Why is alcohol called spirits? What drink and drugs do to the spirit

Have you ever wondered why we call alcohol "spirits"? The word comes from old distilling, where the spirit was the essence drawn out of the liquid. The more I see in my work, the more fitting that name feels, because drink or drugs taken heavily seem to do the very same thing to a person. They draw the essence out.

"That's not them"

I see this most often through my clients, who come to me worried about someone they love. A son, a partner, a brother or a friend who is using a lot, and who just doesn't seem like themselves any more. When I tune in, their spirit is often sitting slightly to the side of their body instead of fully inside it. Sometimes what's left in charge feels vacant, as though nobody is quite home. Sometimes it feels like a harsher energy that isn't really them at all. If you've ever looked at someone you love and thought "that's not them", you may have been seeing exactly this.

The person is still there

What I want you to know is that the person is still there. I believe almost everyone is love at their core, and while life, pain and the way our human brains cope can pull someone a long way from it, that love doesn't disappear. With their soul's permission asked first, I can do a clearing that focuses on the soul and not the behaviour, gently inviting their spirit back into the driver's seat. It isn't a cure, but sometimes it gives a person just enough clarity to reach for the help they need.

My own path

For my own part, life has gently led me away from alcohol altogether, and even coffee, simply because I came to prefer how I felt without them. That's my path, not a rule for anyone else. This is really an invitation to notice, both how these things affect the people around you, and how being close to someone who isn't fully present affects you.

Support is always there

And if someone you love is in the thick of it, please know that support is always there, whether that's spiritual or practical, through healers, doctors, counsellors and local services. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is help them find the door.

If someone you love has come to mind, I offer clearings for loved ones, always with their soul's permission, and sessions to help you stay steady while you support them. See how healing sessions work.