Getting Started with Fasting

I get asked some very good questions - often, and yesterday was no exception. This is one I have talked about before and go into extensively in my book The Pagan Diet, however I will mention it here as well for those of you wanting to get started on some fasting.

Fasting is easy - it truly is mind over matter. Actually eating, fasting, and perhaps nearly all of our healing must get through the filters of the mind first in order to have a positive effect on the rest of our beings. 

To fast for me has come to mean - a day, or a few days (or many!) of being completely focused on walking my spiritual path, the tasks set out before me or pursuing my hearts desires. Nothing before in my life has enabled me to walk forward with undivided attention such as the time spent fasting.

To get started on a fast, first of all don't spend too much time thinking about it or planning for it. Just mention casually to yourself the day before, tomorrow I will fast. And then mull these words over for the rest of the day.

The next morning, get up and eat nothing. Drink some hot water with a bit of fresh organic lemon squeezed into it, clear herbal teas or just stay on fresh, untreated well/spring water all day. Don't spend a lot of time thinking about food, or hunger. 

An empty stomach and hunger are two completely different things - one is mental and the other is physical. For the most part, not many of us in our Western world have experience either of these, a little hunger is good for you, your digestive system will get a break and your body will gain clarity. 

One of the reasons I mention above to keep your intentions to yourself, is because you really do not need others opinions wading into your thought process - especially when they are based on fear. Fasting for a few hours is not going to hurt you, in fact it will add to your life and enhance your spirituality.

If a full day fasting sounds like too much to start with - plan on a few hours, 12 hours or 16 - work your way up to 24 or more each time. Once you can do a day, then extend this to two days a week or 30 hours at a time. 

Fasting for each of us will be unique, time spent contemplating our lives, the path we are on and getting better acquainted with ourselves and exercising. It is time well spent! 

Happy Fasting!

April

My own herbal teas! 

Fasting means: No food!

I was reading an article earlier about the new so-called fad diet of fasting. I love this, how when the main stream media doesn't know how to diss something right off, they will refer to it as a fad. What bothered me most was the blatant mis-information pumped out there right off the bat, totally misleading and wrong information not based on any facts.

Of course, right away the many comments on the article were either from people who have incorporated fasting into their lifestyles for religious reasons, stating that it was not a fad, this has been around for thousands of years! Or from people who fast regularly and wanted to point out the many errors in the article.

Hardly a fad...my own experience with fasting started young, again it was practiced as a form of religious self-discipline in the community where I grew up. As an adult I started fasting in 2001, as part of an overall detox program and then I kept going with it for a good few months afterwards because I felt so great.

Of course the rest is history (you can read all about it in my book The Pagan Diet) and now I incorporate fasting as a matter of course in my life - regularly doing Master Cleanses, mini cleanses and fasting days or 'day on/day off' food and fast as I call it.

The one main comment I wanted to make here is the fact that the article I read mentioned eating a bowl of porridge and two salads on the fast days, then food as usual on the other days. I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like fasting to me!

If you consume ANY food, you have broken your fast. Eating a very small amount of food on any given day is what I would refer to as either calorie restriction or starvation. It is not fasting or anything similar to it.

Fasting involves drinking clean (not tap) water from a well or spring, I also include clear herbal teas (not the fruit kind) throughout the day or days as you allow your digestive system a much needed break. 

There are many methods or patterns people have come up with that work for them - but the basics are all the same. No food for the duration, drink clean water and go about your normal activities as per usual. 

On my fasting days I also incorporate a workout - fasting exercise is a great way to burn fat, increase muscle mass in general and you can time these to have a meal once your activity session is finished. I have been doing really well with mixing this up because I incorporate several exercise sessions into my usual routines.

Fasting is as old as the hills and has been practiced for health or spiritual reasons for eons. It is a clean, cheap, easy way to regularize weight, body systems and to gain more energy. I personally find I am far more disciplined in myself as a result and I have fasted (Master Cleanse using a lemon drink) for up to 40 days at a time...

If you haven't tried it, you should. You have everything, including your health to gain.

