DESIRE

[MASS]

"Desire".......It is to be defined as a call to action. It is my belief that all creatures except man, live by doing whatever their immediate desires prompt them to do.

For animals and other entities, instinct provides an automatic response to every desire, the call to action specifies the action required and instinct automatically provides it. For man, desire is a call to action also, but what action is called for is not specified. There is no predetermined appropriate response to any desire, there is only " desire". Before we can respond to desire, we must discover the nature of the desire; what is required to fulfill it, and what are the consequences of quenching it? After we know all these things, there is still may not be any action.

For us there is no direct connection between desires and actions. The missing connection is "instinct." Fortunately, we are volitional beings, which means, to act at all, even to do what our desires prompt us to do, we must consciously choose to do it. Although, desires seem to play the same essential role in us as they do in all creatures, defined, desire is a motivator for behavior.

This behavioral distinctive characteristic in us distinguishes us from all other forms of life and determines those aspects of human nature which are "uniquely" human traits, the ability and necessity to live by conscious choice. It means that everything a human being does and everything he thinks he must engage by choice. Every act is a chosen act, "No choice, no action", regardless of the desire... For mankind, desire is about choice.

To choose one must have a reason to choose. I do not mean a reason to make a particular choice, but a reason to choose at all. Desires, as we experience them, as all feelings are involuntary, we are not responsible for our desires just conscious of them.

But now we must ask ourselves, What is "desire" ? Some, more appropriately call them biological drives or urges , or even emotional feelings. But before we can desire anything, we must learn that it exists !!! (No one is born with a desire for a burger and fries). We usually associate desire with a feeling, a passion or an urge, but "real" desire is intellectual, rather than emotional. All desires depend on the content of consciousness, both our immediate perceptions, as well as, and more importantly, our conceptual consciousness.

Remember, ....Desires should not create inner conflicts in our minds ,our conscious thoughts should be in perfect harmony with our desires. In reversing this process and attempting to make our knowledge, our understanding, and our values conflict our desires, is the main cause of all emotional instability and irrational behavior. Desires are not our enemies, they are our means of enjoying life......Blessed Be...MASS

[MASS]

Yes this is true, but it still remains our choice to act upon our desires, does it not? Indulging implies excessive compliance and weakness in gratifying one's own desires. People make it a point to fight their desires satisfying their sense of guilt of what they deem acceptable to what they feel they deserve. Society seems to set the rule as to what is appropriate for us as a whole. Thus, other feelings come into play, "guilt", "shame"..etc. at that point we develop another "desire".....( not to show weakness of the last desires)...Then we will have so many desires and emotions running through us, our heads will explode, as we have the desire to comply to society once more...Again, a choice!!!....BB....MASS

Dream said:

Very interesting discussion Mass. True, desires are about the enjoyment of life. But sometimes indulging our every desire is a bad thing. That's how we get spoiled brats. :)

[Moonsmith]

I do not agree with this assumption or premise: "It is my belief that all creatures except man, live by doing whatever their immediate desires prompt them to do."

I have seen animals plan and plot. I have seen them play when there is enough. I have even seen them plot murder (simians). I have seen them plan theft and distraction. I believe your premise seems too simple. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you. If so, the I apologize.

Desire was originally based on need. Need to survive. Once needs have been met, then wants can be addressed. Remember the old tale about the Ant and the Grasshopper? The Grasshopper played all day while the Ants stored food for the Winter. When it came time to seal up for the Winter, Grasshopper found himself without resource and facing imminent death.

Though true, one does need to address a being's level of consciousness. A Grasshopper will seem to be less conscious than a Dog or a Cat. But even a Grasshopper will try and find a burrow or place to hide out in for upcoming hard times where they can go dormant and if the situation is not too extreme, possibly survive.

Desires or Wants do have a place in our lives. But they are not the totality of what our survival is dependent on. We all need food, water, shelter, clothing, warmth, breathable atmosphere, correct environmental pressure and so forth. When the need is met, we can look at the want.

Looking at the want gives us opportunity to enhance the quality of life. Yes, we have food. But now that we have food, we can look for ways to enhance the food. Better cooking techniques, spices, different food group additions and so forth. These are all wants. But eventually we can become dependent on these and they can become needs in some cases.

The difference between a Want and a Need is one of survival. Would you be able to survive without it? Yes? Then it is a want. So, this also adds in things we might otherwise take for granted. Things like eyeglasses, certain medicines, specific treatments and so forth. But it's individual. We have become complex enough in our personal and societal structure that some things that were only previously thought of as wants have become needs to some of us.

[El Bee Kanobe]

I don't think of Desire as a a bad thing we should try to suppress or as something we only need as a survival tool or as something which must create an inner conflict. I think of Desire as essential in order to make effective magick. If you don't desire something, you cannot manifest it. Desire is the first step of the Magickal Equation.



Susan said:

My short version: A desire is a longing, craving, a wish for something. How is it possible to not have inner conflict when you can not fulfill that longing, craving or wish?