Understanding Androctonus am. hebr.

A study based on the J. Sherr proving

Dr. Claudio C. Araujo M.D., F.F.Hom. (Lon.) et al.

 

How the impressions – both coming from the world, from people around and from his relatives - might reach the Androctonus patient?

Our hypothesis is that the sensation of solitude combined with his feelings as if he was a stranger in this (in his eyes) violent and dreadful planet, is Androctonus first personal experience of this world. The symptoms brought during the proving shows these suffering feelings born deep in his imagination. This threatening world is about to hurt him, “he felt so scared he had to shut the door”. But also “she felt defiant”, she decided to fight those strange folks around her. She decided that she will “not be manipulated”. Androctonus feels as if was about to be manipulated but he has to fight back. 

 

Dream of somebody attacking me. I held my hands up and then with one strike between the eyes, I killed the opponent. (Clinical)

 Felt disconnected from the human race, as if everyone were another species. Directionless. (7) 

Totally detached, not from self but from surroundings. (10)

I feel entirely alone that I am viewing the world through one hole, for it all seems just a picture, and the rest of the world shares a different viewfinder together. I don't want to join theirs though. (7) 

In the evening felt very lonely and desolate, although not alone. She felt separated, detached, disconnected and unreal. (7) 

Felt tense and absolutely alone, but sure that the rest of the world was mad, not her. She felt defiant with others and would not be manipulated. (7) 

On occasions experienced fear, especially of being attacked in the street. (1) 

Felt out of control. His emotions took over. Felt terror, panic, fear and that he could not cope. (2) 

Absolutely terrified of dog on street for no apparent reason, with numbness and tingling through every part of his body, followed by a sick feeling in the stomach. He felt shaken for hours later. (2)

Overwhelmed by terror, panic and fear, like a psychic attack. Then specifically became fear of being psychically tested as if confronted by something absolutely horrible, as in a "cult initiation ordeal." He felt so scared he had to shut the door, with a feeling that something would appear from behind it if he left it open.

 

Assertive, impatient, aggressive. Felt resentful and abused. Had no control over her temper. Bellowed and lashed out at everyone. In the evening, furious for no apparent reason. Wanted to kill her husband and children, banged doors and threw things. By bedtime, she felt fine but the intensity of her evil thoughts was very frightening. 

 

It seemed as though he was a different person, very similar to the way he had been in adolescence, but in a much more powerful manner. These emotions were so intense he wanted to rip his chest apart to let them out. He lost all control over his emotions, which seemed to come from a deep and distant part of himself, a darker side. He desired to continue the proving for the rest of his life.)

 

Fight back means that one needs to find out weapons in order to achieve one´s goal. But before starting to look for guns and knives, it’s necessary first being able to use them. 

Then comes what we believe is his second step: Androctonus needs to become cold, brainy and violent in order to defend himself. And he found out that he had to remove the feminine principle from inside him, leaving only his masculine rational part alive inside himself.

In this dream, a Mandala (the non-written representation of an idea, a feeling, a deep cultural aspect or an archetype) will be perfect without the young woman. There is no room for her in his life. Androctonus had removed her from his internal being in order to search for perfection.

Removing the feminine principle also brings the impossibility to have a conjugal love, to have a family, children, to sympathize with anyone else. The absence of love removes in Androctonus the Empathic feeling for mankind and produces violence. It will turn him into an intellectual more than an affectionate and emotional being. Things will be decided through the use of reason, not affection.

 

A mandala type of dream. I was in a room with a dark bearded man. He showed me some Chinese ink he will draw with and then there are five of us-- myself, him, a young woman and man and an older woman-- sitting in a circle. The young man declares that he is searching for perfection. One after another we all stand to show that each one of us is, too. Only the young woman does not participate. She looks like a friend of mine and I realize now that my inclination was to exclude her from the dream as without her we made up a perfect mandala

 

Now we got the most easily found and commonly features of Androctonus, symptoms representing those changes in his behavioral attitudes:

 

Intellectual

 

Felt calm and controlled in a situation where usually nervous.) 

Mind very clear and aware. More able to concentrate and meditate, though usually her mind was restless.

