The Theory of Fasting, Purpose, benefits and what else... Options

Obviously there are many types of fasting, with different focuses, different motives and different effects. (technique, philosophy and results) and like most practices one can, for convenience, divide each of these into levels: beginner, intermediate and advanced.

While it is shown that medium to long fasts change the chemical composition of the blood and thus consciousness (which may seem quite an attractive proposition) I think that what is often overlooked is the benefits of the beginner’s fast.

By beginners fast I mean one that is suitable to undertake without supervision or advice and is attainable by nearly everyone. (i.e. 24-48 hour water-only fast)

When we begin any magical or spiritual work we also begin a process of physical change. These changes require a lot of energy. The two main ways in which the physical body takes in energy is by breathing and eating. Most practices begin with rudimentary and safe breathing exercises. Which not only allow a greater intake of energy but also regulates it. Fasting one day a week greatly increases the digestive ability of the body and leads to more efficient energy absorption.

I think anyone who tried fasting one day a week for 3 months as an experiment, would notice the difference, both on the physical and psychic level.

I have no personal experience of any prolonged fasting as it is impractical for me and my life situation.

Dear members:
How do you all concentrate when fasting?

I am attempting to complete the 'moon of purification' in the Necronomicon. Basically, pray to the gods at morning (cant do it) and at night (no prob), no sex or 'spilling your seed' for 30 days (surprisingly difficult to do), no meat in the last 7 dats (no prob) and no food on the last three days (is killing me!)

Well today was my first day of fast: no breakfast no lunch. By 2 pm I started to get a throbbing hadache. By 4 pm I had on top of the headache intense pain in my frontal lobes (which sometimes migrated to the back of my head). By 6 pm I broke down and had to eat some spagetti. Now at midnight the headache has returned, and I hope I'll be able to sleep without a midnight snack...

Needless to say it is the first time I've attempted a 'fast'.

Why I dont see is how is this beneficial?.. How will I be able to concentrate in what I am doing or try to sense very delicate phenomenon with a mother of a head ache and what feels like two nails imbedded over my eyebrows?

Suggestions? Comments?

Thanks,
Traveller.

Well today was my first day of fast: no breakfast no lunch. By 2 pm I started to get a throbbing hadache. By 4 pm I had on top of the headache intense pain in my frontal lobes (which sometimes migrated to the back of my head). By 6 pm I broke down and had to eat some spagetti. Now at midnight the headache has returned, and I hope I'll be able to sleep without a midnight snack...

Needless to say it is the first time I've attempted a 'fast'.
Suggestions? Comments?

When you begin a no-food fast your body goes into de-tox. if this is your first fast then it is likely there will be a lot of toxins in your system, depending on your normal diet, lifestyle and health, etc.
In our modern lifestyles we also tend to pick up lots of minor addictions - white sugar, caffeine etc, most addictions cant be put aside without some form of cold turkey.

Headaches are a very very common side effect of early fasting. Theres not a lot to do about them other than drink enough water to help facilitate the de-tox. The only recommendation I have is that before doing any kind of ceremony or ritual its a good idea to have a dry run or dress rehersal to make sure that you don't trip up on any of the mundane elements.
The good news is fasting gets much easier with practice.
good luck with your next 2 days.

I've never studied Indonesian techniques Kinjo, but I know the amazing things that can be done. I have to admit, I'm just not an ascetic. In a lot of ways my life is very austere, especially for someone my age. My delving into drugs has been at worst a little sloppy, and honestly I've done very few of the things that most of my schoolmates did. I have seen demonstrations of the powers you're talking about on video, and it is absolutely amazing what people can do. I encourage you that people do these things in the states, but they don't talk about it for fear of persecution. You can see what people think of it in the west; your body does these things because it is diseased by the asceticism, which is in fact not true. I know the secret of what happens when you become all yin; and I use it in a much different way. Honestly, I think asceticism is better for people who are a little older than me. I have this strong desire to go off to the mountains when I'm old and waste away, it would be better than a nursing home for sure. I'm interested to hear of your successes.

When you begin a no-food fast your body goes into de-tox. if this is your first fast then it is likely there will be a lot of toxins in your system, depending on your normal diet, lifestyle and health, etc.
In our modern lifestyles we also tend to pick up lots of minor addictions - white sugar, caffeine etc, most addictions cant be put aside without some form of cold turkey.

Headaches are a very very common side effect of early fasting. Theres not a lot to do about them other than drink enough water to help facilitate the de-tox. The only recommendation I have is that before doing any kind of ceremony or ritual its a good idea to have a dry run or dress rehersal to make sure that you don't trip up on any of the mundane elements.
The good news is fasting gets much easier with practice.
good luck with your next 2 days.

