Curious About Fasting?

Have you ever thought about fasting? If you’re at all into health, wellness, or, even YouTube, it’s likely the concept has crossed your awareness. However, most videos and articles that talk about fasting speak only about the physical impact and experience. They do a great job explaining so I’m going to talk about something else — the mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of fasting.

I will share my story of fasting in hope that it expands your mind about what is possible for you. Fasting is definitely something you should do only if you truly feel it deep within. Not because you read about some person on the internet who had a great experience.

It was a snowy Wednesday morning in Czech Republic. On this particular day, I opened an email from medium.com that included the daily roundup of articles I might like. This was unusual behavior as I rarely, if ever, open those emails. I scrolled down and an article titled “A Complete Guide to Doing a 10-day Fasting Retreat” grabbed my attention. I felt connected to it but I didn’t know why. Anyway, I opened it. It was honestly the best article I had ever read about fasting. It felt like the article was written for me! But, fear kicked in, and halfway through the article its voice said, “I’m not capable of not eating!” Listening to the fear, I closed the article and put my phone away. Thankfully, Universe stepped in. That day was not the day it served me to listen to my fear!

I made my way to the living room and lit a candle. I “heard” the angel cards on the windowsill calling my name so I picked them up. I opened the deck and before I could shuffle, one card popped out of the deck. I knew it was “the one”.

The heading on the card read: Cleansing and detoxification. “Ok”, I thought, “It’s time”.

Six months prior, I had gotten the same cleansing and detoxification card. I knew my inner wisdom was guiding me to fast, however, fear covered that right up. Instead, it chose a baby step, an attempt at detox. Something it could wrap its figurative head around, something it could be semi-comfortable with. Sugar.

I decided to do a 13 day “sugar detox” — no fruit, no honey, no agave, no pure sugar, no date syrup, etc. As someone who added honey to their daily tea, and ate copious amounts of bananas due to a true smoothie love, it was a slight challenge and definitely shook my habits. I hoped my efforts matched the request of cleansing and detoxing. That the lesson was addressed and learned.

Less than three weeks later, I was faced with the truth. I did not learn the lesson. For “cleansing and detoxification” came to me. Again. “Oh no! Fasting!”, fear shrieked. My body got tense, my breath shallow, and worry spread across my forehead. Fear continued: “Universe, literally, how can you expect me to fast!? I can’t do that! Anything but this. Please! Anything but this.”

I clearly wasn’t ready to open my mind, so, in true fear fashion, it deviously found a new thing to detox — caffeine. Fear made up a story that having one cup of tea a day is just too much (I don’t drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages). It advised me that this card is definitely bringing my attention to this serious issue and I must go on a caffeine detox, pronto!

I didn’t drink of caffeine for two weeks. Of course, it was a nice experience and I learned that I drank caffeinated tea as an unconscious habit. Drinking a caffeinated beverage in the morning was what I saw growing up, and in movies and TV shows. The caffeine detox did serve a purpose, but, deep down, I knew I did not face the entirety of the lesson that presented itself.

Fast forward 5 months and the lesson presented itself again. Upon seeing the card, I knew I hadn’t learned the lesson. For the message stops appearing when the lesson is complete.

This time, though, I surprised myself. Instead of responding with fear, I responded with confidence. Instead of thinking that this lesson has come as a punishment or to cause me pain, I knew it was coming to serve my highest good. Even if I didn’t understand exactly how. I saw the card and immediately agreed — “Ok, I’m going to fast”.

Not only was this the third time this card presented itself to me, I was also going through a trying time in my career and immense growth in my mind, spirit and relationships. On top of that, it was the start of the new year and I was about to finish menstruation (another form of cleansing for women). With all this going on, I knew the fast was held great reward even though fear from the fast said otherwise. I kept my mind open to what that reward could be.

I finished reading Eva’s article and chose to fast for 3 days. That’s what my inner wisdom (not fear) knew was the right amount of time for me. For those three days I drank water and unsweetened herbal tea. At midday I drank warm, homemade vegetable broth and room temperature, diluted carrot or beet juice in the evening.

My Experience

Transitional Phase — Day Before the Fast:

The night before I would fast for the first day, I changed my thoughts and beliefs. I said out-loud that fasting is a fun, enjoyable and easy experience. I felt this to be true in my heart as I said it. Then, I set my intention to receive the gifts and learn the lessons for which this fast came into my life.

These are two very important things to do to set yourself up for a wonderful experience beyond your imagination. Doing so allows the experience be what it’s meant to, instead of what your fear projects. Also, it enables you to keep on keepin’ on in the face of challenge.

Day 1 of Fasting:

To my surprise, I was not hungry at all, nor did I even have a desire to consume food. I realized that just because I had strong thoughts and fears about something, doesn’t mean it’s true or that it would be my experience.

