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
the family and the School lived side by side. Then in 2008
we moved the School to bigger premises at Hawkwood College
near Stroud in the Cotswolds where it is still now based.
We are proud that our current faculty includes many former
students who cooperate in creating and maintaining the friendly
atmosphere and the educational ethos of the School as well
as its cutting-edge culture of discovery and invention. |
