Six part course

Human as Embryo

The Embryo in Us

A phenomenological journey through our prenatal life and what it means for becoming human

With Jaap van der Wal
Over recent decades scientists have furthered their knowledge and understanding about prenatal existence. Scientific techniques such as genetic engineering have given the ability to manipulate and create the human embryo, according to the prevailing insight in our culture about the human being. Despite advances, mainstream science still views the embryo in a reductionist way as a bundle of cells, tissues, organs and genes. This view however does not address questions about the deeper sense and meaning of this stage of human existence which may have a lot to tell us about the true sense of being human.

In this course, Jaap van der Wal  considers the major themes of being born and dying, conception and the ‘beginning of life’. Images, stories and reflections are be used to elucidate human embryonic development during the first few weeks. The human embryo is considered as an incarnating human being that exhibits human behaviour in gestures of growth and metamorphosis from the first moment of conception onwards.
Jaap van der Wal is a physician who specialised in the research and teaching of anatomy and embryology. He attempts to make a bridge between both medical biology and natural science, and a more spiritual view of man and nature.

In this course, Jaap gives his unique view on birth and prenatal life in which he follows a phenomenological approach searching for understanding in addressing key questions like ‘What are we doing as an embryo?”

Jaap van der Wal
This course explores:

  • The creative principles and forces that work through the human being
  • The understanding of prenatal development – gestures of growth as human behaviour and expression
  • The dynamics of conception, incarnation, embodiment and individuation
  • The dynamics of birth – where do we come from? The organisation of the human body in body axes and planes
  • Phases of embryonic development as ways of being
  • The macrocosm in the microcosm of bodily organisation
  • Man and animal – humans as adult embryos
  • The whole body as psychosomatic dimension
  • The human body as dynamic equilibrium of polarities (Randolph Stone) with the healing power of threefoldness (Rudolf Steiner) resulting in “Man is Mind. Motion, Matter” (Andrew T. Still)
  • The meaning of the germ layers in the body with the meso(derm) as origin of the “fascia”, together with blood the “organ of innerness”

COURSE CONTENT

(This course is a recording of a live online series which took place in  2023.)

Write your awesome label here.

course introduction

Human as Embryo - The Embryo in Us

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class one

One mind and body are one

Is Prenatal Life about the Incarnation or Embodiment of our Soul/Spirit?

In this first class, we look at the two perspectives of anatomy – the body as a spatial construct comprising of parts and organs – and the phenomenological approach to embryology – our body as a process, a lifelong performance in time.

  • How do we actually exist as an embryo?
  • What has the body, that is presented in our anatomy books, to do with the body that we are, and are aware of in our daily life?
  • Are soul and body in duality?
  • Can an embryo have a soul? If not, how come? If yes, what does it mean?
  • How can we understand an embryo?

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class two

The Language of the embryo

"Soul is pre-exercised in the forms of the body” (Erich Blechschmidt)

Differentiation is a keyword for the embryo: our whole body is constantly being differentiated into parts, tissues, cells; however our body is not the product of its parts and organs. Our body is the opposite to this, it is behaviour and language in forms.

  • Embryo as the revelation of the body-mind-polarity in the functional organisation of a triune body. Man is Mind, Motion, Matter (AT Still).
  • The animated body: consciousness as the opposition of life
  • Brain and liver as examples of the two different ways we may embody
  • What does the development of the embryo tell us about becoming human?

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class three

In the Beginning

Where do we come from?

The polarity of the egg and sperm creates, for some hours, a situation that enables a first subtle connection between a spirit and a body. During conception the conditions are created for a human soul or spiritual impulse to connect with living matter.

  • Challenges to the the traditional view of conception, including the view of egg and sperm
  • Are we really the product of cells and organs like the anatomist seem to argue?
  • Conception as a threshold of incarnation

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class four

DIFFERENTIATION - FROM THE WHOLE TO THE PARTS

The First Week of Development

During our first week of development our mineral based existence shapes the conditions of our physical body. We do not develop from cells.

  • The autonomous phase
  • Nesting (nidation), a threshold of incarnation
  • The placenta, our rooting body
  • Notions of birth and death

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class five

FROM ONE TO THREE, OR ONE TWO THIRD

The Psychosomatic Embryo

  • The embodiment of the heart as the next threshold of incarnation
  • Growing into a body - ‘coming from there to here’
  • The primeval threefold body - ‘home’ for the soul and consciousness
  • The notion of Soul - living 'in-between'

Write your awesome label here.

Click the image above to view an extract.

class six

Individuation and human individualisation

The Psychosomatic Embryo

  • Exploring the threefoldness of the body - the polarity of Mind and Matter, Soul and Body
  • The body axes or directions
  • From animal to human
  • What might embryonic development of a human individuality have to do with the evolutionary development of mankind?

Why this course?
  • Entry/intermediate level
  • Power Point Presentations
  • Demonstrations
  • Q and A with presenter
  • Six on hour classes
  • Life long access
  • Certificate of Attendance on request

Learning Outcomes

  • Gain an insight into the phenomenological approach to conception and birth
  • Understand the human embryonic development during the first few weeks
  • Learn to see how the embryo can be considered an incarnating human being with personal expression
  • Gain an understanding of the developing human body as dynamic equilibrium of polarities

who can this benefit

  • Birth practitioners who would like to gain a deeper understanding of current embryology
  • Anyone who would like to understand the ways in which their own primal beginnings may have shaped who they are today

join course

£139
One off payment
Includes :
  • Life  time access to course content
  • Certificate of Attendance on request

course & Gold Membership

£199/yr
Billed annually
Includes :
  • 50% discount on this course
  • Access to all our Live and Recorded classes for 1 year
  • Access to Monthly Support Groups
  • 20% discount on all other courses

Join as a member and get 20% off courses