What Would You Fast For?

Join me, won't you?

Hi, All,

I’m writing to let you know of a practice I have started, and would like to invite you to consider as well. I don’t belong to a religious fasting tradition, but I find that fasting as an active meditation has some real benefits. So I have begun a weekly fast to bring my attention to something going on in the world that I care about.

Each week I choose a day I think I can go 24 hours without eating solid food. And the reason I have to look for a day is because this is easier to do if you don’t have lunch meetings or breakfast visits or other meal- or food-centered activities.

I consider what is going on in this country or elsewhere, and choose a subject I will think about and learn more about during the fasting time. For example, in my first fast, I concentrated my thoughts on the plight of Ukraine, and throughout the day, whenever I thought about eating, I was reminded of the suffering there. Each time, it prompted me to send a few words of healing or prayer their way.

After fasting this way for a few weeks, here is what I have found:

• It isn’t as hard as you might think, especially if you stay busy all day.

• The urge to eat something is usually based on habit more than on real hunger.

• You can tailor the fast to your needs: a 12-hour fast, 2-hour, 24-hour, whatever works best for you.

I define my fast as avoiding solid food during the period. That means I can drink water, tea, etc., I can have soup or broth, or even ice cream. The idea isn’t austerity, it is focus.

As an added element, I take a small stone or coin, and hold that while I’m choosing and reading about my subject, then keep that stone or coin with me the rest of the time. It is a marvelous tactile reminder of the spiritual task.

KNOW YOUR HEALTH: do not do this if you have any precluding medical issues, obviously. Please consult your doctor before fasting. But if you are able to do so, I think you might find a practice such as this beneficial.

For me it is spiritual, not religious. But you can define it however you wish.

Each week I will post here to let you know which day I’m fasting, and which subject. You may join me on the time and topic, or select your own for that week. Whatever you do, please leave a comment and let me know how it’s going for you.

Thanks!

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash