Alas, the faithless has found a new religion.
Sage smudging, dream meditation, soup cleanse, and adaptogen elixirs are the amongst the hottest health and wellness trends in 2017
Wellness, just like religion, happily employs fear to motivate and dispenses reward for good behavior. Avoid this, that, and all those or you will suffer. Do this, and you will be well. Abstain from that and you’ll feel better.
Just as like religion, wellness’ illustrious gurus, masters, and practitioners demand our devotion. Green juicers, vegans, vegetarians, macrobiotics, raw-foodies, Paleolithic hunter-gatherers, low-carbers, …… “We are what we eat” has taken a whole new dimension, and a moralistic bent.
Just as religion requires faith, wellness thrives in the absence of evidence and unquestioned beliefs. Science, technology and tangible proofs are, once again, the enemy. Nature, traditions, mantras, healing stones, magic pills and potions reign supreme.
Just as all religious devotees inevitably fail to live up to the unattainable standards of their faiths, all well-meaning wellness devotees stumble and blame lack of will-power for their fall.
Just as religions condemn the body as unclean, wellness preaches that our bodies are our enemies. Dirty, decaying, imperfect forms that mock and make us miserable. And so, we look elsewhere, everywhere, to fix, mend, heal our weak, broken, abused, and misused bodies. Buying into the hype, clinging to the hope that an enlightened master, or a wretched detox will save, redeem, and cleanse us.
And, just as all religions are man-made, wellness is a 20th century invention and the 21st century new religion
The truth is, just as the pursuit of happiness is an inalienable human right, being well is a birthright.
There is nothing to attain. Our internal systems work tirelessly, proficiently, and astonishingly to maintain, preserve, ensure not only our survival, but our triumph as a species.
Ignore the confusing, contradicting, complicated and damning commandments. Follow one simple rule: “do no harm”. Your body knows best. Know your body.
3 Responses