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The Baha'i Fast
Mar. 14th, 2004 01:41 amSo I believe I mentioned before that this is the Baha'i month* of fasting. From sunrise to sunset, we don't eat or drink. (Or smoke, either, but I don't smoke any more anyway, so it's not an issue.) In my household during the Fast, we get up around 5:30 a.m. to eat breakfast together, usually something fairly substantial. I always make sure to have some protein and some complex carbohydrates. And lots of water! I generally avoid sugar, since I'm mildly hypoglycemic and sugar can really make it hard for me. After breakfast we brush our teeth and then gather in the living room for prayers. Unfortunately, I'm usually not very alert, so I sometimes don't feel like I'm really getting much out of the dawn prayers. I try, though.
Mostly it's easier than it sounds, except for the getting up early. I'm not much of a morning person. It feels really good to exercise the spiritual discipline to fast, and I try to focus on being more spiritually centered at this time. This year has been a little weird, since I have been out late a lot and generally spending a lot of time getting to know Brian and enjoying his company. So I haven't been getting much sleep, but I haven't felt as tired as I usually do, probably because I'm really excited. The fasting part has been pretty easy, though there've been a few times when I've had dinner a bit later than I would have liked, and that was kind of difficult.
I feel very strongly that changes in my life which occur during the Fast are very significant, especially since the Fast is a very spiritual time of year.
For more info about the Baha'i Fast, you can read this article.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the last day of the Fast is March 20. It ends with Naw-Ruz, which is our new year. I'll be MCing the New Year's party for San Mateo county, and if any of you want to come to the party, you're more than welcome. I'll post the details later this week.
* A Baha'i month consists of nineteen days.
Mostly it's easier than it sounds, except for the getting up early. I'm not much of a morning person. It feels really good to exercise the spiritual discipline to fast, and I try to focus on being more spiritually centered at this time. This year has been a little weird, since I have been out late a lot and generally spending a lot of time getting to know Brian and enjoying his company. So I haven't been getting much sleep, but I haven't felt as tired as I usually do, probably because I'm really excited. The fasting part has been pretty easy, though there've been a few times when I've had dinner a bit later than I would have liked, and that was kind of difficult.
I feel very strongly that changes in my life which occur during the Fast are very significant, especially since the Fast is a very spiritual time of year.
For more info about the Baha'i Fast, you can read this article.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, the last day of the Fast is March 20. It ends with Naw-Ruz, which is our new year. I'll be MCing the New Year's party for San Mateo county, and if any of you want to come to the party, you're more than welcome. I'll post the details later this week.
* A Baha'i month consists of nineteen days.