Have a great day,

April

The Pagan Diet Cover

Holder of the Earth's Dreams...

Today is the day before the big feast tomorrow, and we are fasting contemplating the energy of the coming days - next to Winter Solstice, this is perhaps our biggest feast of the year, one we have been planning for quite some time. It has become sort of a milestone for us for some reason... perhaps it has to do with the special energy of the Blue Moon?

There are many explanations and much folklore around the name and meaning of this type of moon - for us as followers of the earth and her ways, none of this matters. This moon is special not only because it occurs for the second time in the same month, but at harvest time on the cusp of seasonal change - this moon will bring special energy for the earth.

Perhaps the energy itself can be described as 'blue,' it is of a higher frequency and different vibration then usual moon light. For those of us who are tuned into these shifts and earth waves, this entire month has been special.

The earth certainly needs all the positive influences it can get at this time with so much unrest and upheaval, I would welcome these natural occurrences and work with grounding this energy within myself. 

The moon represents something very special, unique and precious to us on this planet, like a mirror for all we do and perhaps the holder of the earth's own dreams - our moon is spreading it's unique magic by shining down on us twice in the month.

And I think that alone is worthy of celebration, honour and reverence. If we do not take the time to notice all around us, welcoming, recognizing new energies, change and wonderful heavenly displays - what on earth are we doing here?

When we honour the earth, enjoy and celebrate our journey around the sun and each of these seasonal  transformations - we re-gain insight, knowledge and touch deeper parts of ourselves in ancient ways. 

Today is a great day to consider your life, all you do and where you want to be, then take action to make that happen.

Have a great day,

April

Nearly full Blue Moon 

A Fasting Day- Mind & Imagination

Today is a fasting day, this is the day that I was looking forward to after all the cooking and eating over the weekend. It feels nice to give my digestion a break and just to reflect back on the last few days of living and being on this path.

Day on/day off fasting has come to mean the time and space that I give myself to digest, reflect and process through all the things that are taking place on so many different levels each and every moment. Walking this path requires commitment and this is one way to carry out my responsibility to myself to make every effort to understand all that is happening both inside and out.

And none being more important then in my mind.

When used properly, our mind is a marvelous tool - of course the molecules, cells and components of the mind are made up from various parts of our bodies and like the rest of us need to first be re-claimed, cleaned up and then brought back into proper functioning.

As I have mentioned here many times and talk about extensively in my book The Pagan Diet, our minds are 90% of the spiritual path, the largest component of fulfilling our dreams and goals and absolutely necessary for all health and healing.

Our minds are elemental parts of ourselves that enable us to become aware of the world (inner and outer) and to understand our experiences. We simply cannot move forward in an aligned, purposeful way without fully integrating an active imagination.

Yet, you would be surprised (or perhaps not) how many people I meet on a daily basis who are actively trying to leave behind their minds, shut them down, detach from them and otherwise disengage the gears of cognitive function.

If you want to move more deeply into the mechanics of how, why (which is all about purpose and destiny) you feel compelled to follow the path you are on and strive to be the person buried underneath all of those toxins, you must bring your mind back from being tucked out of the way.

You cannot become conscious without awareness of the process.

Have a great day,

April

Opening Doors....

Planning My Next Master Cleanse

Today I have been busy once again cooking, tweaking my recipes and eating! I love this part of following The Pagan Diet...but of course I am equally looking forward to getting back to fasting tomorrow as my system has had enough food and there is always more work to be done.

The days spent fasting are as precious as the days enjoying good food - both have important purposes to serve and function in the overall pattern of life to move us forward along our spiritual path in some way. With a food day, all that you eat nourishes you - body, mind and soul. On a fasting day, your body breaks free of contaminants while cleaning out deep levels of the mind and soul.

I don't really have much of a plan yet for this week as far as fasting is concerned, there are some projects that I am working on (and fasting always helps my focus), but, I also have my last 10 day Master Cleanse to do before the end of August - making it 4 MC in four months.

