Water Fasting – Day 1

Day one of my twenty eight day water fast is nearly complete, and I have to say it was very pleasant and unexceptional. Apart from a slight tightness in the upper back, all is well.

I cannot say that today was in any way different from any other day. This physical organism functioned as it normally does, with no increase in hunger or desire for food. Toward the end of the afternoon, the eyes seemed to be increasingly sensitive to light, but it is too early to tell if it means anything at all.

Freedom From Food

There is a sense of physical freedom that comes from the absence of food. It is difficult to explain. There is no need for preparation, no need to decide what to eat, and no need to wait for anyone. One can move in any direction with no need to slow down for sustenance.

There was also an increase in focused energy today. Not necessarily a stimulant type of feeling, but more of an ease into attention. The body is still unsure about how to use this freed energy formerly spent in the act of digestion. I am really looking forward to where it settles.

This reminds me of reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. In the various adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Watson explained that Holmes would never eat while in the middle of a case. He didn’t want to waste energy in any direction, and he felt food would be a detriment to his focus. I am beginning to understand what he meant.

Look out, evil-doers!

A Mind Like Ash

As I sat this afternoon, an image suddenly appeared in the mind. There were ashes on the wind. I followed them from their origin, and into oblivion. They began their life as clustered families – a mass of blackened images – and quickly separated into individual slices of gray dancing off into nothingness.

The ashes are analogous to many things. And what they may mean to you are your own business. But too many times, we are given images that we quickly force underground, almost to hide the embarrassment of entertaining childish notions. But please, never take these images for granted. They’ll never hurt you in the way you may wish to use them to hurt others.

Sit with whatever comes, and follow it to the end. Leave the interpretations for others.

Tip of the Iceberg

We are barely underway with twenty seven days left to go. It is a very exciting time, and I  look forward to whatever may come.

I am sure there will be more interesting happenings as time goes on, as we are just getting started. So stay tuned.