The Children of Asklepios

The abaton was a dream chamber within the temples of the demi-god, Asclepius in Ancient Greece. Those seeking healing would drink and bathe at a sacred spring whose waters carry the healing energy of the earth spirits, and undergo a purification ritual facilitated by dedicated priests (or shaman). They would then enter the abaton where Asclepius or his serpents would provide healing or guidance through their dreams. Thus, Asclepius came to represent the profound healing powers of nature; the abaton representing the conditions in which that power can be accessed, revered and applied.

The ‘children of Asclepius’ (known as Asclepiads) refers to the lineage of the priests who were devoted to this healing practice. Over the centuries the role of priest began to merge into that of physician. Hippocrates, considered the father of modern medicine, was one of the most notable physicians to come through this line. His focus on gathering evidence and defining ethics within the medical field made him a symbol for the roots of the modern evidence-based practices.

However, these roots go further than the field of medicine is willing to admit. Even Hippocrates is quoted to have said, ‘Foolish the doctor who despises the knowledge acquired by the ancients.’ He was a priest, after all, and one of the earliest versions of the Hippocratic Oath begins with, ‘I swear by Apollo Healer, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.’ (Hygieia and Panacea being Asclepius’ daughters).

The Dream of this Blog

When I first began to research Asclepius and saw his connection to modern medicine, it made me understand in a new light the schism at the heart of our approach to health in the west. It’s as though everything before Hippocrates had been scrapped or consciously forgotten to make way for the ideal of logic, rationalism and evidence-based systems. On a personal level this is a pain point, as the ‘alternative’ medicines have helped me in profound ways in my life. Despite the misunderstanding and condescension I’ve received over the years, I’ve pursued a career and calling in the healing arts. Despite knowing how powerful and life-altering this work is, it has remained on the fringes of the medical establishment.

The intention of this blog is to address some of the assumptions that our current system is built on. To be clear: I’m not against western evidence-based medicine. I’ve benefitted in my life from surgeries and from procedures that would otherwise have been difficult, if not impossible, to treat. I’m only speaking to the lopsidedness of the system that we have, particularly when it comes to our approach to mental health.

The physician, represented by Hippocrates, is different to the healer, represented by Asclepius. Whilst the Hippocratic method is the cool, objective observer, the Asclepiad is an artist, engaging whole-heartedly in the process of those who come to see him. In order to create a healthy society we need both. This blog is an exploration of how to recover what we’ve lost from forgetting our own origin story.

Entering the Abaton

As mentioned above, there was a purification ritual before entering Asclepius’ dream chamber. The same theory applies to entering the Abaton Blog. We need to purify ourselves of our logical, linear minds and drop to a deeper layer of contemplation where we can think mythologically. Within the chamber we will be exploring myth, fairy tales, astrology, dreams, the healing arts and all things pertaining to Soul.

The dream is to create a web-like structure of articles, each linking in and out of each other. Deeper dives will be available for those who enjoy the darker parts of the ocean. My hope is for it to feel like a wandering through a dreamscape with plenty of moments for pause and reflection along the way.