Page 10 - Autumn 24

A Journey – Emily McAteer BAHVS Junior Vice-President
I remember the first time I came across the BAHVS in person. It was at their conference in Eastbourne which I attended after Tim Couzens, one of the organisers, came to speak at an Irish Society Seminar in Co Clare. Battered and broken by life I had recently moved to my adopted home in Dublin. I was only dabbling in homeopathy at the time and hadn’t embarked on the MFHom training. At the conference I was daunted by the giants like Chris Day, John Saxton and David Lilly. Inspired by Geoff Johnson, Peter Gregory, Tim Couzens, Edward De Beukelaer, Mark Elliot, Nick Thompson and Sue Armstrong. I remember being introduced to the idea of Agro Homeopathy. It was an amazing and awe-inspiring experience.
I come from a Sheffield family of medical doctors, and I am proud to sport a homeopathic uncle, who, when I was child I thought was a mad, pipe smoking hippy who put honey on all of our grazes and took us camping to music festivals (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree). I have always felt like I have a foot in each country. My family moved to Ireland when I was a child in 1974. I rapidly
assimilated and became “more Irish than the Irish themselves”. As a new grad and no small animal veterinary jobs in Ireland during the recession of the early 90’s I moved to London. It wasn’t until, in the depths of rural West Wales, when, with 2 small children I was trying to escape the metropolis, I re-discovered homeopathy.
After returning home to Ireland a decade ago as soon as I could afford to, I signed up with NCIM to study for the MFHom which entailed early morning flights to Bristol every few weeks, back in Blighty again to be inspired again by Geoff, Pete and some of the homeopathic doctors. I formed strong bonds both with my fellow students and tutors which I am sure will last us all life long.
Now with post pandemic technology I am back in the bosom of my surrogate family of BAHVS homeopaths as an equal. I was honoured to be asked to join the committee with Ilse, Naz, Barbara, Sara, Malene, Brendan (our new leader) and was subsequently elected JVP.
“I remember being introduced to the idea of Agro Homeopathy. It was an amazing and awe-inspiring experience.
I eat, drink and sleep homeopathy. It is an obsession. I feel a healthy one that gives me back as much as I put in. I own and run a small animal practice in North County Dublin. I love my job. Who wouldn’t want to talk to people about their pets all day? Never mind helping the poor suffering animals and owners who have nowhere else to turn and no one to hear them. It’s a dream job.
With the numbers of newly qualified homeopathic vets dwindling, I hope to join in the efforts of the committee in recruiting more vets. I also feel that as an international community we are stronger together. I will be meeting with the Irish Society of Homeopaths shortly to discuss more ways of coming together. The demand for homeopathy is growing quickly from the grass roots level for humans as well as for animals and I feel that there is a change in the air. The future is bright for homeopathy. As the demand increases, we are at the forefront. As the tide turns, we will ride the crest of the wave.
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