This will start in the next few days in order to be finished before the end of the month which is another full moon. August is a very special month with the only blue moon this year and I have been looking forward to it all year. Lovely energy!

In fact this entire month has been all about shifting, changing and ramping up to something better, different and new. Each of these past few cleanses seem to have been preparing and building me up to this time - dissolving the blocks and obstacles that kept me far too long in a holding pattern.

Right now, I am intrigued by what each day, week and fast will bring me and of course, where I will be when I finish each leg of the journey - and this is a good place to be.

April

Brilliant Blue - colours of summer 

Imagine....If

Imagine if all you had to do (all that was really required of you) was to follow your dreams? Your entire life, the time you are given here on this earth, your energy and all of your focus - was meant to be spent on exploring, understanding, fine tuning and following your heart's desires to the ends of the Universe?

What if each and every day we could get up and intuitively know what to do to create, pursue and build secure foundations on which to grow these dreams and then make them happen. And what if every single person on this planet was provided with a box of fairy dust out of which only good would come for themselves while benefiting many others?

In this world magic for the greater good would be common place, people would accomplish great and still greater things throughout their lifetimes always striving for the best with ever expanding hearts and minds. Delightful dealings of love and heartfelt warmth would abound in this dreamworld. 

How many of us would then be living a life unhappy or dissatisfied with the results of poor planning, lack of energy and failure due to interference from outside sources? If our dreams were standing before us right now would they be crying from neglect, ragged and hungry from lack of input or far worse are they left lying by the roadside of our spiritual path long dead because we have given up on them?

Today is another fasting day for me - I felt that I was onto something deep inside and space was needed to allow this to gently come up to the surface. So, this week I am planning to take a few days and just focus on my fasting, walking, gentle exercise while following a dream into a magical place.

Rarely have I ever taken the time and allowed myself the space to just follow my heart to the final destination and see where it takes me - but this week I am doing just that. Listening and following with an open mind and walking through open doors...

I will keep you posted on where I end up,

April

I believe in a dream

Fasting With A Purpose

These past few days after finishing our last Master Cleanse have been full of change and new happenings. The old patterns and usual occurrences are steadily being broken down making room for healthy foundations in its place.

Today I am getting back to fasting, it has been a  busy few days cooking, gardening, making more jams for winter and all the little things that need to be done in between. So, having a fast day is refreshing and will give me the space to contemplate each of these changes that must be made.

One thing that I have noticed (and want to work on) is how exposed our shadows tend to be with the current way we are living in our society. By this I mean, there are few of us with clearly defined boundaries, allowing others to observe, walk in, and otherwise interfere with our energy fields.

All of this exposure leads to one main thing - a deep sense of insecurity and the fear that goes along with that. It's as if our entire society, way of life has been engineered to keep us in a cycle of inner turmoil and uncertainty about who we truly are and where we are going because the lines between us are blurred. 

Where ever we are lacking clearly defined borders and boundaries, not only do we not know where we stop and start, we also often have no clear idea of what is ours and what is not. Especially in terms of issues, problems and energy.  How could we, when energies bleed into each other mingling and mixing in un-natural ways?

This can play out in many ways within our own lives. For instance, over the years I have met people whose past lives are not their own, who are trying to heal dysfunction that comes in from a family member, who leave loving marriages and partners because they are carrying relationship patterns that do not belong and many others who live a life as someone they are not.

This issue of boundaries is perhaps one of the most common problems facing those who are attempting to walk a spiritual path or to just live their lives as they would like to. Not having clearly defined lines within your energy field is a form of energy dysfunction that leads to well, all of these further dysfunctions and far worse. 

So, what to do about all of this? Well, today, I am doing what I know that I can do - I am fasting, while contemplating healing, shifting and creating strong boundaries. This I know I can do, and I also know fasting will reveal to me the next step in the direction I need to go.

This is fasting with a purpose,

April

July Moon over Leap, West Cork

Another Food Day

Well today is my last food day before I get back to day on/day off intermittent fasting tomorrow. It has been a few days since I finished my last Master Cleanse and I am ready to move on to this next phase. I feel as if I have eaten my fill and am curious now to see what else life has to offer. 

