodic Table : Chlorum (Chlorine)
Chlorine is a ubiquitous element in our modern life. Whether our household water comes from a municipality which treats the common drinking water, or we regularly swim in a public pool which is treated with pool chemicals that include chlorine, it is an important element to understand in terms of its toxicity and negative health effects. When it comes to the chlorine in our drinking water, or showers, it can be eliminated with a suitable filtration system. While its use as a disinfectant may be necessary in large-scale water distribution systems, its adverse effects are not minor, and is strongly implicated as a cancer-causing agent. This is one of the common toxins which I need to consider aiding my patients with in their regular detox protocols.
To consider Chlorine from another perspective, I would like to illustrate when it may be used as a homeopathic remedy (Chlorum) for reasons other than physical detox. Understanding its properities as a physical element (disinfecton; killing pathogens) gives us the best clue as to its use at this level. All mineral elements, as catalogued according to the periodic table, represent, in their dynamised (homeopathic) form, a particular aspect of our ontic organization (sense of self) which may have gotten caught up in a particular conflict.
The conflict of chlorum relates to the general issue of identity, and more specifically to the pattern of taking on a negative identity – by this, I mean that a conscious decision has been made at some point to never be like a certain negative role model which one has suffered earlier in their life. The typical youthful rebellion against mom and/or dad often takes this form, where the conscious decision is to NOT become like them, and instead to foster qualities which are lacking in the negative role model.
The thing is, though, that this is hardly a way to create a unique identity, as it functions entirely in terms of the characteristics to be avoided — whether you take on characteristics of your mom, or their opposite, your identity is still defined in terms of her. A truer process of maturation is one which is not defined at all in terms of a positive or negative role model, but instead from characteristics which are unique to the individual and their particular desire function and resonance pattern. In this light, it is fascinating that the physical toxicity of chlorum contributes to cancer, as this particular state of mind around identity formation is also strongly related to the formation of the cancer state of mind.