Alcohol and the Spiritual Component

[Zeta]

For years as I've battled alcohol abuse to varrying degrees, there's always been this feeling/euphoria I've associated with drinking. I've always been a spiritual person (sometimes not living what I preach), not religious but spiritual. I've had plenty of mystic/paranormal/supernatural experiences in my life, some sparked by tragedy and some by my insatiable need to seek for Truth.

After 25 years of drinking, I've come to the conclusion that one of the primary triggers for me (in terms of the appeal of alcohol) is that there is a Spiritual Component that alcohol can trigger in the mind. It's fleeting and for me it's usually in that initial buzz state (you know, that temporary euphoric state we all try to hold on to before slipping into sloppy and drunk).

I've actually tried to research this using one of my drinking episodes as the (un)controlled testing ground. I've actually drank mindfully and conscienciously before, constantly monitoring the effects of alcohol on my brain/mind. Once I've captured that precise moment, I've tried to really pinpoint what it is that I really love about it and ultimately makes alcohol more appealing to me than perhaps it normally might.

Now please let me be clear. In NO way am I suggesting that alcohol is a legitimate tool for spiritual enlightenment. Yet, I cannot deny that it does open a doorway (for me at least) to our connection to all things.

I'm not sure what alcohol is doing or what part of the mind is being triggered but for those brief euphoric moments, I feel centered and at peace with everything. Of course, this moment never lasts and before I know it I've slipped past Knowing and Truth and moved into sloppy/slurs-ville where no spiritual connection is evident. Only numbness.

I'm not trying to make excuses for my drinking. I'm here because I know it's ultimately a dead end, figuratively and literally, if I do not take serious and disciplined measures to change my behavior. I just cannot deny one if it's major appeals to me.

Realizing that those extremely temporary moments of connection and euphoria are nowhere even close to being worth the panic attacks and withdrawals and the dangerous flirting I've been doing with losing my marriage and livelihood has got to become my way out.

[The New Me]

Zeta,

I can relate to this feeling. I do get insights and inspirations from AL. I am more in touch with my feelings, sadness, or euphoria. When I do not drink, I feel a bit numb.
It is not a long term solution, but the way I look at this, is that I have to learn to feel my feelings without AL.
I do write down my thougts after a few glasses of wine. I feel brilliant, but the next day, I read what I wrote and it is not so brilliant after all. So, it may be an alcohol- induced illusion.
How about you?

[Zeta]

I definitely can understand what you mean. Sometimes grand insight while under intoxication may appear nothing more than gibberish to the sober mind. Is that because we were unable to process the information in a language the sober, intellect can relate to? Or perhaps it really is just gibberish.

I think there are definitely key moments when I am accessing some higher level, but you blink or take a trip to the bathroom...And it's gone.

Absolutely the key is to be able to access that place without the need for AL or any drug.

Music, meditation, hypnosis, all good things.

[LilBit]

Originally Posted by Zeta

...one of the primary triggers for me (in terms of the appeal of alcohol) is that there is a Spiritual Component that alcohol can trigger in the mind. It's fleeting and for me it's usually in that initial buzz state (you know, that temporary euphoric state we all try to hold on to before slipping into sloppy and drunk).

Zeta, I understand what you're trying to achieve, and have also sought Spiritual truth through an altered state many times, as have other cultures and peoples too numerous to mention (Native Americans with peyote, Whirling Dervishes, etc.). I urge you, please, to be careful about opening yourself up spiritually and mentally while slipping into a state where you no longer have control. Not everyone or everything out there means you well, i.e., if you passed out lying in the street, there are people who would try to help you, people who would walk right past you, and people who would steal your belongings and possibly harm you. Do we know that the spiritual realm is any different?

Originally Posted by Zeta

Sometimes grand insight while under intoxication may appear nothing more than gibberish to the sober mind. Is that because we were unable to process the information in a language the sober, intellect can relate to? Or perhaps it really is just gibberish.

I believe it could be either. But I will say that the majority of my intoxicated *insights* turned out to be gibberish. Badly written gibberish, at that! Luckily, the God that I believe in doesn't require me to get into any heightened states of awareness to receive spiritual insight and guidance. He very much meets me where I live, in the day-to-day. I hope the same is true for you.

[lucky 2.0]

I have a book and I think the name of it is Addiction & Grace. It is very good and speaks to grace entering our lives to replace the addiction. I cannot do it justice so won't try but you might be interested in the book.

[Zeta]

Originally Posted by LilBit

...I urge you, please, to be careful about opening yourself up spiritually and mentally while slipping into a state where you no longer have control. Not everyone or everything out there means you well, i.e., if you passed out lying in the street, there are people who would try to help you, people who would walk right past you, and people who would steal your belongings and possibly harm you. Do we know that the spiritual realm is any different?

Oh absolutely. My countless times spent as a teenager with the Ouija Board can attest to that. I never use alcohol to "open up" to the Astral or other dimensions per se...I'm more a observationist. I agree that one must be careful however.

Originally Posted by LilBit

Luckily, the God that I believe in doesn't require me to get into any heightened states of awareness to receive spiritual insight and guidance. He very much meets me where I live, in the day-to-day. I hope the same is true for you.

Absolutely.

[Zeta]

Yup, good ol' truth syrum. Social barriers and masks fall to the wayside for better or for worse. I can't remember who told me about this site but I'm glad they did. In those really dark hours I can see how it would be a blessing.

The one good thing for me is that I've never needed to drink to feel God's presence in all things. In fact, outside of that initial, brief euphoria, drinking takes me further from my spiritual center.

[nancy]

For me, what you describe is not that surprising from a psychological point of view.
During meditation, you learn to observe then kindly dismiss the thinking part of the self and focus on the being part. It's very freeing.

I don't know what it is like for you, but alcohol has the effect of dampening the sometimes tyrannical thinking side of life, so you are more open to being and being happy. Until you go too far of course.

I think alcohol is psychologically freeing and that's one reason why people crave it so much.

[vlad]

A preacher once told me that the buzz from alcohol and drugs are just poor imitations of the true high we can experience from the Holy Spirit.

[Zeta]

I've always held an internal belief that each and every human who has or is abusing alcohol/drugs is merely trying to achieve that connection back to The Source. The euphoria that simply can't be replaced nor achieved while living on Earth. Deep down, we're trying to reclaim our spiritual oneness with All That Is and I truly believe that addiction/drug abuse is a symptom of that craving.