Two of the biggest problems with any metaphysical pursuit are:
1. Lack of will power
2. Low energy levels caused by poor diet
WILL POWER
Will power is quite different from 'personality strength'. Just because a
person has great personality strength does not mean they have 'self' discipline
or 'will' power - the ability to discipline their own self. A person can be
very strong when it comes to dealing with other people - personality wise
- but can be extremely weak when it comes to disciplining their own personal
self.
Will power is all mental and is built up through the exercise of the will
- by forcing the body to obey the mind. The mind is everything, and the body
eats or fasts, or lives or dies, by its will. The body and its ego will always
fight back, and always for the same things: less work and effort and more
pleasure and relaxation.
Will power muscle is built up in much the same way as any other muscle or
skill - by exercising it repeatedly. When an olympic weight lifter breaks
a record, he does not just walk in off the street and pick up a heavy weight.
He trains for years, constantly disciplining himself and lifting smaller weights,
gradually building his strength until he can lift the record breaking weights
that are his goal.
This is exactly the same with will power. The will must be trained and strengthened
through many smaller exercises, until the mind becomes strong enough to control
its own physical body and its ego. It must become strong enough to overcome
any negative compulsions or urges, that are interfering with its mental and
spiritual health and progression.
One of the best ways to strengthen the will is through 'fasting'.
First: Please consult with your medical doctor, to make sure any type of
fasting exercise will not damage your physical health. There are two main
types of fasting:
1. Water fasting
2. Juice fasting
WATER FASTING
It's best for a beginner to start with one full day of fasting, starting
the night before and finishing the morning after the chosen day of fasting.
Take nothing but pure water and lots of it, plus good quality vitamins (and
extra soluble calcium). Build the length of the fast, with a decent break
between each fast, to three full days of fasting. Any longer than this can
harm your health and loses its will power training benefit because, you will
find, the physical body does not crave food after the second day - its all
psychological from then on. This is difficult if you are working and need
your energy for work, because water fasting makes you tired and you will find
you'll need a lot more sleep than usual. But you can water fast over the week
end, say starting Friday (after lunch) and ending Sunday night or Monday morning.
It is best to take a one week break, of normal eating, between each fast.
JUICE FASTING
Juice fasting is much easier than water fasting. It can also be sustained
for much longer periods without weakening you too much, or causing too much
lethargy and tiredness.
Start with two complete days and take nothing but 1 liter (1 quart) each
of fruit and vegetable juice - not mixed together. Make a fresh mix of whatever
you like, and or whatever is in season in your local area. Its best to juice
this yourself, fresh each morning. But remember to keep a little juice for
when you first wake up the next day, so you can have some before you start
juicing. Use only fresh, good quality produce for these juices - whatever
your budget allows. Ask at your local health shop for a booklet of Juice recipes.
Cabbage, celery, cucumber and carrot (always with a dash of parsley) is a
good basic vege juice mix. Pepper and salt and fresh herbs can also be added
to improve the taste.
Apple, orange, grapes and watermelon (always with a dash of lemon) is a good
basic fruit juice mix.
The above must be adjusted to taste and tolerance (some people can't take
cabbage juice) as well as to seasonal expense.
If you don't have a juicer already, I suggest the more expensive 'worm-drive'
American-type of juicer be purchased (which will last forever) rather than
a cheaper centrifugal type. The latter type do not last very long if you use
them a lot - but whatever your budget allows is fine. Any pulp should be thrown
away as compost, as it is completely useless for anything else.
If you don't want to juice yourself, buy the best quality fruit and vege
juices you can afford, and use them instead. But freshly made juices are much
more satisfying and better for you as well.
Take a five ounce (larger or smaller if required) glass of each type of juice,
vege and fruit, plus a large glass of water to wash it down, first thing in
the morning. From then on, take a glass of each every hour or so (watch the
time) plus water. And take a small glass of each whenever you feel hungry
or weak. Always keep a few lunch-box sized cartons of fruit and vege juice
(V8 is good) in fridge, and always take a few with you if you leave the house
- so you don't get caught without juice and are tempted to eat instead.
Take some good quality vitamins plus some soluble calcium and good quality
ginseng. The soluble calcium is a *must* or fasting may weaken your teeth.
You will also be more lethargic and tired without it. The type I use is called
'Sandocal' and this or something similar will be available from your local
chemist or drug store.
Soluble calcium also has the added benefit of aiding psychic abilities, if
you are trying to develop and use these.
A FEW WORDS OF ADVICE
If your breath goes stale during a fast, a salt water mouth wash will help.
If your lips start to crack during a fast, cut down on the quantity of 'citrus'
in your fruit juice, rinse your mouth and lips after taking juice, and use
a good lip balm.
If you smoke and drink coffee or tea, be careful of them from the second
day onwards during any type of fast. They will absorb far more rapidly into
your system. First thing in the morning especially, they and will tend to
send you into mild shock. You may feel highly nauseous and break out into
a cold sweat for a few minutes, after taking them. A weaker brew or dose of
any of these, if you must have them, is thus recommended. Note, a few cups
of weak tea or coffee during the day will help overcome any tiredness, but
should not be taken after 6pm as this will make it hard to sleep later that
night. No alcohol should be consumed during a fast. Alcohol weakens will power
and loosens inhibitions, and the urge to eat will intensify many times, making
the fast more difficult than it needs to be.
For extended fasting (any more than three days) a mineral salts sports drink
(Gator aide or etc) should be take a few times a day (especially during water
fasts). This will help keep your electrolyte balance healthy, which will help
overcome a plethora of potential fasting problems. If in doubt or worried
by this, please consult your medical doctor over this matter.
Any type of fasting has the added benefit of purging your body of waste matter
and has the effect of lifting your bio-energetic levels - caused by poor eating
habits and the resulting build up of waste matter in your digestive tract.
Purgatives and enemas can also be used, if desired, to rid the body of waste
matter during the early stages of a fast - to increase its inner cleansing
benefits. If you are inexperienced with these, its advisable to consult a
good health food shop or book store for competent instruction on these practices
first - with uninformed experimentation 'not' being advised.
HERE ARE OTHER BENEFICIAL EXERCISES
OF THE WILL
1. Losing weight - strict diet.
2. Giving up smoking, alcohol or any addiction, i.e., coffee
3. Strict vegetarian diet
4. Giving up something you really like to do (preferably a vice of some kind)
5. Breaking any negative type of habit
6. Regular exercise or sport (especially if you are not a sporting type)
7. Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Chi Kung - (martial arts are also good)
8. Memorizing poetry and prose
9. Learn a new skill (musical instrument, sketching, etc)
10. Take up anything new and difficult - anyone for tennis or chess?
Another word of advice - for will power training, pick something relatively
easy and achievable to begin with. Do not bite off more than you can
chew at one time! It takes time to develop your will power muscles. Start with
something small. Accomplish this and then, and only then, move on to something
else. Do one thing at a time and do it well. Build on your successes and you
will become progressively stronger, and will then have the tools that will allow
you to succeed with larger goals.
(C) 1996 - Robert Bruce
This article is presented as part of an ongoing effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online vampire community. Those of us who consider ourselves vampiric don't always look at things from the same viewpoint due to our life experiences. As such, the views and opinions contained in this article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - you are responsible for using your own reasoning and judgement, so judge wisely.
| 