My activities for the day included meditating, taking a bath, dry brushing, trimming my nails, tongue scraping, reading, lying down, practiced energy healing for my upcoming clients, and even cooking dinner for my boyfriend later in the evening.

Physical changes: my skin was glowing, my eyes were clear, no puffiness under my eyes or on my face.

Emotional/mental/spiritual changes: my mind was SO CLEAR. I felt total inner peace. There was no tension in my thoughts. No fear. No worry. No doubt. Joy radiated from me.

Day 2 of Fasting:

Physical: I woke up and performed my self care rituals the same as the day before — tongue scraping, dry brushing, bath, meditation, etc. I noticed my skin was glowing even more and I saw the peace and calm within me reflected in the mirror.

Emotional/mental/spiritual: I was quiet and kept to myself most of the day. Talking and engaging took so much energy. Also, I was very introspective — questioning my life, my path, the next step, the deeper purpose for this fasting, how did I get to where I am today, all the good stuff.

To my surprise, I didn’t experience hunger or the desire for food all day.

Day 3 of Fasting:

Physical: I woke up feeling totally weak. My body was shaking until the afternoon. The glowing skin and bright eyed woman that I saw in the mirror the previous days was now lacking life, color and glow. I had huge bags under my eyes. I looked and felt like a bus had hit me. My entire body hurt. Getting up from the bed and sitting down on the toilet felt more challenging than running a mile.

Emotional/mental/spiritual: The only thing I could do this day was read. I laid in bed from morning until night and read. I did take a 10 minute break for meditation. I stopped around 10 minutes because I could not longer hold my body up due to feeling so weak. Even though this sounds like a challenging day, I still felt great peace inside. All the answers to my previous day’s inquiry were being answered.

At night, before sleeping, I did feel hunger for the first time on the fast. I think my body was preparing itself to digest the next day’s food.

Transitional Phase — The Day After Fasting:

I woke up at 4:00am. Clearly, my body was very excited to eat. I laughed and honored its wish.

These early morning hours are wonderful for meditating, as the energy of the world is calm, so I miraculously mustered up the strength to sit up for a 10 minute mediation. Then, I broke my fast with an apple. I had a raw apple and ate very slowly. I read on the internet varying opinions about whether the fruit should be raw or cooked. I decided to go with the raw but it wasn’t the best for my stomach. I would choose slightly cooked next time.

About 5 hours later, I ate boiled cauliflower and parsnips, without salt. I ate slowly and appreciated the simplicity. I wondered why we put salt or seasoning on anything because alone, the vegetables have so much beauty and deliciousness to offer. I felt good after eating them. My body digested the food easily and well.

When I was hungry for my third meal, I had a smoothie and cashews. That’s what my body said it wanted. I read online that people advised against both smoothies and nuts on the day of breaking fast due to the necessity to eat easily digestible and low sugar foods. But, from experience, I know that I know my body best. I decided to trust my gut and eat what I felt. It was a good choice because I had no difficulty digesting and I felt really good after eating them.

The takeaways I want to leave you with:

• If you are going through a big change in your life, a 3 day fast can be a wonderful tool to help you reflect, see clearly, and transition into your new phase of life.
• If you feel like you really need to connect with yourself, set that intention, and let the fast help you do so.
• If you feel an inner nudge to fast, try it. I recommend 3 days maximum to start so you can learn about yourself and what’s best for you. Instead of thinking someone else’s journey can be the map to your own.
• Remember, we are each unique. When reading about someone else’s experience on the internet to gather knowledge for you own, let it be your guidepost, not your truth. Learning from other’s allows us to gain clarity on our own inner wisdom.
• If you have a desire to fast just because someone else did it, I would rethink doing so. I share my journey leading up to my fast so you can evaluate the synchronicity and signs in your own life that point to the fast serving you in the highest and best way.
• Fasting for one day felt best for me. I’m curious to incorporate more frequent one day cleanses and see if it positively impacts my total wellbeing.
• The guide I followed for fasting recommended walking and light yoga during the fast but that was not something that felt good to me during my fast. Honor your body and your needs. Just because an article says something, doesn’t mean you have to follow it if it doesn’t feel right for you.
• The guide I followed also suggested using a laxative and an enema. These didn’t feel like the right option for me this time so I didn’t use them.
• Inform whoever you live with that you will be fasting. If you are the chef of the house, precook meals for your family before you start fasting or organize their meals in another way. Also, inform them that you may be quiet, introspective, weak and in need of rest. Let them know it’s nothing personal against them.

May you, too, experience the mental, emotional and spiritual benefits of fasting.

With a warm heart and well wishes for your self-growth journey,

Samantha