Fasting/Abstinence

[China Cat Sunflower]

One of the perks of my job is that I don't have to shave. I'm a carpenter, I go around repairing cabinets mostly. It doesn't matter what I look like so long as I turn out excellent work, and I do. The point I'm getting to is that I've restored the pleasure of shaving by doing it less often. I can wait until I can't stand the whiskers and then get a super tight shave that makes me look ten years younger. I kind of think of sex that way too. I want to want it when I do it. But sometimes it's political. Sex is the grease of marriage, and it ain't always about me and my "needs", dig?

Chris

[Dondi]

I found an interesting verse that deal with both fasting AND abstinence. Here's what Paul had to say concerning husbands and wives:

"Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency." I Corinthians 7:5 (KJV)

Seems Paul is telling married couples to not only fast, but abstain from sex during that time. I didn't even remember this verse until just now.

[17th Angel]

Originally Posted by Impqueen

Why is sex not good for your spiritual health?

I think fasting works rather like the drugs used in some shamanic cultures. That's not dismissing it - I see it as a technique for reaching an altered state of consciousness in which one is more open to spiritual experiences.... or hallucinations if you're feeling cynical. I don't use it because I'm a glutton and feel really horrible if I forget to have breakfast, or leave lunch a little late....

Shamanic cultures? :/ Can find stuff like that in your very own culture lol.

[Muslimwoman]

Hi Dondi

Very interesting topic. I imagine you already know that Muslims fast for a month during Ramadan and at other times when we feel we need to.

The first couple of days are certainly the hardest, for me largely due to not being allowed water and living in Egypt it can be very difficult. We only fast from sun up until sun down. My biggest hurdle is the cigarettes, I am a heavy smoker and going without food or drink is no real problem but the cravings for a cigarette make me rather unpleasant to be around.

We are also not allowed to have sex during the fast but of course at night we break the fast. However, I sometimes visit my family for up to 4 months, without my husband. The first 2 weeks are always the most difficult but then the urges just fade away, after a while you don't even think about them.

Before my marriage I had been celebate for 2 years and sex just never even crossed my mind. So there goes Chris's theory that it is women that are gagging for it. It is all a matter of choice, you can choose to be ruled by your desires or not. But anything you abstain from, coffee, cigarettes, sex, food, becomes easier the longer you go without, so in the end you simply don't miss it.

Well that's my 10p worth anyway.