![]() The symbol of the snake can have many layers of meanings. But since ancient times they have been used as symbols for the soul, deep wisdom, and healing. I want my therapy practice to introduce fresh cleansing ideas and practices that stir the imagination and help to find new answers and perspectives. Her temples of old were frequently located upon the sites of sacred wells thought to have healing properties. Hygeia, in the painting my logo is derived from, arises from the fresh cleansing nurturing waters of the world. The reintroduction of the feminine divine represents a fresh approach in today’s world. I want my clients to take back their own personal power and respect like Hygeia has done. The idea of honoring and emulating feminine divinity suggests that all people (women, minorities, and anyone else) are equally holy and valuable. I want my clients to emulate her by experiencing greater self-mastery and confidence regarding their lives. She handles the snake (and no doubt other fears and burdens) in her life with practiced ease and success. The version of Hygeia used in my logo is very strong and self-assured. I believe in taking personal responsibility and internal control of our problems instead of being helplessly battered about by external forces. The ancient Greeks worked hard at maintaining their own health. ![]() Health Personified & Self-Assured Mastery: Medication, if carefully considered, can be the best option for some people. Sometimes certain psychological conditions require medication. Her gift of medicine can be taken literally too. I see the earth itself as a holy place and I believe that it’s possible to build a joyful, full life in the here-and-now regardless of your beliefs in an after-life. If we view her as a version of mother earth, this can be taken as a commentary on the importance of living in harmony with the earth – of acknowledging where our gifts come from. Hygeia holds a medicine bowl in most of her statues. Meditation can lead to important life insights and greater peace in one’s life. Hypnosis, like dreams, induces a different state of consciousness that is in some situations an appropriate mechanism for healing. Traumas buried deep in the past can effect current life situations (and dreams). My practice does strive to make the unknown world of the unconscious known consciously. Hygeia’s cult in ancient Greece looked to healing dreams and dream oracles. Hygeia can be viewed as a spiritual framework or as a convenient classical analogy depending upon your own orientation. Several insights regarding my philosophical and theoretical approaches to therapy emerge when reading about her and the parallels to my practice. ![]() I think people of all spiritual and non-spiritual persuasions can draw from her example. Hygeia serves as an inspiration and a symbol of my counseling practice for many reasons. Hygeia is generally pictured holding a patera (medicine bowl) with a snake tamely coiling around her and about to eat from it. I am attracted by this holistic approach – the spiritual melded with mind and body concerns for holistic health. Temples were built to her and Asklepios (Greek god of medicine) for both worship and healing. Hygeia is the Greek goddess personification of physical and mental health.
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