“”Abstinence sows sand all over
The ruddy limbs and flaming hair,
But desire gratified
Plants fruits of life and beauty there.”
William Blake, Abstinence
Abstaining or fasting from the things that we enjoy is not in itself a bad thing; indeed, it can restimulate our appreciation and give us a better balance in the way we use life’s resources. When desires become bullies that have to be pacified, when our freedom is in thrall to those desires, we may well need to employ abstinence to bring ourselves back to normal.
Yet desires submerged or imprisoned can bring us to equally unbalanced regions. If we never allow the fulfilment of our desires, we doom ourselves to perpetual dissatisfaction, to lives that are neither enhanced not enchanted with delight. It may be that we learned such abstinence in times of hardship, difficulty, or illness and are still living under the sway of impossibility. It may be that we were injured by rejection of lack of love – an experience that often consigns all forms of fulfilment to a foreign territory. Let us also recognise, however, that the subtle forms of abstinence that we all practice may spring from laziness or from fear of loss of control as much as from any other cause.
Enjoyment, pleasure, and the satisfaction of our desires are legitimate human duties, as long as they harm no other being. The pursuit of our desires can lead us deeper into life and toward the fulfilment of our life’s purpose.
Today, really enjoy doing something you love but have not done for a long time.”
From The Celtic Spirit: Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews
Chorlton Unitarians 