Paradoxes, puzzles and passing time.

Abstract

Whilst technology and our understanding about the world has improved, I suspect that in many ways, the hopes, fears, worries, joy and love we feel are not so different from that of our ancestors of 500 or 700 years ago, though the social circumstances may have altered. We have beliefs and dreams and daily routines in our lives and many people hang onto age old superstitions without really knowing their origins, e.g. crossing our fingers for luck, touching wood, throwing salt over a shoulder or reading about star signs. The night sky also looks different to 1000 years ago. When we look up at the stars we see an image of the past in the present: the light we see set off from its origin long before the advent of antibiotics, the Russian Revolution or the first man on the moon. As we move forwards, the benefits of modern medicine and improvements in social and environmental issues (compared to just 100 years ago) have, paradoxically, provided us with a quality of life that allows us to live longer and gain a greater insight into the world around us. There is an opportunity to reflect and wonder at the healers of the early middle ages and of the way in which we wish medicine to develop. When reflecting about the past 1000 years, patterns begin to emerge of times past, epochs of healing and revolutions in the way we perceive myriad aspects of health and healing. I am sure there are ways of combining ancient ways with modern thinking, of blending art and science, of balancing logic and rationality with love, fun, humour and empathy. Of building on experience, so that caring is spiritually therapeutic, freeing our patients and ourselves as we move into the future and the new millennium.