Hi David,

Isn't it so that a homeopath must keep learning about human nature ? To achieve this, contact with people is necessary. Of course, the symptom picture is important in any given case and the first thing a homeopath has to go on, but the other senses of the homeopath need to be sharpened too.
As it has been said, homeopathy can cure the person and not the disease. Intuition and insight is needed for starters and also knowledge of psychology and the workings of the personalities (I suggest looking into the Enneagram here) are of utmost importance.

The underlying picture in any person can come forth and show itself. The more a practitioner works on his/her own personality quirks, the more personal growth there is, the clearer can he/she perceive what the problem is with the patient.
If this is not the case, often projection is happening and the required "non-judgmental attitude" in case-taking, case analysis and prescribing is not given no matter how hard the homeopath tries to achieve this. If he knows himself well, he can discern and know about his reactions to the patient.

To understand and grasp the signature (essence) of a remedy is one thing, to understand the signature or the essence of a human being another and way more difficult to achieve. In order to understand human nature, a homeopath must begin with understanding himself and then, when this is achieved he also needs a whole lot of flexibility to remain open to the varying signatures of the the patients. I believe that only inner growth as well as continuous practise and contact with patients face to face can give him what he needs to really be successful - experience.

What do you think ?
Claudia