Hello,
During the equinox, an event that happens 2 times a year, the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away nor towards the sun. This is due to the Earth’s position in its cycle around the sun, coming closer to the sun from the winter’s furthest point. At this point, the night and day are of equal lengths exactly. It happens around March 20-21st and September 22-23rd every year, and is the beginning of the spring and fall. It is an opportunity to take in the Earth and Cosmic energy into our consciousness and into our bodies. A time of connection to the greater cycles taking place around us. you can read more here
The full moon after the equinox is when easter is declared in the Christian religions. It is a time of fasting and cleansing before celebrating the full bloom of spring and fall harvest. It is also a time of seeding some plants. For ourselves, seeding conscious thoughts and actions that can direct the rest of the year is also enhanced during this time.
A powerful cleanse of the winter’s more fatty foods and of the toxins is what brought up “spring cleanign”. The best cleanse is to fast, with water for at least 3 days around that time, but the cleanse can go up to 60 days! (after 60 days the body starts eating at muscles and medically this is declared as starvation)!
Fasting is a powerful way to cleanse the body of toxins and could be a newly discovered way to expand life expectancy.
Please read this article on fasting, intermittent fasting, and Calorie Restriction. It is fascinating and it seems possible to increase our life time, slow our aging and stay extremely healthy!
Every Equinox, I choose to fast for at least 6 days. Preparing and getting out of a fast is crucial for the success of the cleanse. A fast also isn’t just about a physical cleanse, it actually cleanses your psycho-emotional state, and perhaps brings you more in touch with your spirit.
I usually start with a slow down of food in-take and start drinking liquids 2 days before the fast – juice one day, vegetable juice the next, and alternating before starting. During the fast, I drink only water, mineral water is best. Please do avoid, distilled water as this can be extremely dangerous.
To break a fast, I use vegetable juice first and then vegetables like asparagus or artichoke hearts. The importance of following your body’s desires after a fast, not the mind, is crucial and really continues the benefits of doing a fast. From a fast, one gets in tune with its body.
During the fast, I usually try to be in Nature and away from people eating food, as it makes it easier. Also the Equinox energy is beneficial for the fast. Yet I have also done it in my day to day and really benefited from the experience by taking notice of how much food is all around us.
The first 3 days of a fast are the hardest. The first day is usually when your body starts to go into a stress, but the excitement takes your through it. Your stomach is hungry and your mind tries to get you to eat as often as possible, but you can beat out your mind. The second day is probably the hardest. Since your body has already gone into a critical state and begins to look for energy sources in other places for your brain to function, the mind, emotions and body are all on alert to try to get you to eat. This is where you really start to also feel the toxins empty into your blood, which has effects on your thoughts and emotions. I get grumpy! This is the most challenging day as it’s when the emotional state can be aggravated by the smallest thing. It is also when you become aware of your deep emotional state and see how eating eases emotions. Most often though, a long walk and large quantities of water help, and the emotion can be lived out for conscious liberation. Being tired is also normal, as your body’s whole system is changed and getting rid of toxins still takes energy.
The third day is better, as the body starts to create a by-product that can give you a weird taste in your mouth, but also a euphoric state of being. By the 5th day, your feel light and free, clear minded and joyous. There’s a total dis-attachment to food helping another state of mind and emotion, reaching towards described states of spiritual bliss. Ups and downs may follow afterwards in cycles of 3, so on the 7th, 10th, 13th, day you may feel hungry again, as you reach another level of the first 3 days.
Coming off the fast, it is extremely important to alter your eating behaviors and slowly take food back into your system. Slowly eat fruits and vegetables, then after 2-3 days bring small amounts of protein.
The benefits are indescribable, but I would strongly recommend it.
Good luck, and email me with questions.