Most commonly, the focus of any discussion on "over-indulgence" is on drinking alcohol or eating food to excess - and those are unquestionably problems, as the family of this young child killed by a drunk driver have tragically found out, and as others no doubt also will - also tragically - find out. The police and government make an excellent effort to get people to think and act responsibly, and that has unquestionably helped reduce the road toll (deaths and injuries) here, but it is a fight against a culture of excess.
The medical profession and "social stylists" get in on the act as well, with warnings on health consequences on the one part and vapid articles on "HOW NOT TO OVEREAT THIS XMAS!!!!!" on the other part, with less success.
There are also social consequences - as illustrated by this ban on alcohol because of the behaviour of over-indulging / drunk / self-indulgent / undisciplined /
Of far greater concern, however, are the family arguments and stresses associated with the compulsion to "be with family" or "be sociable" at this time of year, which - combine with the depression of the socially isolated - led to this time of year being the busiest of the year when I worked at a phone counselling service (decades ago, now). I wrote a poem once about one part of this (see here), but the problems also include:
- enforced intimacy with people one is incompatible with, under the constraint of setting aside, rather than resolving, conflicts or problems or simply not allowing people to move on and remove problem people from their lives (this is particularly an issue for the victims of in-family abuse);
- the stress, demand on energy and COST associated with preparation - particularly food;
- the environmental damage of this spectacular and massive consumption;
- the focus on crass commercialism - particularly the expectation that people must buy presents for all others - my partners children opted out of this by their own choice when they were in their teens, which is a hopeful sign for them and for society, one which sadly runs into problems when people become offended that others have opted out of being socialised sheep (this can be particularly a reaction when the offended person has spent some time and effort mastering the nuances of "how to fit in", or "how to be a good hostess this season", or "what people really want you to buy them", and so on).
In fact, I would also go further and state that intimacy and connection with people is not spirituality - although being able to get on with people and resolve problems is. The main issue is that a focus on intimacy and connection with people often leads to a form of spiritual blindness, with people having such a focus forgetting that other people in the world also have needs, and quite often more pressing needs than making sure every relation gets a present that will probably be thrown out or ignored, and that there is more to life than just intimacy and connection with people!
A few of my quotations are appropriate here:
- Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master.
- Emotional comfort/connection/closeness, materialism and religion (immature spirituality) are NOT more important than spiritual rigour.
- Expertise at intimacy and emotional happiness is not the same thing as spiritual growth.
- Karl Marx got it wrong: it’s sex, family and intimacy, not religion, which is the opiate of the masses. ("Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people")
So ... this season of excess, I'm opting out - particularly from enforced socialising - as I've done for quite a few years now.
(Having a partner just out of hospital also helps me to opt out of the socialised sheep rubbish.)
I apologise for publishing these posts
twice, but Blogger keeps changing my formatting. I can either publish it and
then correct it, or save and close the post and correct it when I reopen it,
but that leaves an extra copy in my "drafts" folder ...
Love, light, hugs and blessings
I am revamping my former website, and getting at least one other underway (pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix
Lux … aka Morinehtar … would-be drýicgan or maga
... )
My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this
site) is here, and my glossary/index is here. The reasons for my caution when using Wikipedia are here.
I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue
(see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me
for a few minutes at some time between 8 and 11 PM on Sunday, wherever you are,
to meditate-clear for peace), and here
for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend
learning how to flame, ground
and shield, do alternate
nostril breathing, work
with colour, and see also here and be
flexible.
May the best in me, my Higher Self,
and those of the Clear Light who assist me,
help me to keep myself grounded, centred and shielded,
to be Balanced and a Fulcrum of Balance,
a centre of Balanced Positivity and Spiritual Maturity,
with my aura continuously cleansed, cleared and closed,
repelling all negative or unwanted energies,
whilst allowing positive, balancing and healing energies in and through.
The real dividing line is not between
Christianity and Islam, Sunni and Shia, East and West. It is between people who
believe in coexistence, and those who don’t.
- All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...
Tags: addictions, attitudes, commercialism, emotions, intimacy, materialism, socialisation, society,
First published: Wodansdagr, 28th December, 2016
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's,
Blogger's change of my formatting and other minor matters): Wednesday, 28th December, 2016
