Doug Fisichella...
Douglas Fisichella is a Student of the Arcane School founded by Alice A. Bailey and a life long student of the worlds religions
My Path to Health
The purification of the physical body is indeed among the ideal first steps on the path. It is not always practiced and there are many people who are developing spiritually while still abusing their bodies. There are also many very “soulful” musicians and gifted writers and performers whose lives are a complete mess. Rather than being a contradiction, it actually supports the idea that you must create a capable vessel for the soul’s use. Once the power of the soul’s communication begins to pour through an unprepared physical being, disaster can be the result.
I can hear you thinking “But it sounds so hard” and if not hard, at least boring, to purify your body and live a healthy life. You may think you can never give up some of the things that you think are making you happy. Are you happy? I certainly am, but that was not always the case. I was not always happy or healthy. I lost my brother about 14 years ago and it sent me into quite a spin. I turned back into a teenager, singing in a local band and learning to play his guitar. While those can be good outlets for feelings of loss, there was a much more difficult side to it.
I had always been a drinker, but I got way out of hand. I started doing some very self destructive things. I was staying out, with music as an excuse, and drinking myself to death. I was angry and tempting God to take my life too. There are so many terrible things that could have happened back then it makes me shudder to think about it. I have a beautiful family and a wonderful wife, Louise. I am glad that I came to my senses with her help. Together we got off the merry-go-round of addiction, and a couple of years later, the booze. It has been over 8 years since either of us drank now and according to what I have read that means that there is not a single cell left in my body which was there when I was drinking.
I thought I was saving my marriage, and I certainly was, but there is more to it than that. We started walking to keep us sober and that meant that there was an hour each day that we were talking to each other. We always had a strong bond, but walking was a huge factor in how our relationship has grown. We got up to 2 miles a day after a couple of months and now walk three miles on any day weather permits. During the summer we climb mountains and are capable of walking 15 miles at high elevations. I could not have done these things with my old body. We no longer eat meat and have actually adopted a Vegan diet which excludes cheese and eggs as well. My bad boy behavior is now an occasional slice of pizza instead of a six pack and somehow it does not lead to yelling uncontrollably at my wife. It’s just a smile she may or may not understand.
Why am I telling you all of this? There are two main reasons and neither of them has anything to do with bragging rights. Number one is that I was walking the path before I knew it consciously. We were starting a process that continues today and did not know it at the time. Many of you may feel that you are not on a spiritual path and need to make huge changes all at once. It may seem so difficult that you are afraid to start. If you look at my story it all comes down to baby steps. Stop poisoning yourself and start rebuilding your body a little at a time. If you can’t walk a mile do a half mile or start with a walk around your block.
The second reason for me to be going through this exercise is that I am hoping that you are not as far down that road as I was. Perhaps knowing what I went through can be encouraging. You may never need to quit drinking all together. I was a hard case and believe me I am much happier without it. You may have no inclination to stop eating meat. It is not necessary, but you may find as you progress along other lines that it warrants consideration. Certainly you can add healthy foods to your diet first. Then think about what you may be able to cut down. You will need to stop any behavior that is getting in your way, but you must be willing to take some action or you would not have found us. You are on the path, as I was, whether you know it or not.
It has been said that “you are no good to anyone else until you have taken care of yourself”. I believe that there is wisdom in that statement. It sounds selfish on the surface and can be misapplied, but its core is real. We are often harder on ourselves than we are on anyone else. We say things to ourselves that we would never say to a loved one or even an acquaintance. Physical well being is linked to emotional well being, so be kind to yourself and treat that body with care. You will need it for what (I hope) is a very long time to come.
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