Fasting Success Story

[Rapid]

Hi, everyone. If you guys remember, a little while back, I wrote about my difficulty with fasting one day a week. I was doing it in preparation for my vision quest trip (you can read a description of the trip here: Sacred Journeys - specialists in vision quest and Native American Vision Quest).

About two weeks before my trip, I went to see my doctor to get my electrolytes level tested. Everything was fine.

During the first few days of my vision quest trip, I had vegetarian meals (lots of fruits, salads, bean stew, vegetable pasta, veggie sandwich, etc.). Then for four days I fasted: 1 gallon of water a day. I added gatorade powder to a bottle of water once a day and carried some sugar-free hard candy with me for energy. Whenever I felt hungry, I would drink water (and had to go to the bathroom a lot!). I had no problem fasting whatsoever. I liked how my mind was clear and energetic. But my body lost stamina since I was not taking in calories (don't do anything too physical during your fast!).

I'm back home now and am experimenting with making vegetarian meals. It's a challenge because sometimes I don't take in enough calories. At least now I know that when my stomach growls, it doesn't mean that if I don't feed it right away, I will die.

Just wanted to share my success story.

[Barcs]

Good for you, although I'm not so sure about the gatorade and the candy, even though it's sugar free. What else did you do in the vision quest? I've read some Tom Brown Jr. books and he did a 40 day vision quest. He consumed nothing but water and only slept when he couldn't stay awake. It sounds like an awesome and humbling experience.

[Mato Kinze]

Hey Rapid... Aho. Congratulations on your Vision Quest. In my tradition, we call it "Hambleyca" or "Crying for a Vision." We do it a little differently than you experienced, but the basics are similar.

Normally, though, for us at least, we don't take water or sleep either during the Quest.

Also part of my Tradition incorporates a four-day water fast prior to each Solstice and Equinox. The first time I did one, I started doing one, then two-day fasts about a month before so I could be sure I'd make it. In those days, the first couple of days were the hardest, but by the end of end of the second day, things pretty much settled down.

Those early experiences really helped me break some bad eating behaviors. I used to get a little panicky if I got hungry and start thinking, "I GOTTA eat...I GOTTA eat..." After my first fast, though, I realized that I don't "GOTTA" do anything.

It's all about allowing yourself to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

[Rapid]

Hi. Every morning I had to climb up and down a hill to get to my stone pile (to put rocks, cones, on it so that the leader would know that I was alright). It was helpful to take a hard candy before my climb. I had very little physical stamina during my four-day fast (due to no calorie intake) and had to pause several times to rest during the climb. I carried a package of about 20 candies with me for the four days. I took my last candy on the morning of the fifth day, the day when I was to pack up everything and carry it all back to base camp (it was exhausting!).

In terms of what we were supposed to do during our four-day solo time: It was a time to release all past hurts (and leave them on the land) and to ask nature/life/inner wisdom/your god/whatever for guidance on any issues in your life. I could observe, scream, sob, sing, dance, laugh, talk out loud, etc. (Nobody would hear me). I did all the above except dancing. I had to get over my fears of being alone, being in the dark with no fire, fasting, basically at the mercy of nature with no one nearby to help me - and surrendering to the present.

I would say go on a vision quest only if you really want to.

[Rapid]

We were supposed to stay awake the fourth night. I tried to but nodded off a couple of times during the night.

I also have similar experience with my hunger. It feels like my hunger is not controlling me as much.