Homeopathy
Taster Course Author

Course Author: Misha Norland

I was born in 1943 of central European parents - artists fleeing from persecution. We lived in Mumbles on the Gower. I remember the night sky illuminated with Swansea under siege. But especially, I remember the sense of safety which my family engendered, the security of being loved. 

As soon as the war ended my parents purchased a run down house in the London suburb of Hampstead. They also changed our name from Neuschul (literally New School) to Norland.

After gaining 6 'A' level GCE's in various subjects and after almost a year as a laboratory assistant in medical research and more than another year of foreign travel, it was time to settle down. I chose a career in film making, working up through film editing in documentaries, to script writing, cinematography, TV commercials, feature film editing and directing. Then, after a stint in Hollywood, I got married and had a son (who is Mani Norland, currently the co-director of Alternative Training). Returning to London, I fell back into the financial security afforded by directing TV commercials. But I had grown to hate prostituting my art. I began to search for 'higher truths' and I found out about homeopathy.

I began informal study of homeopathy at John Damonte's fortnightly classes in 1970. John anchored me in the philosophy of healing and homeopathy and reawakened my love of psychology and the hermetic wisdom teachings. He put the teachings of the classical Greek philosophers into a modern context of healing. His knowledge embraced astrology, theosophy and Jung, teachings which help to integrate understandings of spirit, mind, emotions and body with homeopathy.

In 1978 alongside other students of the older homeopaths (such as wise Thomas Maughan) who had seen fit to guide us prior to their deaths, we founded The Society of Homeopaths, dedicated to 1. practice according to Hahnemannian precepts, 2. education, 3. information dissemination and 4. creating and maintaining a register. I was the first editor of the new Society's journal, 'The Homeopath'.

I began formal teaching at the College of Homeopathy in 1979, although I had been running fortnightly study groups from my home for some years prior to this.

I remarried in 1980 to my beloved Brigitte, soul mate and friend with whom I have three sons.

In 1981 we moved to Devonshire with our family founding The School of Homeopathy at this time. David Mundy began teaching in 1982 and Janet Snowdon in 1984. Murray Feldman was a frequent teacher while Jeremy Sherr, Joanna Daly and David Curtin also contributed.

In 1984 we established ourselves at Yondercott House where our family and the School continue to be happily housed. We are proud that our current faculty includes many former students who cooperate in creating and maintaining the family atmosphere and the educational ethos of the School as well as its cutting-edge culture of discovery and invention