Posted by Bernard J. Tyrrell (147.222.56.79) on February 03, 2008 at 19:48:53:

If I experience First Week desolation I need to get at the roots of the desolation and let go of these "roots."  If, for example, I discover that my desolation stems from envy I need to understand (diagnostic discerning) that my desolation is flowing from envy and is making me unhappy or desolate.  In the moment of diagnostic discernment I need to experience that my envious thoughts are making me sad and this should then lead to a free releasing or letting go of these envious thoughts (the actual fasting).  Of course, it is not enough to release these existentially invalid thoughts but I need to replace them with life giving thoughts.  This is where appreciative discernment comes into play.  For example, what is the authentic remedy or replacement for thoughts of envy that are released in the mind-fasting phase.  The remedy is to reach authentic understanding that thoughts of rejoicing about the God-given qualities of the person I envy is the best thought I can prayerfully seek to replace the evil motions I am now fasting from.  Clearly affectivity is involved here and this is where the sevenfold process of the healing and education of feelings comes into play.  You can read about them in the chapter on anxiety and fear in Christotherapy.  Our thoughts in these areas are always laden with affectivity. 

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