2.4.2 Animal theoryIntroductionThe application of the classification to the Animal kingdom is in the beginning of its development. But there are very interesting aspects, such as the comparison to the Plant kingdom. The qualities of the Animal kingdom are much more expressive, much more in tune with the understanding of the human condition.
DimensionsThe first Phylum is the
Protozoa. They are mostly single celled organisms. The more evolved of them form colonies, the sponges. But they are still on their own. They can be turned upside down or inside out, but still look the same. There is no spacial orientation yet.
The second Phylum is called
Radiata. This is because they have a radial symmetry: one can rotate them along their radial axis without seeing differences. They have one asymmetry: the topside is different from their underside.
The third Phylum is the
Spiralia. They have a new asymmetry, between back and front.
The fourth Phylum is the
Ecdysozoa. They add another asymmetry, between left and right.
The fifth Phylum is the
Sauropsida. Here the new asymmetry is less obvious, as the spatial dimensions have been used. One can see the next asymmetry as that of time. The species have an orientation towards a goal, which is a time factor.
The sixth Phylum is the
Mammalia. The typical quality is that of handling warmth and cold. They can control their body temperature and are less dependent on climate, are more free. This quality of warmth is psychologically present in the warmth for their offspring. They often care for them for long times, educate them, give them food in the form of milk, and carry them in their warm uterus. It expresses the empathy quality, together with imitation. At first it seems strange to see this as a dimension. The development in the evolution gives the inclination to see it as a dimension. It is a psychological dimension.
It is interesting that Gebser has also connected her levels of consciousness with dimensions. It fits exactly with the
Series’ themes and the animal phyla.
TissuesA very important theme is the development of tissues in the Animal kingdom. The first group has only one tissue form, which can be called the ectoderm. The second Phylum, the
Radiata, has two kinds of tissue: ectoderm and entoderm, skin and intestines. That is why
Radiata are named duploblast, which comes from the Greek duplo, meaning two, and blast, meaning growth.
The third Phylum is called
Spiralia. Another name for them is triploblast as they have a new form of tissue: the mesoderm. Mesoderm is the middle tissue. Out of it originate many new tissues and organs like muscles, kidneys, heart and lungs.
Spiralia is the first clade in the Nephrozoa: animals with kidneys.
The pattern that emerges is that each new Phylum has a new kind of tissue. The fourth Phylum,
Ecdysozoa, has developed a real cardiovascular system. This is analogous to the fourth Phylum in the Plant kingdom, the ferns. They are the first plants that have a vascular system, although lacking a heart. In analogy, they can be called quatroblasts, having four kinds of tissues.
The fifth Phylum,
Sauropsida, is the first to have a real respiratory system. In analogy, they can be called quintoblasts, having five kinds of tissues.
The sixth Phylum,
Mammalia, is developing the nervous system much further. In analogy, they can be called sextoblasts, having six kinds of tissues.
MotionAn essential feature of animals is motion, physical and in the form of emotion.
The physical motion has different levels, from immobile to floating, to creeping and walking, jumping and flying. The degree of freedom increases in the evolution. This aspect is a more superficial expression in the
Series of realisation. Flying, for instance, is present in insects, flying fish, birds and bats.
Remedy codeThe analysis in the Animal kingdom is basically the same as in the Plant kingdom, with the Remedy code. One ascertains which regions in life are affected to find the 3
Series. Then one ascertains where the patient stands in those regions to find the two
Phases. Finally one ascertains what the patient is doing, how he is handling the situation, to find the Stage.
CaseA woman over 40 has violent migraines, better in the dark. It started in puberty.
She has a lot of emotions, like a hurricane, a bit wild. This is linked to an overfunctioning of her thyroid gland.
She felt different, like an adopted child, no-one nurturing and caring about her.
She needs freedom, with far views over the sea or from a hill.
She is easily angered, especially by injustice.
As a child, she was already very self-willed. She didn't greet others if she didn't want to. She has learned that one has to defend oneself. She is strong, not showing weakness. She was protecting her mother against her father and grandfather, stepping between them when they were quarrelling. Her father was very strict and choleric.
She is very interested in spirituality and went to visit ashrams in India. She's always doing a lot, doing several projects at once without finishing them. Everything, her husband and her children, are too much for her.
She is doing alternative therapies, and manual therapy, with the feeling that she has to heal everyone. She feels the speculations, blockages and pains of other people.
Case AnalysisAnimal: energy, aggression, powerful wild, violent migraine.
Series 5: lack of reflection, thyroid problems.
Series 6: migraine, interest in spirituality, alternative therapies, manual therapy, desire freedom; itching eyes.
Series 3: husband and children are too much; problems started in puberty.
Phase 6: worse from injustice, feeling uncared for, not nurtured.
Phase 3: in between parents.
Stage 8: too much, never finished.
Geococcyx californianus: 4-563.63.08, terrestrial bird, running fast.
Case Follow-upA year later she tells us that her migraines have diminished to 40%. Emotionally she has become much more stable. She is definitely doing better, but not completely cured. Another year later she is less easily angry and hectic, feels lighter, is more reflective. She seldom has migraine anymore.