Preparing to Fast

In response to one of our members who asked about Movements class on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar, I thought to suggest that we take the opportunity to make the day one of strong practice for the group, including fasting for those who wish. 

I am not suggesting that we do a "religious" fast, rather that we take it as an opportunity to work for ourselves. It is an invitation to reflection, presence, and voluntary suffering; to gather our disparate parts in the light of awareness and strive to work under a common authority, and for a common aim. 

At the same time it is important to be active -- even more than usual. Assuming you are not participating in religious rituals, take the time you are not eating to pray in the manner we are learning. A half hour in the morning, afternoon, and evening with the AUM exercise we have been working with. Strive to watch associations and strive to be collected. Use the discomfort of hunger as a source of energy to keep a presence that allows "I" to observe "me". 

The fast includes unnecessary information (news, socials, podcasts, etc.) and unnecessary speech.  If you need to be in life, at work with others, take care that your fast and work are invisible. In the work, fasting is not a wellness protocol. It is a means of struggling with ourselves, turning up the heat for our inner work. 

From Fragments:

G. explained at the beginning of the fast that the difficulty in fasting consisted in not leaving unused the substances which are prepared in the organism for the digestion of food.

"These substances consist of very strong solutions," he said. "And if they are left without attention they will poison the organism. They must be used up. But how can they be used up if the organism gets no food? Only by an increase of work, an increase of perspiration. People make a tremendous mistake when they try to 'save their strength,' make fewer movements, and so on, when fasting. On the contrary it is necessary to expend as much energy as possible. Then fasting can be beneficial." 

And when we began our fast we were not left in peace for a single second...

Jesus has something to say about this in Matthew 6:16‑18 KJV. 

The day begins at sundown this Wednesday and concludes at sundown on Thursday-- 7pm. The invitation is to fast from taking any food or drink for 24 hours. For those who can, we will start together with our Movements class on Wednesday evening and conclude at our group meeting on Thursday evening. We will have something to eat and drink together at the start of the meeting. 

 If you choose to undertake this effort, be mindful of your well-being. If it is clear that you need to eat or drink, decide to end the fast and take the nourishment you need. There is nothing to prove to anyone (including ourselves) and there is no place here for pride. As we will not be together in person, it is imperative that each takes responsibility for him or herself. The key thing is that the work be intentional. If you see fasting is not for you, try to consider a way of turning up the heat during the day of shared effort-- make a plan and intention and follow it (and if you need to modify the plan during the day, do so intentionally).