The effects of beer and wine on a spiritual practice

[wer]

I have just recently began the Mastering Astral Projection program, and decided that it was necessary that I cease all consumption of alcoholic beverages until I reach my spiritual goals. I was wondering if it will ever be acceptable for me to drink ever again, given that I plan to pursue the practice of energy work and OBEs extensively, and eventually wish to induce Kundalini. I'm not talking about getting totally drunk, but only having 2-3 glasses of wine every two weeks or so. I am ready to give up such things if my practice requires it, but I also would like to continue having the occasional drink if it has minimal negative effects on the energy system.

Are there any experience practitioners here that can tell me how I should approach this?

[Palehorse Redivivus]

I would say the key here is personal preference, and listening to your body for what it wants and needs. I drink very moderately, and also do energy work daily; I've never noted any specific conflict between the two. I've read of some though, who got to a certain point in their development and found that any alcohol at all really disagreed with their system. Others simply feel compelled to give it up voluntarily, for various reasons. So, it's really up to you, and whether you feel it does or does not interfere with what you're shooting for. There's really no blanket-recommendation that's based on empirical data as far as I know, though of course anything in excess can cause imbalances, energetic and otherwise. If you need to give it up completely though, your body will let you know.

[ButterflyWoman]

I drink very moderately, and also do energy work daily; I've never noted any specific conflict between the two.

Ditto.

The biggest problem I find with alcohol and spiritual practice is that alcohol tends to make you lose a lot of your mental control. So if I try to meditate when I've had a glass or two of wine, my mind just tends to wander aimlessly and pointlessly, without discipline. Also, if I go into what I think of as a "communicative trance" (where I communicate with the Divine in whatever aspect), I have very strange, meaningless, weird visions that can be oddly confusing. So, for me, drinking just makes the meditation/trance process kind of pointless. I may as well just go to sleep and dream (non-lucidly; lucid dreaming is impossible when I've had alcohol, as far as I can tell).

[Tom]

It really is unfortunate that as far as recreational mood enhancing substances go only alcohol and tobacco are really available. I'm sure that there are more life-enhacing possibilities out there with fewer harmful side effects.

[Korpo]

wer,

if you feel bad about it, just go ahead and try to go without it. But you don't need to make this a hard rule. I personally find that spiritual practice and life changes have severely reduced my desire to drink alcohol, and I also don't enjoy the intoxicating effects much anymore. One of my favorite drinks now is actually a non-alcoholic beer that just tastes great and is a real refresher.

Oliver

[ButterflyWoman]

It really is unfortunate that as far as recreational mood enhancing substances go only alcohol and tobacco are really available.

Don't forget caffeine. It's a pretty strong central nervous system stimulant.

[iadnon]

Hi friends:

I live in Basque Country (Spain). Here, we have about 3 bars per street all along the territory. People are accustomed to drink large amount of alcoholic beverages, specially wine, which abounds here. That said, I'll tell you I had the same problem like you. Here it's quite complicated to mark the line that separates an alcoholic person and an non alcoholic one, because of the social acceptance of it.

That said, I did a little research about the phenomenon. It seems, or it is said, that alcohol and flesh make the astral particles of your body to be coarser and slower. That lowers your inner bodies' vibratory capacity, and so, you have less chances of moving your consciousness upwards. The more finer your inner body, the cleaner your physical body, the stronger your inner bodies. "Men sana in corpore sano" = your physical body has to be your soul's temple.

Apart of the previous words there are more factors. I thought, time ago, that I had to attain the purer state of physical body. You know, I went vegetarian (I'm still so), I gave up alcohol (even if I take some of it from time to time), I put apart parties and social events, and I even practiced fasting. All of that made me evolve in a very hard way. It was like turning around all your life. That was the hard way.

The problem was: everytime I failed in my schedule, I lost all my confidence and power. That's purity's main problem. When you feel yourself a tad filthy, it all blows up.

So, here they go my conclusions:
1.Have a good sense of humor.
2.Keep on practicing, even if you are in the worst conditions.
3.Have faith, confidence and a feeling of a goal to attain.
4.Practice exercises that will give you a clear result. You need to feel you're advancing to keep on in the path.
5.Experiment. I'm able to move energy and activate my chakras even if I have had 5 cups of wine (precisely I did it yesterday).
6.Write down your plannings, your thoughts...
7.And, please, for God's goodness, don't ever feel guilty.

Good luck!

[Neil Templar]

i only allow myself to drink alcohol once a week nowadays.
i don't think i would actually want to give it up completely, not just because of the social aspect, i really do enjoy a good glass of Belgian beer or a single malt whiskey...mmm..

Oliver, what is the name of the alcohol free beer you drink?..i'd be up for giving a non-alcoholic beer a try if it has a good taste.

[CFTraveler]

I am one of those who quit drinking some time ago, not for social reasons, but for health reasons- alcohol acts as a poison in my body and I pay dearly if I drink. Having said that, last night I had one beer after spending the day painting in the sun. (Sun+sweat=dehydration+alcohol--------->Very very bad). As a result of this I was attacked + had one of those 'pulled out of my body' experiences that I dislike so much.
So my advice is: If it doesn't agree with your body, don't do it.

[wer]

Apart of the previous words there are more factors. I thought, time ago, that I had to attain the purer state of physical body. You know, I went vegetarian (I'm still so), I gave up alcohol (even if I take some of it from time to time), I put apart parties and social events, and I even practiced fasting. All of that made me evolve in a very hard way. It was like turning around all your life. That was the hard way.

The problem was: everytime I failed in my schedule, I lost all my confidence and power. That's purity's main problem. When you feel yourself a tad filthy, it all blows up.

So, here they go my conclusions:
1.Have a good sense of humor.
2.Keep on practicing, even if you are in the worst conditions.
3.Have faith, confidence and a feeling of a goal to attain.
4.Practice exercises that will give you a clear result. You need to feel you're advancing to keep on in the path.
5.Experiment. I'm able to move energy and activate my chakras even if I have had 5 cups of wine (precisely I did it yesterday).
6.Write down your plannings, your thoughts...
7.And, please, for God's goodness, don't ever feel guilty.

Good luck!

I've notice that I'm the same way when it comes to following a schedule. I'm a very orderly person, so when I began my practice I wrote out a daily routine and everything. Over the past few weeks I have noticed that when I fail to meet everything on my schedule, my confidence is lost and I feel like I loose a lot of progress. This is all just a trick of the mind however. I feel the same way about alcohol (and the occasional herb). As long as I feel that it will throw me completely off balance, it will, not necessarily from the substance itself, but from my perception of the substance.

So I've decided that I am going to take a year away from everything, except for the occasional cup of coffee during the holidays, and see how I feel.

Thanks andonitxo, and everyone else, you have all been a great help.