“Deep fasting always involves suffering. It is physically difficult. It is often undertaken because we are suffering in our daily lives and we wish to heal ourselves… All of us have taken beliefs and spiritual attitudes into ourselves that are in conflict with who we are. The important thing is to allow yourself to empty, not just physically but also spiritually and emotionally”
~ Stephen Harrod Buhner
Spring is alive and calling parts of you back to life again. What is waking up inside of you? What do you still need to clear in order to hear your inner healer and heart song?Spring calls us to cleanse as we now have a deeper access to ourselves through what was composted and returned to the Earth in the Fall and Winter- that is if you were tuning in. And, if life goes whizzing by you regardless of the seasons this is a call for you to pay a little closer attention to your process, your emotions and your physical illnesses and imbalances.
Spring’s new energy can greatly amplify what truly wants to come to life and be shifted for the greater good within you. Thus it is the main season of cleansing and beginning to look at deeper levels of fasting.
HOWEVER MANY WILL FAIL OR CRASH THEIR CLEANSE. And, in truth you can never really fail as every moment of our lives is a teacher- especially our perceived failures and disappointments.
The above quote captures the deep reasons cleansing falls short of its intended results. Many want to cleanse as a quick fix path to an external destination. And, mini 3 day cleanses, even one day fasts are incredibly healing for short and long term health. But regardless of the duration of the cleanse if you are not integrating and creating space for the holistic journey and the cleanse -on all levels of soma and psyche -then inevitably you will feel more stuck and drained- and possibly re- traumatized post cleanse.
TRAUMATIZED? Yes. This is many layered and a piece that is vital to every one choosing to cleanse.
- Should I be cleansing? If you have adrenal issues, depletions or imbalances of any sort, deep physical and emotional traumas this is your first and maybe only question. A qualified guide will help you determine. YOUR BODY will help you determine if you can hear it and honor its language.
- Which type of cleanse? Again, a qualified guide is needed unless you have worked long enough on yourself to be able to discern which path to take- and lovingly follow your own wisdom.
- Do I have space to cleanse? This is vital. If you think you can just prescribe to some program, eat (or not eat) the foods etc that are provided and not change anything else about your daily life, or overall mindset, you will not get very far. I don’t want this for you. It can be very taxing on your system- on all holistic levels. Integration is key to success.
The reason I bring up the big “T” word (trauma) is that if you are not addressing the above questions, a cleanse can really trigger such deep physical and emotional responses that if you are ill prepared you can likely turn up your sympathetic nervous system to a point of overstimulation- greatly enhancing any nervous system and trauma triggers already present.
LISTENINGWhen we embark on a cleanse in a mature and prepared way our healing can go to levels that can have miraculous results. Most ancient cultures employ cleansing/fasting as a part of their ritualistic lifestyle for deep healing of the body- mind- spirit. Often these cultures would clear the physical system to the point of inducing an altered state- opening channels to hear the authentic and true spirit and soul within- your inner guide. Through this deep healing and listening the psyche is clear and able to direct the individual to previously unutilized levels of intuition and conscious creation. This develops the inner wisdom for self healing and possibly the healing of others.
I realize we live in a mechanistic society that does not have patience for the journey- that is your birth right- back to the inner knowing of all the dimensions and elements accessible at all times to assist your healing. And, that is where the deeper work lies. If you are asking about cleansing are you also willing to ask about letting go of society’s perceptions and conditions that have likely landed you in your current state of illness? (see above quote). Are you willing to listen to your inner voice? You know, the one that is likely screaming unheard in the back of your beautiful heart?
I want you to cleanse. I encourage you to cleanse. It is not only good for you but, when done with reverence, it is good for the whole of the Earth. Remember, my last article on community healing- “when one is down, we are all down”. And, cleansing is not easy. It will pull on every heart string you have and stir every shadow to dance- if it is done right. You will begin to hear the authentic voice of your soul again….
THE INNER HEALER
Cleansing will give you the tools to self steward your life and healing- and I say again- when done with great awareness.
The key piece if you are saying YES to a cleanse and you have vetted the above questions properly is INTEGRATION. This is where most of us crash a beautiful cleanse. We go back to yesterday’s ways and we do not make any shifts in our lives that support the new ways brought to life in the cleanse.
DAILY PRACTICE
A responsible human has a daily practice. A self loving human has a daily practice. It doesn’t mean you are a pristine angelic meditating being of light- quite the opposite. You are self aware enough to know that the only person who “has your back” is YOU. And, YOU need space each day to listen and allow the true voice of your heart to speak- even if messy- even if painful- even if nothing comes in the moment of listening. And, YOU can do this.
I have seen some miracles unfold, the first one being my life, through learning and committing to maturely steward myself through the confines of society’s linear and limiting beliefs, cleansing and renewing the spaces within that hold the code to my healing. I give myself space, I give myself grace and give myself a daily way to integrate this crazy beautiful life.
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