Fastening

“ Paul mentions fasting as part of his own practice—“in fastings often,” and he bids Christians “distress”68 their bodies in order to reduce them to subjection. So again the Church from the first has fasted. And the great authors of religious revivals in our own Church—Simeon, and Pusey, and Maurice alike—practised and encouraged fasting. We may then depend upon it that we are foolish if we neglect it. And the object of it is this: it is the bringing the body under the spirit, whereas without it the body is apt to have the upper hand. It is not because our body is evil that we are to fast ”

“ Careful observation of several thonsands of fasting cases makes plain the fact that the fast will perfectly relieve all ailments of a functional character, but that it can never wholly overcome mechanical defects in body organism. However, the fast will uncover the organic condition of the system, and will cause the nature of its deficiencies to be clearly displayed. One whose organs are functionally equal to the requirements of elimination undergoes the treatment with no unusual symptoms. ”

“ We know now that fasting does just this rearrangement of the flesh, and does it without the penance of fever, pain and disease. So we just stop eating and break up our old flesh body in every way that we can; we get back to normal posture, stand erect with all our bony structure held as it should be, so that when our new body comes on it will be draped with grace over our bones and all errors of physical angles be lost.
A beautiful figure is the birthright of every one, be he tall or short, and it takes only a little conscious thought to have it so. ”

“ The ordinary individual, fasting for a short cut to health, freedom, liberty, success, love and truth, can be just as happy and normal in his one meal as he knows how to be.
Common sense demands that he eat slowly, Fletcherizing his food. It will give him a sense of uncomfortable distension of the stomach and sometimes bloating and gas if he does not. When one feels worse after eating than before, it is because he has eaten too fast and not taken time to masticate his food. ”

“ In addition they enable the experienced observer to localize the point of least resistance, the organ prevented from proper performance of its task. In fasting, these signs of disease, during the first days of abstinence, are seen to be exaggerated or seemingly increased in severity; but this is a logical consequence of the application of a method, the purpose of which is that of elimination of a clogging, circulating poison. The extreme process of castingout in progress during the fast uncovers the seat of disease, and exaggerates in the very cure itself its characteristic signs. ”

“ Ninety-nine out of every hundred take from five to fifty years from the length of their lives by stuffing their stomachs. They eat, not to nourish the body, but merely for the pleasure of gourmandizing. The result is that from two to five times as much food passes through the alimentary canal than is necessary to maintain weight and strength, and mind and body are actually weakened by the strenuous efforts made by the system in endeavoring to rid itself of this excessive amount of food.
Any one can be benefited by a fast such as I describe here. ”

“ Bartholomew, St. Matthew, St. Simon and St. Jude, St. Andrew, St. Thomas, All Saints. And if any of these feasts fall upon a Monday, then the vigil or fast day shall be kept upon the Saturday, and not upon the Sunday, next before it.” (See Fasting.)
That fasting or abstinence from our usual sustenance is a proper means to express sorrow and grief, and a fit method to dispose our minds towards the consideration of anything that is serious, nature seems to suggest; and therefore all nations, from ancient times, have used fasting as a part of repentance, and as a means to avert the anger of God. ”

“ Fasters generally notice that the first two days of total abstinence are the worst, a sensation of general languor continues to increase, but by that time denutrition has begun to relieve all sorts of incidental affections, and the net result is a feeling of relief similar to that of a convalescent from a fever fit.
The effect of a fasting cure depends often upon its length, and upon no other point of an admittedly important problem the impressions of the general public are more contradictory and vague.
"You cannot expect a sick person to fast all day?" ”

“ After a while a new thought form body is built and we have created the habit of right breathing, speaking and thinking; our mind is as clear as a crystal, and our blood current runs bounding through our veins, fresh, pure, carrying to every tissue in our body, the right amount of vital blood. Our flesh is renewed through the renewing of our mind; we find that the things we sought are seeking us and that, through fasting, we have made ourself a higher magnet to attract to us from out the universal the things we so desired. ”

“ Strength is invariably restored to one's powers of digestion after a careful fast. No case of dyspepsia, constipation, etc., there is, but can benefit or be totally and radically cured by fasting. Fasting will increase powers of assimilation, quicken hunger, purify and strengthen the nerves and raise your health in all ways. (3) By gaining control over appetite you gain control over your lower nature. It is a splendid drill for your Will. You shall gain in spiritual strength. You shall grow positive to your flesh and its cravings. ”

“ Muscle Tensing, with Fasting.
When we begin to fast, our first attention is to our flesh structure. We must tear down our old house of worn-out substances and gather new material for our new construction work. The body is always reconstructing itself but it is too slow a process to fit the whirlwind consciousness of the new Illuminatus. ”

“ That natural movements of the bowels are dependent upon perfect digestion is but slightly qualified by the statement that muscular tone is a necessary condition in the intestinal walls. For the attainment of this state, and for the rebuilding of general muscular quality, a system of judicious exercise is recommended and insisted upon when the fast is broken and thereafter. This, like diet, must be entered upon in gradual manner and is increased and extended in proportion as the body shows progressive capability. ”

“ The one who is taking the fast for the first time cannot expect to take the same kind of fast as those who have done the fast for several months or years. After we have established the habit of fasting, we can go as far as we like in experimenting with occult laws; but in the beginning we should take the Novitiate instructions and follow them faithfully; through these we reach the point of mental and psychical endurance and discipline which enables us to take up the Initiates’ fast or the fast of the Illuminati. ”

“ Through fasting, the body becomes like a new glove which we can draw on over the real man within. After we have understood the changes which the physical body undergoes, in order to build it into a new and durable type of perfect harmony and strength and beauty, we must go on and study the man within. ”