Relaxed and able to watch TV with which he was usually bored. 

Unusually happy and fit in the morning, felt content and calm, performed many jobs and tasks. This alternated with boredom, apathy and indecision. 

Felt clear and alert in the morning although he had drunk much and slept little the night before. 

 

Violence

 

As we can see, violence is only towards the others. Is a reaction - “someone was trying to kill me” – due to some violence performed against him. Violence in Androctonus should never be violence by itself. It will always be a defensive reaction.

 

Desire to fight, violent and cruel. (Clinical) 

Desire to fight and kill. (Clinical)

Felt that people were laughing at him, making fun of him, and had to fight them all. (Clinical) 

Dreams of fire. Of throwing gunpowder into a fire. (Clinical)

 

Increased irritability, a "how dare you!" feeling. Felt like tearing offenders to pieces with his bare hands. He felt an enormous surge of violent emotions at trifles and had to exercise great control to stop outbursts of violence and impulses to hurt someone. Felt that "everyone was a creep". Could not be bothered with anyone.

 

In the street, he felt aggressive and very strong, that his umbrella was a knife, and desired to smash people up.

Desire to pick an argument or fight. 

Nasty dream. Someone was trying to kill me and I fought the person by sinking my teeth into the index and second finger, penetrating right into the bone. 

 

Amorality/Psychopathy and Drug abuse

 

In a dream, her husband acts towards her as if he had no moral feelings – “I´ll chop it off!” – as if he didn´t care for her. He is acting moved by his unfeeling rational thoughts, weighting all the chopped heads. This combination of violence perceived by the Androctonus imagination plus the kind of violence she’s about to suffer, her head will be chopped off – violence from the others and also being surrounded by many chopped heads - this dreadful scenario surrounding the Androctonus mind is the basis of what’s going on inside him. 

 

Dream of people's heads being chopped off. I was weighing them. One weighed 28 lb. and I declared it should only weigh 12 lb., the women at relaxation class told us. My husband appeared and shouted: 'Yours would weigh at least 3 stone. Let me try it. I'll chop it off. It won't hurt and we can put it back together.' I was petrified. I woke up in the middle of the chase and actually hit him in the eye. (7)

 

Desired alcohol and drugs, a feeling of wanting to escape. 

 

Sex without love

 

After the feminine principle been removed, sex may no long performed with love. It will be used only as a primitive relieve of a physiological tension or as an aggression toward others. “Taking on lovers with no feeling”.

 

Very strong liking and disliking to people. Very intense, ranging from immense sexual attraction to extreme hatred. Spoke with hatred and maliciousness about colleagues.

 

Ailments from disappointed love and being 'dumped' by a lover, leading to promiscuity, taking on lovers with no feeling and then dumping them, desire to kill. (Clinical) 

 

Intensely erotic dream.

 

An erotic sort of dream. I spent a whole week in bed with a close friend at my mother and father's, cooking and cleaning, popping out to the kitchen in my nightie for food and each time my mother saying, "There's nothing rude going on between you two," and me assuring her that our relationship was strictly platonic. 

 

A dream about a dinner party with a couple who used to live behind us. The husband suddenly kissed me, which was a real experience, very exciting. He then held my hand under the table and as I was washing up, he asked me when I was free to see him. I was flabbergasted. The "old me" was flattered and thought, "What fun, how exciting," and the older me thought, "How arrogant of him. What about my husband?" and refused. There was a conflict in me.

 

 

 

Aversion to his family.

 

It was our impression that Androctonus is most likely of not have a family. We should not forget that the experimenters were not Androctonus patients, but only people sensitive to the remedy. And they probably have families, children and relatives. The Androctonus patient may never get any children. He/she is making love just for fun and revenge.

 

Incredibly sensitive to noise, can't bear it, hundreds of thoughts pop in and out of my brain, thoughts of 'why are we here?', deep philosophical issues. Every day things disappear from my mind. Am free from pressing, nagging responsibilities, just a black thunder sits within me, and I feel afraid of what I might do next. My eyes are staring and full of hate. Just looking at the children sends them frantic. I have no control over my emotions.