One interesting point with doing these cleanses and living this way always seems to be the energy shifts taking place seemingly constantly. There are changes and new energies rising up to the surface during the MC itself, with some very deep work taking place. 

Then once the 10 days are finished, I always expect this to slow down, however, this time around, things have speeded up in some ways. Perhaps this is simply the stage I am at right now in my own life - it is time for many of these patterns to break open and dissolve. 

Again, I cannot mention this enough - living and following The Pagan Diet© has changed everything for me, my entire being (body, mind and soul) has come back into alignment and I am different to who and what I was. 

Last night was a rare night when I actually went to bed early and then proceeded to sleep deeply into a night of many dreams. One of the most memorable dreams was of myself and my husband lifting the cover off of a capped water well, then hearing a noise as blue flame rose up from the water. I was standing a short distance from it, wondering to myself what this all meant and if the water was safe to drink!

I could not help but think of the goddess Brigid for some reason as she is often depicted with a flame coming from her head and here in Ireland the water carries her energy. I have dreamed of her many times over the years, however never in this fashion. This felt so powerful.

Today is a rare sunny morning here, so it's out to the garden for me; to ponder my dreams.

Enjoy your day!

April

Herbs ready for drying

Getting Back to Myself

I no longer think in terms of being normal, I mean, who wants to be normal anyway, if that means to eat, drink and live mindlessly? No, I am quite happy with my day on/day off fasting while eating, living and being conscious of all that I am.

The physical task of uncovering my heart and soul has taken a long time and it has taught me an incredible amount about myself and the world around me - in particular my relationship with it. I have mentioned here on this blog a few times that there are distinctions to be made between the degrees and levels of inner communication.

Prayer is talking with god

Exercise is being with god

Fasting is walking with god

Each of these are perhaps one and the same in some ways - yet parts of the process of finding and accessing spirit take extraordinary trust, effort and willingness to believe in what is unseen. As an intuitive, seeing is not believing, that would only cause me to question more deeply.

Each day I am taken further into the garden where trust comes about only by believing that the path is in front of you, the bridge is under your feet and that there will be help along the way. For me re-connecting with the old ways of water fasting, herbs and clean living has served to deepen my ability to trust in every aspect of my body. 

These past two days post Master Cleanse have been transformational for me in many ways - I have had decisions to make regarding how I would like to move forward as well as the usual cutting of ties that hold me back. I am standing right now at the edge of a cliff and I plan to cross over - living this way (food, fast & feast) has brought me here and is leading me home.

The sun has finally come out in West Cork,

April

Light Shining Through the Depths

Onwards and Upwards

We are finished our 10 day Master Cleanse for July, that's three MC's in 3 months, with one more to go in August to complete the goal of doing a cleanse each month of the summer. (Well, it's summer somewhere?) And, once again we are all feeling good, a nice sense of accomplishment and miles ahead  from where we started out.

One main aspect of detoxing and cleansing that I most appreciate is that it is such an intensely focused time which enables me to get a lot of things done - or to think more deeply about the issues at hand and get at their roots. This last cleanse was all about breaking down those walls that have held me back for so long and I think that some serious inroads have been made.

Today physically I am feeling great, lots of energy, I slept well last night and had very deep and clear dreams. I feel as if something has broken through to the other side and there are now energies coming to the surface on several levels. 

Of course, with more energy free to circulate in your field, the patterns holding it in place for so long are also being dissolved, which means - issues that I have been attempting to work on are now coming up to be dealt with. Post cleanse, this is exactly where you want to find yourself.

All the hard work of cleaning, clearing, detoxing and opening up inner channels, during the 10 day cleanse should produce results of momentum and re-patterning within the energy field itself. This is the time then to feed yourself very well (for those who are following a spiritual path that means a particular diet) and to build up your resources as you sift through your inner worlds.

