Interview and reflections on the achievements of Kenneth McAlister MD

“What is really at the core of Hesperus’ mission is to explore, develop and support what is truly human.  It’s like the snowflake.  Each snowflake is the same – and different.  And that’s also the case with human beings.  Each of us has our own path.  With the vagaries of life, the individual can very often be suppressed or wounded to the point where the sense of meaning in life – the thread of the biography – is lost.  We are very committed to trying to help ourselves, and those who come to us for care, to find that thread again.  And it’s a mystery really, how each of us does that.  And through the various modalities we have, we try to support the individual in the journey, and to help them somehow to reconnect, to deepen the connection with their biography, so that life becomes precious again, not just a waiting, but a precious adventure of becoming more human.” Kenneth McAlister from the Hesperus video. Link.

Is the above quote why you came to Hesperus in 1990 or has this philosophy evolved over time?                         

 “I’m not sure I could speak like that when I first came to Hesperus. In 1990 I was five years into learning medicine on the front line as a country GP in Bobcaygeon, ON. In many ways it was a good time in my life and probably I was working through some issues arising from my Egyptian incarnation. The best part was that I met Nedi there. Otherwise I was pretty isolated from more conscious spiritual community that I had initially pursued medical training to support. I remember one of my mentors, Francis Edmunds, looking intently into a group of young people of which I was a part and saying, “When I come back I’ll be asking you: where are your communities!” This somehow impacted me deeply, as he had just given a talk about the need to create “islands of culture” to maintain and cultivate what is human in us. My desire for community transformed from a vague tribal notion living under the banner words of peace and love, to a more clear sense of intentional community that would collaboratively nurture individuals and the Earth, with professionalism that bridges contemporary practice with an Anthroposophic world view. That’s a wordy way of saying that after I discovered what was important to me, I could wade into life to earn the tools I needed to get to work. In any case, many years later a call came about the dire needs Hesperus had, and am I going to come or not!”

“For me Anthroposophy is really a friend in the spiritual world Continue full article