Angry with her children and family. 

Impatient, snappy, shouting, felt trapped and despairing. Growled at her children. (12) 

 

Dream that I was late for an appointment because I couldn't find my car. Crossing the road (outside the flats I lived in as a child) I dropped pounds of vegetables on the crossing. Passersby helped me pick them up. I came to the church hall where I used to go to Sunday school and my parents were there watching or taking part in a play. Eventually I confessed to them (feeling frightened of their reaction) that I have lost my car. They laughed at me and said that they had taken it. I felt terribly hurt at their laughing and thoughtlessness. I felt that I had let people down and started to cry more and more.

 

Aversion to ones mother

 

A mother is the feminine principle most connected to us from the very beginning of our lives. She breastfeeds us; cares and supports her children through many years of their lives, giving them plenty of affection. It is easy to understand why Androctonus will have a very difficult relationship with his mother. She represents everything that he strongly wants to get rid of: Love, caring and tenderness, things that belong to the feminine principle.

 

Dream of my mother prancing around a guest house which was not clean, let alone decorated. All the walls and floors were orange and red. Two people arrived for bed and breakfast, and my mother ushered them in, sweeping the floor as she went. I lose my temper and tell her she's a stupid cow.

 

Had dream about her mother. Woke feeling angry with her and has since been much ruder to her. (7)

 

Dream started outside of a school-type building. My husband and I sat next to my mum and dad at the back of an audience of about 30 people, none of whom I knew. Someone said that there would be three recitals by certain opera-type singers and I thought, "How awful. I hate opera singers. Fancy having to sit through this." To my amazement the singing was not shrill, but gentle and the music was the only sort of classical I like. It was so short and was over in no time it seemed. What a relief, I felt. I turned to my mom and dad to say that it was all right and their seats were empty. I thought that my mother must be feeling ill and that my dad had gone with her. However, we sat and waited and a middle-aged lady said, "Look what I have bought. It's from France. It's a calendar." It was twelve squares of knitting joined together with a knitting needle in it. It seemed weird but modern. I was looking down at a book in front of me on the table and said, "Now, this is beautiful!" It was open, and the page I was looking at was mainly printed in gold in large areas and the pages were very soft, almost like thin suede. All the pages were printed in gold. On waking the memory of the book was very vivid and so beautiful. (20)

 

Suspicious of ones friends

 

Meeting one´s friends is, at least, an opportunity to have a good time. To see people we love, go to a movie, being in a party and have a lovely evening. But for Androctonus, when he is at his friends, he can’t express himself. A conversation for him is a difficult task. When confronted with his friend’s achievements he is speechless, maybe ashamed by the way he is leading his life. “Felt lonely, as if he didn´t belong”.

 

As soon as his friends arrived and began talking to him, he felt much worse. 

Speech slurred, answered with difficulty, was indisposed to talk and averse to company. 

Desired company but could not be bothered to see anyone; felt lonely as if he didn't belong. 

Aversion to talking.

Aversion to entertainment, desire to stay at home. Conversation difficult.

 

Dreams about visiting some friends we haven't visited for about a year. I fell asleep there, and when I woke, my friend was talking normally, and I couldn't move my mouth. I felt great panic, although he appeared not to bother. His wife showed me the houses they were building and were going to sell in the field at the back and I could talk again. I had never seen the houses before.

 

Indifferent and cold hearted.

 

The Androctonus patient is all by himself. He will come to our praxis as a rational lonely man, full of justifications on this and that, blaming everyone for his attitudes towards mankind. He couldn’t count on friends and relatives when he needed them. He became isolated, suspicious, friendless and affectionless. The same sensation he felt in the very beginning of his life is back. This is true with all the remedies and with all the patients: the very first suffering impressions will comeback now and then in everyone´s life. The difference is that later in one’s life all this sensations will turn themselves justifiable, there have been lots of daily experiences to justify those feelings.