I think you are right in that I went into detox withdrawal. I was unable to do a complete fast (eating the equivalent of a sandwich a day) but the piercing headache of the first day is gone and what remains is kind of a background 'buzz' and slight discomfort. I noticed that when I do eat I am not hungry and after a few bites I am full or not wanting more. I lost 7 lbs in 4 days, so even though the ritual is over I'll keep fasting (since I am very overweigth) to see if I can shed a total of 30 lbs. The most curious think to me is that I feel more full of energy. I dont know if this is a normal benefit of fasting (ie. the reason people do it) . Or maybe is a result of detoxing and cleaning my system from sugar, coffe and junk food.

Thanks for your reply, Traveller.

I think you are right in that I went into detox withdrawal. I was unable to do a complete fast (eating the equivalent of a sandwich a day) but the piercing headache of the first day is gone and what remains is kind of a background 'buzz' and slight discomfort. I noticed that when I do eat I am not hungry and after a few bites I am full or not wanting more. I lost 7 lbs in 4 days, so even though the ritual is over I'll keep fasting (since I am very overweigth) to see if I can shed a total of 30 lbs. The most curious think to me is that I feel more full of energy. I dont know if this is a normal benefit of fasting (ie. the reason people do it) . Or maybe is a result of detoxing and cleaning my system from sugar, coffe and junk food.

Thanks for your reply, Traveller.

Traveller, be very careful, fasting to decrease weight is not healthy, neither emotionally or physically, in fact, fasting to decrease body weight is actually just anorexia in varying forms. When you fast, fast to purify body, mind and so that your soul may hold dominion over your body. Any weight loss that is experienced, or any sort of nirvana or insight is simply put, a bonus.
I'm a pretty experienced faster and let me tell you that the second you start eating again that weight will come back quickly. If you want to lose weight maintain a strict diet (sounds like your already doing well in that area) and do lots of cardio exercise (which will prove indispensable on the magical path anyway).
I want to say I applaud your effort, fasting is a worthwhile undertaking. Let me also note, that given your age and the fact that you have never fasted before, it's not surprising you couldn't make 3 whole days. I would see if I could start on a regular program of 12 to 24 hour fasts for at least a couple of months and then go for 2 or 3 days. After 6 months or a year you might even want to give a go at 7 days.
If you can, lessen your food take before the fast and don't eat all that much coming off it. Gradually ease your way in and out of a fast, and don't watch the clock!

I see fasting a little different than from the magickian's point of view. I see it as a sacrifice. It's a food sacrifice. Instead of sacrificing food that you either have excess of, bought or made specially, you're sacrificing the food you were depending on. It is a deeper and more meaningful food sacrifice than your general sacrifice.

I kind of see the willpopwer and mental discipline as a benefit, more than the goal.

I think you are right in that I went into detox withdrawal. I was unable to do a complete fast (eating the equivalent of a sandwich a day) but the piercing headache of the first day is gone and what remains is kind of a background 'buzz' and slight discomfort. I noticed that when I do eat I am not hungry and after a few bites I am full or not wanting more. I lost 7 lbs in 4 days, so even though the ritual is over I'll keep fasting (since I am very overweigth) to see if I can shed a total of 30 lbs. The most curious think to me is that I feel more full of energy. I dont know if this is a normal benefit of fasting (ie. the reason people do it) . Or maybe is a result of detoxing and cleaning my system from sugar, coffe and junk food.

Thanks for your reply, Traveller.

One thing that happens when you fast is your stomach shrinks. So you WILL feel full after not eating much (this is also why it becomes easier to fast after the first day or two, because the stomach isn't moving as much as before. It's also why one should start slow after coming off a fast. Eating too much will try to stretch your stomach too fast and make you sick. Also, it's good to start off a fast in a vegetarian manner as suggested before, because meats are complex to digest, and it's good to get your stomach back into gear with easy to digest foods. I find grains and tubers to be superior in this manner, as greens and such tend to get more complex.

I've done a Master Cleanse, which is also known as the Lemonade Fast. Ten days of nothing but lemonade made with cayenne pepper and maple syrup. The only supplements allowed are unsweetened herbal teas(mint or laxative) and/or sea salt water for internal bathing. The fast is meant to detoxify the body, but something I noticed right away was the psychological aspect of eating.

The first three days of the fast were wrought with hunger pangs and bad moods. After that it became all mental. I would only crave the foods that I usually ate at any particular time of day. In the morning I would want coffee or a muffin, noon I would want a turkey sandwich(my usual lunch), and evenings I would usually just crave a small portion of pasta or rice. I also found myself really susceptible to food commercials. I dont eat fast food, but during fast food commercials I would want whatever was being shown, regardless of whether I would eat it or not under other circumstances. The thing about though was that it wasnt hunger, just an open mind. I could feel the subliminal effects of the commercials.

The process itself was very cleansing, physically and mentally. I cant say that it was a mystical experience, but it put something into perspective. You cant do something just about everyday of your life and have it not become a habit; even if its eating. Food is necessary, but fasting can show how to be more mindful of our eating habits.