Fasting Feeds the Spirit

Today is the last day of our 7-day juice fast here at the Tree Of Life. This is the longest I have ever gone without food in my life, and the first official fast that I have ever done. It is not easy. I had know idea how attached and even addicted to food I am. When you don't eat your body begins to dissolve all that is not necessary in your physical, mental, and emotional being; leaving you with your spirit as the sole source of nourishment. It is a test of your spirit and will without a doubt. We have done 7 days and this is really not a big deal when put into perspective. You can fast for 100 days on juice and 40 days on water, and it is not uncommon for average people to accomplish such a feat. They are even people called breatharians who have learned to survive on the energies of the sun and their breath; this is quite extreme but it proves the point. When we look at nature we find that beings fast regularly in the flow of the seasons and availability of food: bears hibernate, lizards can go 100 days without food, and many Native American cultures fasted every winter when food was scarce (this is likely why they are more predisposed for obesity and diabetes in the modern world: they naturally store fat as a result of generations of fasting). People around the world find themselves fasting to the point of starvation unwillingly as a result of the imbalanced distribution of wealth and food in the world. I have a new appreciation and empathy for these beings. Here at the Tree we are using an array of supplements and techniques to accelerate detox, support our organs and glands, stay mineralized, and even keep our subtle bodies aligned. We have an unbelievable staff and the wisdom and experience of Gabriel (who has been fasting and facilitating fasts for about 30 years now) at our disposal; and I still struggled with the discomfort of not to eating. In a way beginning a practice of regular fasts is another step toward a return to our natural rhythms and flow. It gives one a new appreciation for life, food, the body, spiritual will power, and the blessing it is that most of us (reading this blog) are able to eating 3 times day if we want. Gabriel recommends fasts for 7-10 days 3 or 4 times a year for optimal health, maintenance, and spiritual development.

To fast holistically we need to considered all dimensions of our being: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. This means that when we fast it is important to be in the right setting and take time away from our busy and stressful lifestyles. We also need to have support. Remember you will be detoxing physically which will bring up and out mental and emotional "toxins" as well; for this reason you want to be in a peaceful environment with some community support. It is vital to meditate while fasting; when we are still of mind we can best align ourselves to the Divine and sit with any personal issues that arise.

There is a new field of biology called epigenetics which is showing us that our cells have encoded memory beyond DNA which is passed on through cell division. Bruce Lipton PhD in his book Biology Of Belief tells us how our phenotype (physical expression of our genotype: DNA) is not only determined by our DNA. The prefix epi means above, and genetics is obviously refering to our genes, or our DNA. What we are seeing is that despite the almost limitless potential expressions hel within of our genes, we express certain traits that are more a result of our environment and our cellular memory then our DNA. These epigenetic patterns are both passed on from parent to child and accumilated over the couse of our lifes. What this also implies is that within our genetype (our DNA) exists the pontential for the most beautiful, vibrant, and healthy version of ourselves; as well as the most rotten, degenerative, and diseased version. It is our environment, meaning our physical environment and diet, our social constructs and beliefs, our emotions and stress levels that truly determines our phenotypic expression and health. When we fast we reset the epigenetic cell memories that were both passed on to us and that we aquired during our lifetime. This is the primary reason to fast: upgrade your gene expession!

With this knowledge we can say that fasting is like giving your body and being a second, or third, or fourth . . . chance to be optimal. When we fast we stop eating, we take ourelves away from our toxic and stressful modern lifestyles and we stop accumilating epigenetic habits and patterns that no longer serve us. We stop feeding our addictions, patterns, and limiting beliefs, and feed our spirits which are aways pure and hold the frequencies of our Highest Self. Fasting is a new begining; it is a reset button. Several of my fellow students were on the brink of dealth until they began fasting and creating the environment, diet, and lifestyle to improve their genetic expression and heal. I feel blessed to have begun this pracatice here at the Tree, in good health, and under my own will, becuase for many it took a close look death to decide to truy live. May you all know your optimal gene expessions and learn from the mistakes of others. It is never to late to hit the reset button and begining being High on Life.

Peace-Love-Bliss

Happy Summer Solctice!

Baba