 

Pushed kids out of bed with no compassion; would usually have felt very guilty doing this. (7) 

 Canceled an appointment without any remorse. Thought "maybe I shall feel guilt later." (7) 

She dreamt that she had murdered her grandfather by poking a knitting needle through his eyes while he slept. Though she felt no remorse, she wanted to be punished but no one would accept her guilt. Was told by her friends that she had responsibilities and could not go to jail and the police refused to prosecute. Was frightened by the dream. (7) 

Feels much more self centered. Have given up all the permanent favors I do for people I don't want to do any more. Feel I need more time for me. I must feel guilt but I don't think I do. I feel the nasty side of my character is emerging much more aggressive and domineering. I don't want people's good opinion of me as someone who is nice. Very unusual. 

Able to argue without upset or feelings of guilt, which felt marvelous. 

Felt she should forgive her parents for any blame of real or imagined slights; at the same time she felt as if knots were untying within her. (curative symptom?)

Much untidier. The house was a mess, and it didn't bother her. Made ineffectual efforts to tidy up and then lost interest. Desire to sit undisturbed and just look. 

 Felt 'stoned.' Tried to express himself to a friend but could not. Behaved in a dreamy absent-minded way. His friends thought that he had taken drugs. 

 He lost interest in his usual intellectual occupation. 

Dream that I murdered my grandfather by poking a knitting needle through one of his eyes when he was asleep. He died peacefully and it appeared that he had had brain hemorrhage. I confessed and no one believed me. A close friend explained he was 86 anyway and I had children to look after and responsibilities, I couldn't afford the luxury of easing my conscience and going to prison. I did confess properly to the police, and they refused to prosecute. I wanted to be punished yet felt no remorse myself. The confusion of what I should do took more time than thinking of poor grandfather. It frightened me.

 

That next symptom is a combination of everything altogether: Violence from others, distance from her family and children and no possible help will come from friends and society.

Androctonus will blame the others for his loneliness and what is happening to his life.

 

Desired company and sympathy felt sorry for herself, better for crying. 

A frightening dream. I had left my daughter with her grandparents while I went on holiday and when I returned, she had been taken. Everybody said nothing could be done about it. The police couldn't find her. I was worried and pictured that she was being tortured by strange men and possibly murdered. I was going on the TV to appeal.

 

Nostalgia

 

This last group of symptoms give us the internal being, his deep sufferings. It shows what has remained from his original feelings. They show us an early moment in his life when he was cared by his family, when he had a house with a kitchen and a table and all his family were sit eating together. But at the same time the symptoms shows that the passage for his past life is closed forever.

 

Dream about being little again and by the sea with my family, walking on a wooden promenade with a friendly white goat. 

Dream about childhood, walking on the top floor of my grammar school

Dream that my son got on a bus by himself when we were standing at the bus stop. I chased after him, first by foot and then on the next bus. He got off at the next bus stop and walked back along the road to the first stop. I caught up with him and was very angry. The road was the same one that I used to catch the bus on with my mother when I was small. Vivid and confused dream.

Dream …A seventy-year-old lady went past and took a paper from her front door. It was my grandparents' house. She turned and saw us and we apologized and said we seemed to be in the wrong house. I noticed that the front door was bricked up so that it couldn't open. She said it was to stop intruders and she has only one floor to lock now. 

Dream of standing in a bathroom with lots of large grand basins and bidets in a new house we had moved to. "It's the thing from the old house I want," I said.

 

 

Curative symptoms, present in the proving

 

If we expect our patient to be cured, these two groups of symptoms should come up:

The return of the feminine principle expressing his desire of retrieving himself from violence and rationality: “I just admire her beauty” means the acceptance of love, of harmony, of nature in his fullness.

And at last: the return of love for his friends, relatives and mankind.

 

Dreams of being on a sandy beach with rocks on one side. There was a 20 - foot waterfall into the sea. I sort of floated halfway up the waterfall and there I saw a long-haired young girl in her twenties, topless with a neat body. She was shy. Nothing lascivious in the mind. I just admired her beauty.

 

Felt more love for her mother, friends and husband. 

 

Dream of seeing a man I know and had tremendous regard for. I went up and hugged him with great spontaneity and affection and then stood talking to him, looking straight into his eyes. It was a very liberating feeling, as up till now, even in my dreams, I have behaved with great constraint with him.