Alcohol And Holism

JULY 19, 1980, 6:23 AM
W. WILLOW, STUDY

You seek still another lesson, o son, to help you with your seminar at Rutgers. I am pleased to offer some more insights which may be helpful as you develop your presentation and formulate your approach. I am a Source that is ever available. Feel free, even compelled, to seek ideas from Me about any number of topics.

The term holism suggests the holy nature of a whole person or thing. It can be applied to alcohol, so let’s try that first. Alcohol affects the physical body, surely, and it also has effects on the mind, the emotions, and the actions of a social group. And, as We have talked about before, it reveals the spirit of a person and of groups. Other beverages don’t have quite this holistic effect. Coffee and tea have some similar consequences, but not as clearly… and more from expectation rather than from actual effect. Water can have a powerful holistic effect, but only in relieving a state of deprivation.

The consequences of this holistic substance are derived from its use by holistic persons. The person has a body, generally with a normal capacity to ingest, absorb, and chemically change and utilize alcohol. She has a mind, cells of which are sensitive to alcohol. In complex ways the emotions are potentially altered, and social workings may not be the same. And, most importantly, the nature of the spirit, of the individual or of the group, is revealed and can be further affected by drinking experiences.

The folks coming to your seminar will certainly know of the negative and destructive effects. For your purposes these are important only as contrast. The focus shall be on the positive. There can be no guarantee that the positive results will be dominant, and it is not easy to maintain them, particularly for some individuals. Different beverages and drinks will have somewhat different effects, so let’s use beer, your favorite beverage, as an example.

It provides some calories and has some other food values. It can have a cold, refreshing effect, can diminish thirst, and can give pleasant sensations through taste and carbonation. It dilates blood vessels and, through its action in the brain, effects relaxation of muscles. The feeling can be a nice “slowed down”, less tense one. In the amounts we are considering there is no dangerous effect on coordination, reaction, and senses.