- because I’m worth it?

‘Because you’re worth it’ is surely the advertising slogan that encourages our most narciccistic instincts. And - shame on them! - it’s underpinned by the unspoken message, ‘You’re only as good as your outward appearance and that’s how you’ll be judged’ - and Gods help us all if that were true!

I often wonder which of the strange-looking Hollywood greats - Jimmy Cagney et al - who were too short, too tall, too gawky, too big or had an …unusual… physiognomy, would get a chance of stardom in the 21st century. Not many, I fear.

Jimmy Durante: a huge star of yesteryear - no Brad Pitt looks, but talent needs no airbrush. Attribution: Harry Warnecke, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

But this blog and the video, when you have a minute or nine to listen to it, is about a different sort of being ‘worth it’. It’s about acknowledging the worth and need for appreciation of every part of our body. So much of our attention is focussed on the spirit (good) which we try to access through mind exercises (goodish; 10 for effort) that we might completely neglect the organic mysteries that keep us breathing, digesting, eliminating, moving. How ungrateful is that.

Briefly, the video is a reading from ‘Care of the Soul’ by the wonderful thinker Thomas Moore. He posulates that our body expresses the state of the soul; that all discussions of soul include the concept of pleasure; that our organs are not just functions, but have their own erotic sensibilities. Wow!

Has your neck ever become depressed by the feeling of polyester??? Does your soul long for the caress of soft flannel, silk or linen and are you listening when your body trys to pass on its message??

No image of a hurty-neck available with an over-50s model: sorry folks, it’s a sign of the times.

Intrigued by these ideas? Reaching out in imagination even now to say a quick thank you to your toes as you wiggle them? Listen to the reading and see what you think; and I’d love to hear your comments.

A very Happy and Druidic New Year to all.

And now my soul is speaking through my instincts: it needs me to follow the ancient customs of Somerset this month, so I’ll be out singing to the apple trees very soon.

Wassail, Drink Hail!