Sustenance

How to have a practice that sustains you in your busy life... A local class is better than a far away one, unless like me in my thirties, you have a somewhat fanatical approach to your study; 1200 mile round trips, not very sustainable, but they got me started. This is possible when we are young and have fewer entanglements, or indeed, do not cultivate a career / have children, etc... Family or work commitments and life busy-ness can make a spiritual path and regular practice harder, but they are also a superb testing ground. Things being nearby and practical are often the deciding factor of success. Many folks don’t realise the innate physicality of an alchemical path. There is a reason we don’t just use the mind, and why words, scripture, faith, or mental techniques will never be enough. A useful first rule of practice: turn up, physically. Whether solo or in groups, it's the same.

Antero Alli asks in his superb book 'Angel Tech': 'Can you take the body with you?'

If your prospective path denigrates, mortifies, demonises - or conversely over-emphasises the perfection of - the physical body, something is likely to be awry. We are not little ghosts trapped in haunted meat (Charlie Brooker's great term). We are natural embodied living beings, evolved on and perfectly suited to this marvellous planet, as good an expression of matter's seemingly inexhaustible drive to become alive and sentient as any tiger, blue whale or gibbon. There is no 'fall', we are not 'broken'. There are actions, and there are the endlessly multiplying effects of these actions.

It is entirely possible to practice internal arts even if the body is failing, injured, immobile due to medical conditions, and even at the point of death. One does not need youth or abundant vitality. Yet, whilst still having some youth and energy, if one has a sincere and regular practice, so much good can be added to life, health and mental peace, and this benefits all.