Spring is almost here, and it’s time to do some cleaning… internally and externally.
I’m sitting here sipping on a cup of dandelion root tea and defining what I hope to gain from this spring’s fast. Fasting, for me, is an interval during which I turn inward. Like a mirror, it forces me to confront and contemplate a variety of issues I may have subconsciously (or consciously) repressed. I play piano, read, take walks after dark, and deep condition my hair. I go through my closet and purge what I can; I listen to binaurals and meditate. I consider the nature of my relationships, and decide if I am satisfied with the way I am maneuvering them. I think about what I would like to change and what transformations I’d like to manifest.
I’ve kept fasting journals in the past (you can also read about my friend Israel’s 10 day experience here), and I have a feeling this will be a different variety of documentation. While I am looking forward to the myriad physical benefits of the journey, I find myself more interested in the mental and emotional nourishment this time around. Maybe it’s because the past week has been filled with travel and all the sensory stimulation that accompanies the exploration of new people and places, but I feel the need to rest, rejuvenate, heal. Because of this, I’ll probably be focusing less on data, and thinking more about and dealing with that which comes up for me.
You can read some of my fasting tips here. I figured out that the trick with senna tea is to steep it for about 10 minutes (I’ll be doing this every other day for two weeks), and to drink a LOT of water afterward in order to avoid horrible cramping. I began taking 1 tbsp of calcium bentonite clay hydrated in a cup of water this morning, which I plan on doing for at least the duration of this fast. I’ll do a write-up on the benefits of including bentonite as part of your internal cleansing shortly, but for now I’ve got a Bb major fugue waiting downstairs with my name all over it.