“ Fasting is the greatest of all methods of purification. Where there is any derangement of the system, with temporary loss of appetite, it is usually advisable to fast until the appetite returns and a short fast of from one to three days is usually sufficient. Where there is any serious disorder and it is necessary to undergo an extensive course of blood purification a prolonged fast of many days or even several weeks may be required. Fasting is such an important subject in itself that I can-. ”

“ There are those who have fasted outside of instructions, with just a little learning, never acquainting themselves with the real meaning of the Fast, then when they have come upon some unexplainable phenomena in mind and body they have laid the blame on fasting, when in fact it was only their own ignorant use of a great Cosmic Law. ”

“ Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and Thou hast not seen? we have humbled our souls, and Thou takest no notice? The answer comes swiftly: Because your fasting is a mere form! Lo, in the very day of your fast ye find a business to do, and all your workmen you overtask. So formal is your fasting that your ordinary eager, selfish, cruel life goes on beside it just the same. ”

“ I scarcely know how to fast; I shrink from this cross; I behold so few fasting that I excuse myself through the general neglect, or soften the interpretation of Thy words. I desire to amend, to practise abstinence in things allowed, that from things not allowed I may the more easily abstain, that I may have a more docile and obedient will, that in great matters I may the more easily resist the motions of the flesh. ”

“ THE duration of the complete fast is a matter that can neither be foretold nor prescribed in any individual case, for the treatment has its beginning in disease and its end in the hunger that marks the return of digestive power. Until the latter makes itself apparent, and it cannot be mistaken, the fast should continue. Then, and not till then, is the system in condition again to receive and transform food into tissue structure. ”

“ After walking a short distance and giving the matter serious consideration, I determined not to break the fast and instead of the restaurant, I visited a gymnasium and spent thirty minutes in vigorous exercise, and in consequence felt much better, and all thoughts of giving up the fast were abandoned.
The comparison photographs show how the body wasted away during the fast. The face thinned especially and the eyes sunk considerably.
But the astounding fact in connection with the fast was the strength possessed on the
Raising 200-lb. ”

“ The night's rest following the first appetite-sanctioned meal will not be disturbed by nightmares. Fasting, like exercise and refrigeration, makes repose sweet. The dull, unheeded, but ever-gnawing reproaches of the physical conscience have been silenced.
One great aid to the successful accomplishment of a fasting-cure is the rule to keep the mind as much as possible occupied, so as to prevent its brooding over the topic of alimentary deprivations; create some diversion by exciting pastimes or interest-absorbing work. ”

“ Fasting.—Going without food of any kind as a religious discipline and as a help to the spiritual life, especially on the great Fasts of the Church. The Homily on Fasting says: "Fasting is found to be of two sorts; the one outward, pertaining to the body; the other inward, in the heart and mind. The outward fast is an abstinence from meat, drink and all natural food, for the determined time of fasting ”

“ Washed, refreshed and dressed in cleanest linen, the freed man continued his journey rejoicing, but the contrast of misery and comfort can hardly have surpassed that of a dyspeptic before and after a fasting-cure. The relief of his overburdened stomach has given Nature a chance to expurgate all sorts of encumbrances: accumulated ingesta, vitiated humors and sixteen different kinds of pinching, gnawing and excavating microbes. He feels as if a burden of rags and parasites had been removed from his shoulders; he can continue the pilgrimage of life without a handicap ”

“ The phenomena of fasting for the cure of disease include facts that prove that the human body does not depend for strength or for vitality upon ingested food; the latter is utilized for the repair of the body as the vehicle of the expression of these forces, and by it the material framework is kept in condition to liberate the life principle in its variety of manifestation.
In illness weight is always lost, and, contingent upon the duration or the severity of disease, the substance of the body diminishes in greater or in less degree. ”

“ As we refrain from the use of food, so our fasting satisfies God.": St. Cyprian: " Let us appease the anger of an offended God, by fasting and weeping, as he admonishes us. "St. Basil: "Penance, with out fasting, is useless and vain; by fasting satisfy God."St. Chrysostom: "God, like an indulgent father, offers us a cure by fasting." St. Ambrose also says: "Fasting is the death of sin, the destruction of our crimes, and the remedy of our salvation." St. Jerome, in his Commentary on the third chapter of Jonas, remarks: "Fasting and sackcloth are the arms of penance, the help of sinners." ”

“ The signs of a fully completed fast are most easily recognized. The tongue is pink and clean, the breath, sweet, and appetite or false hunger is replaced by natural desire for food, a sensation exquisite beyond description, that may be realized only by a clean, pure, regenerated system. Natural hunger relishes natural food, and, once it is known, no morsel is without delight. ”

“ Now in wasting or famishing from the want of food, this process of elimination goes on in a much more rapid manner than ordinarily, and the vital force, which would otherwise be expended in digesting the food taken, acts now in expelling from the vital domain, whatever morbid matters it may contain. This, then, is a beautiful idea in regard to the fasting-cure—that whenever a meal of food is omitted, the body purifies itself thus much from its disease, and this becomes apparent in the subsequent amendment, both as regards bodily feeling and strength. ”

“ Again, those who need this new transmutation process the very worst are always surrounded by a bevy of old thought doctors who are signed, sealed and delivered to their old idea of food as a necessity; and these caution the patient seriously against fasting. Or they are just as completely bound by friends and relatives who will watch the green and yellow colors of the dying flesh,—which is bound to appear during the first few days of fasting—and they will worry and fret at every change in the lustre of the eve or the color of the skin. ”