Homeopathic Mercury
This blog is part of a series; its original title was Homeopathic Mercury [Heilkunst Basics : University, 2nd Year (Mercurius)]
There are a number of therapeutic approaches in Heilkunst designed to address the problem of the false ego. Today’s exploration will be of the use of the homeopathic remedy mercurius in this capacity.
Mercury is one of the most toxic substances known on the planet, and it is quite alarming to consider the implications for many people who have had it drilled into their oral cavity as part of their dental amalgams (fillings). It is the byproduct of many industrial processes, and is a common toxin found at measurable levels in our air, water, and food supply. It is a component of many common commercial products, including adhesives, antiseptics, batteries, commercial cereals, cosmetics, fabric softeners, paper products, and seafoods (especially tuna and swordfish), just to name a few.
Its toxic effects centre primarily in the brain and the nervous system, and produce many disease conditions related to the mental and emotional levels. Given our current discussion on the false ego, it makes sense that mercurius would be a remedy quite helpful in treatment, as the primary locus of the ontic organization is in the nervous system, and likewise, the false ego’s activity works at this same level. Mercury appears on the sixth row of the periodic table, which contains all the homeopathic remedies primarily concerned with the issue of autonomy.
Remember that the law of similars will generally work on the basis of such a match between a given disease process, and a toxin or poison which produces a similar effect. The negative influence which mercury has on the nervous system, including symptoms of twitches, or other more significant impairments to our basic co-ordination are also related to the fundamental negative blockage which the false ego creates in our system.
The mythological god, Mercury, ruled over commerce as well as thieves, which is a fascinating connection to think of in terms of our mediation on the function of the false ego, and how it works through the world on manipulative terms. Making “a deal with the devil” is something which the false ego, and not the true self, will engage in.
Mercurius is characteristically very elusive, and difficult to connect with in terms of a natural social relationship. At the extreme end of this would be the total withdrawal, and non-communication status of an autistic individual, who has often been very much affected by some form of mercury exposure.
In general, mercurius is a remedy used for a broad variety of issues related to the identity (as in true versus false), particularly where it is either weak or confused. There is a great deal of changeability or instability in this disease state, as would make sense in terms of the false ego which is always adapting opportunistically to its surrounding environment, rather than being guided more surely by an inner principle of self.
Emotionally, mercurius is highly sensitive, and will perceive slights or criticisms which may not exist in an objective sense. For this reason, amongst others, it is very difficult to form a true relationship with someone in a mercurius state, or at least one which goes past the outer surface.