Experiencing the Divine Through Fasting

I’ve just completed a 24 day water fast. I began this fast because I was overwhelmed with uncontrollable feelings of mental confusion; I felt out of whack spiritually and my physical body was literally falling apart. I kept a journal of this fast so I could track how things were progressing and I will be pasting into this post some of my thoughts along the way, though as a disclaimer I am in no way suggesting anyone do a fast of this type or for this length of time without a physician’s supervision.

 Here is day 3:

I’m mucousy, my head feels stuffed with dirty socks and I feel not good, rather weak and achy. I think as I read over what I have written thus far that when I go out for whatever reason…that alone is a signal, a trigger of some sort. I notice the billboards and the signs on restaurants etc. Maybe I need to stay home but that will drive me crazy besides, praying is my only defense, my protector from self is Source.

Day 4

Woke up slowly, quite drowsy. Took care of animals, making tea, mind is settled though it is constantly evaluating how I am feeling so maybe it is not so settled.  So much of my eating is just habitual. ~~~a little later~~~had tea and just now and had vegetable broth because I was hungry. Went to Ricky’s to get my hair colored and cut.  While I was there I was soooo drowsy I could barely stay awake and I couldn’t talk about anything, my brain is totally dull. Then I went to Walmart to get a body brush so I can brush my skin as recommended. I was badly craving a cracker or something while I was driving there. I wanted a cookie or a cracker or some kind of carb.  I know all this is fasting related. As I sit here typing this I feel fuzzy behind my eyes and pressure at the third eye area. Weird.

So as you can see, I entered this experience with much unawareness. But as the days progressed, things began to reveal themselves to me little by little. I began to feel much better but it did take awhile.

Day 5

I woke up this morning MUCH more alert and ready to get up. I even tried going back to bed but my mind was thinking about all the things I could be doing so…….!!! I’ve taken care of animals, washed dishes, fertilized a little bit, made tea. I have noticed an achiness in my legs for some reason. I think toxins might be gathering there. I do feel a little hungry but it will pass.

I discovered that the toxins did indeed gather in my large muscle groups. I went to get a massage which helped enormously and soaked every day for the first 10 days in Epsom salts. I also purchased Smartwater which has electrolytes so the extreme fatigue dissipated.

Day 6

I’m craving sugar or a carb or something so, so bad so I stopped and bought a small apple struedel.  I cut a piece about the size of a postage stamp. OH MY GOD!!! the sugar in that thing just about knocked me on my butt and I only had a tiny portion, not even a portion really, just a bite. It felt like a drug going into my veins. 1 ½ hr later and I still feel completely icky. My vision is squirrelly and I’m sleepy again and this after such a small amount. YIKES!!! Whether it was the sugar or the wheat…most likely the sugar…I do not wish a repeat performance of that !!! I am sincerely shocked at how awful I continue to feel after that bite of pastry. It’s now been almost 3 hrs and I feel horrible, almost depressed, so sleepy. It’s like I took poison!!!

~~~later~~~ I got up and went to a meeting. Toward the end I realized I was hurting a lot, my back and shoulders and legs and even my hands. So I came home, walked dogs, took advil, soaked in Epsom salts, made tea. I guess as the body goes through toxin dump I feel it in waves. I actually had a pretty darn good day until my sugar episode…then I kinda hit the wall again. Crashed into the wall!!!

Looking back to that first week of the fast, it’s obvious that had I stuck to just the water, I would not have suffered so much physically. But yet, I, Linda, needed these lessons to experience the deleterious effects of sugar, so I’m glad I journeyed in the manner that I did.

Day 7

Woke up pretty alert but in quite a bit of discomfort, very achy and sore in my glutes and back. Drinking tea and water. I don’t want to take advil but… regardless of what others may say, I clearly have tons of toxins in my cells and organs and I AM going to get rid of as much as possible. ~~~a little later~~~ so here I sit on my bed really not feeling too well in the body but pretty excited in my mind as I know when I emerge from the end of this I will be like new inside and out. There is something magical about knowing that fact. Still drinking water and tea.(By the way, the tea mentioned is an herbal blend, it has no tea leaves in it at all) I also pulled out all my old dresses…there are some beautiful ones I hope I can fit into soon.

So the magic has begun. I’m starting to feel more clear in my thinking. My awareness of Spirit is deeper and my connection to nature is unsurpassed. I spent many hours just sitting in my outdoor sanctuary breathing in all that is. It was pure bliss. I know that I am more than blessed to be able to do this. My cup runneth over.

Day 8

I feel pretty good, slightly fuzzy. An interesting effect of this fast is that I want to research recipes for when I’m done and I don’t even know when that will be. I want to design an eating plan that works for Linda’s body and one that I can afford as well as enjoy. Not a negative but I find it interesting that my mind is so obsessed with food. At least today, though I noticed taco bell and wendy’s and mcdonalds, I didn’t feel the car wanting to pull over. This is a great relief. I’ve had a struggle with that up to now. I have to say here that I do feel weak…it doesn’t take much exertion to tire me. I don’t know if that will follow me through the entire fast.

Day 10

Woke up alert and refreshed. Noticed the pain in my left index finger joint was completely gone. Morning routine. Got ready for church…looked great, clothes fitting better.

Day 12

YAY down 14 lbs!!!!!!Starting to see little differences. My face looks thinner, the top of my hips look better, good stuff.  Slept well last night woke up easily, got up pain free YAY again.

Day 14

Woke up alert, very first thought was: MY BODY IS DIVINE! IT IS SACRED AND HOLY! WOW that was a huge awareness because before, though I may have said those words, that was all they were: words. This time the awareness came from within, from a depth I am in awe of, and I felt them as the Truth! Things are coming slowly to me during this fast and I may as well accept that AND welcome what comes and when.

As I hope you can see, it took some serious cleaning out and cleansing before I could sense, feel and know truth. I now understand why spiritual teachers have used fasting to deepen their awareness of God. I feel privileged to join their ranks. The words that came to me on day 14 were powerful and so very worth the discomfort that preceded them.

Day 18

Good day…nothing really much to report. Did well with water. Feel

Awesome.

I ended the fast on day 24 because I no longer felt well enough to continue. My body (which is not a young body) was calling to me for more nutrition. I am now juicing which appeals to my needs. I did lose 20 lbs in that 24 days which is thrilling. I feel phenomenal and will DEFINITELY water fast again.

The greatest reward is a new sense of clarity in my thinking, greater peace and above all, knowing with utmost certainty that my Source is as close as my breath.