“…the ‘asceticism’ inherent in warrior discipline: the ability to see reality , suppressing every particularistic haughtiness, every irrational affectation , every ephemeral pride; scorn the comfortable life and for materialistic ideas of well-being; a style of simplicity, audacity and conscious force, in the common effort, on all planes.” ~ Julius Evola, Metaphysics of War

Cleansing can be an arduous process. To some, it comes easier than others but chaos seems to reign. Disorganization, scattered thoughts and an unfocused will. Various distractions act as leaches taking attention in every direction but the one leading higher.

Weaving one’s life into an ordered whole is far more art than science and is one that is despised by modernity. In taking authority over one’s own life you are usurping something that a counterfeit world believes does not belong to you. The modern world says that you are a bundle of inscrutable biological processes, psychological neuroses and cultural influence. The world of quantities feels it needs to corral these various bundles and direct them to purely material ends. In daring to assert and follow an interior discipline one becomes something else, something ungovernable by a world dedicated to the erasure of the spirit.

The ascetic discipline in the hebdomad aims at cultivating an interior silence through self-denial for a higher cause and transformation. In taking up austerities you will find inner tension. You can see it play out in the scores of people who fall off of diet, exercise, and other resolutions. It’s unlikely that you will be lucky enough to be exempt from such turmoil. However, if you take the time to reflect on the inner conflict you may find odd moments of illumination in noticing how the self is divided: simultaneously wishing for the challenge of mortification while constantly sabotaging its own efforts. This is part of weaving an ordered whole. While ego is often used in a negative sense the Christian path does not call for the annihilation of the ego. Rather asceticism seeks to legitimize and yoke the waking self with legitimate authority. One must contend with what’s been given and care for and refine the raw material of the body, mind, and the spirit.

To move on to practical methods. For any Templar, a base requirement was always a high degree of physical fitness and austerity in diet. There are veritable reams of information regarding these methods. Every other week or even day there are new training methods and diets promising the world. Enough to overwhelm just about anyone starting to take training seriously. There is little historical evidence of how the Templars would have trained but for the purposes of a modern fourth order something resembling a combat sport oriented strength and conditioning system with added training for ruck marches over extended distances would match the spirit of the training demanded of the order. There would be a benefit in having a Templar group following a common training program to build cohesion as well as having certain common benchmarks to assess fitness. How this will take shape will need to be revisited later on.

If you spend enough time in these circles you’ve likely realized that a modern western diet is largely unhealthy and the cause of a variety of maladies. The original Templars were monks who took vows and had a fairly austere diet. The diet of the Order was of course less severe than their Cistercian counterparts due to rigours of training and combat. A fourth order would not necessarily follow the severity of the middle ages but would carry it on in spirit and find new and unexpected benefits. Diet is something all humans require and in following and eschewing the typical processed fare you will find yourself set yourself apart in a marked and noticeable way. It will be inconvenient at times and time consuming. These small times can act as reminders of the path you’ve set upon and a reminder of the burdens it requires. Things as seemingly simple as communal home cooked meals become an exercise in differentiation from the modern world. It will be worth it.

Fasting has been a cornerstone of ascetic practice and would have a large part in a new order. There have been numerous recent studies and articles relating to the health benefits of what’s been called intermittent fasting. These should be seen as a tertiary benefit and should not take away from the primary purpose of being a tool of gaining authority over our base elements and honoring Divinity. As a start one should begin to follow the traditional rules of fasting and abstinence in either the Catholic or Orthodox traditions. As one advances extended fasts can be implemented.

Physical training and diet are the two physical systems of the ascetic discipline. There can be a great deal of mental and physical depth to both of them. One can learn to fast mentally which is often far more difficult. But our bodies cannot be neglected and offer a less ephemeral tool for development. For now, this excursion can act as an initial exploration of the ascetic discipline.