It is becoming spring in my neck of the woods, so the
impulse to do Spring Cleaning is up. No coincidence it is also the season of
Lent. Though this is a custom most common to Christians, it is not an exclusively
Christian practice. Voluntarily modifying the diet, fasting and other forms of
purification are known as beneficial in most cultures.
Perhaps the most relevant similarity between physical and
spiritual cleansing is seen in the adding or subtracting of substance from the
daily routine. In both cases, chemical preservatives and mild toxins, such as
alcohol, are discouraged. However it can be anticipated that physical level
cleansing will recommend the addition of a specific natural substance for the
duration, while a spiritual cleanse is more likely to recommend further
subtraction of substance.
Physical Cleanses
Through time natural healers have learned to isolate and
clear dead energy from any organ or physical system of the body. The process
involved requires complete commitment on the part of the person being cleansed.
The "cleansee" must be willing to modify daily consumption and ingest
substances that would otherwise never appeal to the palate.
For instance, the most effective way to rid a person of
multiple physical concerns is a colon cleanse. A typical protocol would suggest
first ridding the diet of red meat, dairy, breads, sugar, and caffeinated/alcoholic
beverages, as all of these have a binding, inflammatory or dehydrating effect.
Then a specific cleansing agent, such as an herbal supplement, tea or substance
such as charcoal or clay is added in specific proximity with meals. High fiber
foods, such as spinach or broccoli, may be recommended additions to the menu.
Some of the colon-cleansing agents have a filling and
leaching effect, which cause sluggish bowels in the first few days. Herbs may
be recommended to stimulate contraction in the bowels to help deeply seated
dead matter move out. This initial stage of discomfort is unavoidable,
particularly for a person who is cleansing for the first time, and is the case
with most other system cleanses. Ideally
no cleanse causes constipation lasting more than two days, however there may be
diarrhea, a feeling of nervous tension, fatigue or emotional sensitivity for
the beginning phase of any physical clean out. This is the initial physical
release of waste matter, and on the emotional level functions as a sort of
testing phase to make sure the person is willing to go the entire distance. As
long as he/she persists, the discomfort will eventually pass. In one cleansing
manual, the author prescribes prayer during this well-known initial release.
Once the bulk of stagnant matter is cleared a person will
notice a greater physical ease. There will be a new relationship established with the toilet, but, a physical cleanse may begin at a
person's convenience, and continue from 4 days to two months. Aside from slight
dietary modifications and the addition of a cleansing agent, basic physical-level
procedures may be added to the every day routine.
Beyond dietary additions, people with a history of cleansing
have found benefit from external processes to support deeper physical cleansing
once the first levels of toxicity have been removed. In the case of a colon
cleanse, this may be enemas or colonic therapies. External processes for other
types of cleanse range from holding a low-voltage electric circuit to daily Epsom
salt baths to topical essential oil application to swallowing large doses of
oil and/or vinegar. With this sort of process a person must modify everyday
routines to accommodate time for the specific process. The duration of deeper
cleaning protocols can be anywhere from three days to three weeks, and may be added into the basic physical cleanse time.
Someone doing his/her first physical cleanse is better off not adding external cleansing processes.
Spiritual Cleanses
These are often re-enactments of major turning
points in the history of a spiritual group. Examples in major religions are
Lent, Passover and Ramadan. Native American traditions perform the Sun Dance. These
prescribed cleanses subtract specific foods (such as leavened bread, meat,
meals in daylight hours, or all food and water) and certain activities, such as
foul language, work or non-cleansing social contact. Once the initial preparations have been
made, spiritual community gatherings are increased during holy seasons.
Depending upon the tradition the season may be from 7 days to 40 days long. Spiritual cleanses coincide with specific times in the year and have an exact duration.
For instance, one orthodox tradition of Lent recommends
eliminating all meat, fish, dairy, wine and oils one week before the season
begins, and continuing for the 40 day period eating sparingly all but two days
each week. For the entire Lent period there is one day specified for a complete
fast (Good Friday). The addition of prayer and spiritual gatherings are
highlighted during this process, and it is known that only the most pious
(clergy) will be able to keep all the rules.
Eliminating any one food or substance from the diet itself
will stimulate a physical level cleanse complete with the initial discomfort
mentioned in above. Therefore, all people who take part in a regular spiritual
cleanse will receive physical benefits. In contrast with physical cleansing, no
specific substance is added to the diet, thus no internal process to draw a
person's focus to his/her physical comfort. Rather the external process of
attending community service, reading specific passages of holy texts and making
personal offerings begins early in the ceremony. This makes any one persons
process part of a larger community effort to gain clarity and greater
connection with Divine Source presence.
From the beginning a person must modify daily activities to
enact a Spiritual Cleanse. It is said in earth-based medicine, "the entire
natural world supports a fasting person," thus many people will find
themselves more often in nature or the stillness of a holy shrine during the
depths of this season. It is a time apart from the regular flow of social life,
a retreat for contemplation and personal communion.
Another specific difference in spiritual level work is in
giving to others. This may be in the form of financial charity and/or in the focus of prayer. One church community may give
prayer during Lent for a special purpose, such as the seeding of a new church,
while Sun Dancers each carry the prayers of many people from many places in their
time together. In this way each
spiritual cleanse opens a path for a sacrifice of sorts on behalf of others.
Ending a Cleanse
In both physical and spiritual cleanses there are specified
ways to "break the fast" as it were, or end the ceremony. With a sheerly physical processes an individual will certainly have a sensation of
being somewhat different from the people around him/her. Spiritual
communities re-integrate all together after the holy cleanse, thus have a group
of peers to connect with as adjustments to regular life take place. Without
question the people of a spiritual community will grow deeper bonds with each
other through subsequent years.
As a specifically physical process, many secular people do
not cleanse unless it becomes imperative. Those interested preventive medicine proceed with physical cleansing at regular intervals. Variations include one major
cleanse in the spring, several shorter processes each season, one-day fasts into each week for a period, or the removal of specific substances for a few seasons to allow the organs to cleanse naturally. A well-known
adage of the natural medicine world states "the body exhibits symptoms of
illnesses developed four months earlier." Thus anyone tracking his/her
physical fluctuations does well to consider what poisons or remedies were
present in the previous season.
Spiritual cleansing is strongly supported in traditional religious
communities. Anyone who was raised in such community will have witnessed or participated in these cleanses in childhood,
and will certainly feel compelled to find his/her personal commitment to the
ceremony as an adult. On one level these deep spiritual traditions serve to prevent
habits injurious to physical health. However, for anyone who was not raised in these
customs, the first enactment of orthodox Lent may have profoundly difficult
results. Thus anyone wishing to begin this sort of cleanse does well to
consider the experiences he/she was raised in and gauge the level of intensity
accordingly.
Seek Support
As illustrated above, all cleansing for physical or spiritual health involves some education. Anyone who wishes to start one or both processes is wise to seek the support of people who have a history with that process. There are countless resources on physical cleansing available both online and at natural food stores, and many doors open for a person seeking to engage on a spiritual path. My first suggestion is for a person to connect with resources and communities that have a sense of familiarity, common purpose or similar background. Secondly, once the commitment to cleanse has been made, see it through to the end. Attend to all the steps involved. Even if it is a bumpy ride, a person's first cleanse is quite possibly the most important act in improving his/her health.