This is also the time to allow your dreams to guide you and to follow your heart as it is cleared and opened from the cleansing. Of course, once again the food you are eating is absolute key to this work - you cannot use your intuition (gift of discernment) properly if you are eating a toxic diet. 

If you are ready to move ahead, want to strengthen your connection with your body, mind and spirit and fully align with your purpose - this will take you there. Fasting is safe, easy and gentle - however there is work to be done and only you can do it. 

Have a nice day,

April

Beautiful moth outside my window

And A Celebration Day today!

Today my son is 12 years old and I am no different from any other parents out there - thinking back to the day he was born and wondering where the time has gone. He seems so grown up in some ways - yet still a boy in others. I just hope that he doesn't grow up too fast, too soon - and that is one of the reasons why I home school my children.

A home is a place where we should be safe, be accepted for who and what we are, yet expected to be a part of a family with a role to play, chores and work to do as well as contribute in other meaningful ways. It is also the one place where you can expect to learn all that you need to know in preparation for the world out there. And that is why I home school my children. 

On our birthdays here we get to choose the menu and eat whatever foods that we want to have - today I have been making macaroon and nut butter cookies, goat's cheese cake, whole grain spelt spaghetti and lamb meatballs for lunch, and then a roasted duck dinner for later tonight! (I will be exhausted LOL)

For me though I have long felt that there are a few significant years in a childs' life and developmental milestones that are reached recorded in those years. Age 12 is no exception - this is the year when the immune system reaches a stage of maturity making the child ready to go out in the world a little more. When fed properly and living in a healthy environment our immune functions in top form. However, when filled with drugs, vaccines and rubbish foods - sadly this is not the case.

This is a big day for him (and me!) and the start of a big year - the first of many, each one better than the last. 

Now, after all of these feasting and celebration days, I will be good and ready for another Master Cleanse. It all evens out, though and I am so glad that I have the fasting to look forward to. Now, I always enjoy my food without giving one thought to putting on weight or that I am eating too much. I love my food and it loves me back.

In a couple of days I will be back to day on/day off fasting and back on track again - what could be simpler? 

Have a lovely day,

April

The birthday boy on Soldier's Lookout Lough Hyne, West Cork after climbing the hill

Today is a Fasting Day

After having spent the weekend cooking, baking, harvesting and eating lots of rich foods - I was ready for a break this morning. It is actually really nice - a break from the cooking and preparation of food, leaving the kitchen clean for the day as well as giving my digestion a break and only taking in water and herbal teas.

It just feels so natural - like I have found my balance through giving my body permission to empty out instead of constantly eating. What was worse about those days of overeating was that I felt I had to or should - eat every single day. It turns out that this was such an unhealthy attitude towards diet and nutrition and only now have I got it right.

Never before in the history of the world has food been so available and out of season food grown and flown anywhere we would like it. The food pushers are no different than drug dealers - keep us full, fat and unhealthy - and you can nearly do anything. We are not paying the slightest bit of attention!

So, now, with an empty tummy I can contemplate my life, plan my day and accomplish many different tasks. The top one amongst them is to be clean - inside as well as outside!

Well, off to go for my walk, have a great day,

April

My Morning Cup of Coffee....

Today is a Food day so already I have eaten my breakfast of toast, muesli, bean burgers and goat's cheese - and am pleasantly full. Now I am sitting with my cup of dandelion coffee and allow my body to digest my meal as I this is my favorite time of the day.

I have not ever appreciated food in the way that I do right now. Each meal, every bite is special, I can taste everything and my body appreciates nicely prepared fresh food. I look forward to my meals like never before and now that there is no fear of gaining weight or the food making me feel poorly, the joy of eating is finally a part of my life. 

Most food days, I try to eat my largest meal in the morning, then as the day moves on the meals are smaller until I feel that I have eaten enough and my mind actually shifts to the next days fasting. After I have had enough food my body now says 'that's enough' and moves into another mode - getting ready for fasting or the cleansing phase.

Works like magic! And the dandelion coffee - the perfect digestive aid, that tastes great and helps you digest your food at the same time. Life couldn't be better.

Have a lovely day,

April