Sacred Fasting

 I often think of fasting as a , a way to sit down with myself, face-to-face, without the noise of the world. No distractions, no comforts, just the raw truth of what my body and spirit are carrying. It’s humbling. It’s also liberating. In Ayurveda, fasting is more than abstaining from food; it’s a ritual of renewal. The Vedic texts speak of fasting as a way to ignite Agni, our sacred digestive fire , and burn away not just physical impurities, but the mental and emotional residue we accumulate.

And in shamanism? The same wisdom echoes. Fasting becomes a portal. Stripped of the constant cycle of consumption, the veils thin. The earth speaks louder, dreams grow vivid, and the spirits ,the ones we forget are always listening ,can be heard again.

In Vedic tradition, Agni is not just the fire in our belly that digests food. It is the spark of life itself. Every thought we think, every experience we digest, is governed by Agni. When it’s strong, we feel clear, energized, and in harmony. When it’s weak, we become sluggish, both physically and emotionally. Disease takes root. The ancient rishis knew this well. They fasted not to punish the body, but to cleanse and honor it, to restore the brilliance of Agni.

For me, fasting is a way to step out of the endless rhythm of wanting. There’s a stillness that comes on the second day, when the cravings fall quiet and the body remembers its own intelligence. In that stillness, I’ve felt my father’s presence. I’ve heard the whispers of my own heart. Shamanically, fasting is a form of soul retrieval , a way of calling back the parts of ourselves we’ve neglected.

Both Vedic and shamanic traditions teach that emptiness is not something to fear. It’s a gateway. In ceremony, shamans may fast for days, entering states of heightened awareness. The hunger becomes a teacher, revealing what is truly essential. In the Vedic world, this emptiness is called Upavasa , to “sit near” the Divine. It’s not about deprivation. It’s about proximity. By clearing away the excess, we return to what has always been there.

I remember one particular fast, deep in the mountains of Costa  Rica sitting in ceremony. No food. Just water, prayers, and the sound of the drum. The hunger gnawed at first, but then it shifted. My senses sharpened. I could hear the wind, not just as noise, but as language. The plants pulsed with life. And somewhere in that vast silence, I understood something , not with my mind, but with my bones. The earth was holding me. The same way it held my ancestors. The same way it will hold my son.

Ayurveda teaches us to return from fasting with reverence. After the fire has burned away what no longer serves, the body is tender, like a newborn. Simple foods ,warm broths, kichari, herbal teas , remind Agni of its purpose. Even the act of sipping water becomes sacred. In those first bites, I often offer gratitude. Not just for the food, but for the hunger itself. It showed me what I no longer need.

And isn’t that the real fast? To let go of the stories, the habits, the attachments that weigh us down. Whether it’s the weight of sugar, resentment, or grief , we all carry something. Fasting invites us to lay it down. To empty the vessel. So that we might be filled, once again, with the truth of who we are.

If you feel called, consider a day of fasting. Not as a challenge, but as an offering. Light a candle. Sip warm water. Journal. Walk in nature. Listen. Notice what rises when the body is no longer busy with digestion. And when it is time to eat again, eat with presence. Let the nourishment be a prayer.

In both the Vedic and shamanic worlds, fasting reminds us that emptiness is not a void. It is a space of infinite possibility. And perhaps, in that space, we remember what it means to be free.

-Shanti Freedom Das