Here is February’s Nourishing Storm theme post on desire.  Go see what all’s doing over at the Storm.

My view on this month’s theme is conflicted. Desire. It drives me towards my goals. But one of my of spiritual goals is to be desireless. How can this be reconciled? In digging deeper and reading for inspiration, I stumbled upon a post that spoke directly to my condition.  I believe I found my reconciliation.

Desire is a bit of a double edged sword. On one hand it serves to motivate and excite me, propelling me to new depths of spirit and heights of emotion. But desires when overindulged can create holding patterns in my life. Desires can lead to addiction and continued instant gratification of desires can leave me stuck in a rut on my journey of growth. Addiction and constant instant gratification. One hijacks the body and dulls the soul and the other decays gratitude and interrupts the dialogue with my heart.

So it would seem I either find myself ignited by desire or consumed. And even if I utilize the energy of desire for its purpose, a call to action, I can still go astray. These motivating desires if allowed to play too long with the imagination can wreak a havoc of their own. Visiting dreams too long can begin to be comfortable and more enticing than reality at times. The desire can become an escape instead of a direction. Or if I let desire carry me away in my mind to the point where the next step isn’t foreseeable, my most noble and worthy desires can become tainted by worry and fear. So I must linger only long enough to light the flame. When utilized correctly, the desire that inspires and motivates does just that and I feel renewed in purpose and focus, and determined and excited to make it happen.

But again, on the other edge of the sword, the easily overindulged desires – usually temporary and visceral – cannot be always denied. They need to be recognized, accepted, and some occasionally fed. These desires aren’t bad unless in feeding them I give my power away or I weaken my integrity or harm another. Some do none of these things. At its best, feeding a spontaneous desire could lead to blissful moments of pure love and presence.

Desires are as multidimensional as people. To master the art of sustained passion in my life hinges greatly upon the wisdom to discern which passions are sustainable. Which desires resonate with my most authentic self? Which open my heart to feed my soul? And which, once fed, bring peace and gratitude? Yes, I must feed these desires and feed them well.

I see the balance clearly now. My reconciliation. A pure desire, one that can exist in my heart in harmony with my truest self, will amplify appreciation in my life. And once fulfilled, it will bring a clarity and bliss that transcends all desire.

We mustn’t wish to be desireless but wish to live passionately. We can measure our desires by the test of our Truths. And in the quiet moments of reflection at the end of the day, if we have given our souls food that endures, food with true and deep sustenance, that small voice that speaks in the silence will sing to us of Love. And our hearts will answer back in kind.

Dream madly with Love in your heart, wild darling.   “The desire to know your own soul will end all other desires.” Rumi