long fast 49.1.4.5.6 to 52

[treehaven]

Asked: "I am on day 19 of long fast. If I take it to 40 days, probable outcome?

Answer:. 49.1.4.5.6 to 52

Looks good to me. See any problems in hexagrams?

 

[Trojina]

You didn't ever go back to the responses here ?

Called to fast?

Asked: "If I answer call to long fast, probable outcome?" Answer: Vessel changing to Traveling For health, spiritual, transformative reasons, I have long thought I might be called to a long fast (up to 40 days). Once, 33 years ago (now I'm 81, going on 100), my body "chose" to fast...

www.onlineclarity.co.uk

It's important to acknowledge replies and also update otherwise it's all a bit pointless. We spent time answering but saw no update so we don't learn anything nor do future readers and it feels like it was a waste of time replying.

Perhaps you are too hungry to reply

 

[hilary]

I did have a look at this reading in preparation for yesterday's Well Gathering. I agree the reading isn't pointing to any obvious problems. The impression I get, though, from a combination of Hexagram 52 ('not seeing your people', not reacting) and especially 49.5, with confidence before the augury, is that it's not helpful to be asking a group of people or an oracle about when to stop. You followed your body's promptings to start the fast, and you can do the same for when to stop it. There's no call to make a firm decision on day 19 about what you'll be doing another 20 days from now. Dizziness? Palpitations? Weakness? Or just an inner nudge to eat? Time to stop!

(A non-reading-related thought: I hope you have someone around who can keep an eye on you, just in case anything changes suddenly?)

 

[treehaven]

I did have a look at this reading in preparation for yesterday's Well Gathering. I agree the reading isn't pointing to any obvious problems. The impression I get, though, from a combination of Hexagram 52 ('not seeing your people', not reacting) and especially 49.5, with confidence before the augury, is that it's not helpful to be asking a group of people or an oracle about when to stop. You followed your body's promptings to start the fast, and you can do the same for when to stop it. There's no call to make a firm decision on day 19 about what you'll be doing another 20 days from now. Dizziness? Palpitations? Weakness? Or just an inner nudge to eat? Time to stop!

(A non-reading-related thought: I hope you have someone around who can keep an eye on you, just in case anything changes suddenly?)

I have several old mediation friends who know me well that I'm touching base with by phone. Talk with one or more daily. Help me assess where I'm "at" physically, mentally, "spiritually". No long ego based stuff, just fairly clean back and forth on the new scientific studies on long fast, intermittent fasting, autophagy, etc. Reinforcing new material I'm getting, mainly off internet and Youtube. Since this was not a premeditated fast, but partially induced by my ancient little dog (18 years old) and my reluctance to let him go, I'm having to scramble to try to be safely fasting within known scientific limits. My little Jethro managed to makes his transition a couple of weeks ago and the fast seemed to be helping going through my grieving. In most ways, I'm basically a hermit, usually. But the luxury of Jethro's companionship while in almost total isolation on my little mountain homestead was very seductive. I adopted him from a friend who thought he would die soon. I talked him into letting me bring him with me to the mountains so he could have a lot of sunshine and fresh air and have somebody with him all the time. He had a very happy year for an 18 year old (over 110 or so in human years). By week two of fast, realized that my weary spirit, my chronically unwell body, and less-than-bright mind were all enlivening and I was felling better every day. Therefore, continuing the fast, with deep rest and trying to figure out how to safely end it. Feeling safe and blessed. Reaching out to the I ching for a double check. I've found it very helpful in the past. My intuition is usually pretty good determining when to rest, fast, whatever; but long, long fast can be tricky and there is much new science that I may not fully understand and could be in over my head. I thought the I ching reading matched my intuitive take almost perfectly. Not really in doubt, I felt it would be advisable to ask you more mature I chingers if you see any warnings or pitfalls suggested in the reading that I don't have the knowledge to understand. I could be having a desire to renew and be made whole get out of the boundaries of safety. We can all be wrong sometimes. I simply don't want to be foolish and mess up. This is the first thread I've posted and figured out how to get feedback. So... we'll see what else you've said and I hope to learn from ya'll and maybe have a little more understand of the I. I am a complete novice on the mechanisms and only work intuitively to understand the texts of the readings. Hillary, every fast I've ever done ended itself naturally and I trust that, but this fast seems different. I have known that sometime in my life there would be a time to have the freedom from daily survival cares to do a renewal fast. My spirit has yearned for this at times of trial. I am so thankful for my simple life, with fresh air, no planes overhead (because of protection of national park restrictions, no semi trucks, trains, sirens, etc. Perfect place and time for very deep transformation. But, I don't want to romanticize and so I am reaching out for clarity (no pun intended). I know we can all be tempted by wishful thinking, and the I ching gives me such powerful validation usually, that I wonder if I'm just hearing what I want to hear. I want to know that I'm not some kind of new age goofball. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and caring, Hillary. I am enjoying my experience of renewal. Many improvements. Think I'm responsibly dealing with electrolytes, probiotics, enzymes, etc. responsibly; so no serious physical discomfort and a lot of a sense of simplicity and (what a word!) purity. It feels so wonderful. Not for everybody, but such a blessing.

You didn't ever go back to the responses here ?

Called to fast?

Asked: "If I answer call to long fast, probable outcome?" Answer: Vessel changing to Traveling For health, spiritual, transformative reasons, I have long thought I might be called to a long fast (up to 40 days). Once, 33 years ago (now I'm 81, going on 100), my body "chose" to fast...

www.onlineclarity.co.uk

It's important to acknowledge replies and also update otherwise it's all a bit pointless. We spent time answering but saw no update so we don't learn anything nor do future readers and it feels like it was a waste of time replying.

Perhaps you are too hungry to reply

Sorry, Trojina, haven't figured out how to do this, yet. A lot going on in my life and haven't had the time and energy to learn new stuff that isn't directly related to getting my new little mountainside homestead sustainable. Taking about all I've got. The unplanned fast has slowed down getting my late garden planted (I need the food), getting my little camper moved and renovated before winter sets in (some serious construction), and dealing with physical therapy for curvature of the spine (getting there). As I told Hillary, the reading on both my fasting posts were so positive, I feared I might be only hearing what I wanted to, therefore asked the community to tell me if anyone might think I was unintionally under-reading or misreading the response from I. At 81, I don't want to add "foolish" to my old woman description. Feedback, please? Thanks for encouraging me to learn to do feedback. Have avoided the forums for years because I haven't had the energy, confidence, or practical skills to participate. As a meditating hermit I generally don't do much contact and normal buzzing around. Again, my apologies.

Old Beth @ treehaven.

p.s. Nope. Not hungry, but having a few lovely thoughts about how good my garden's going to taste when desire returns. Literally, body doesn't have any desire for nourishment except from it's own excess stores. Chronic arthritis and other autoimmune disorders incredibly improving. The biggest joy, though, is freedom from the chronic, daily servitude to survival. A big vacation from worldly cares. Leaves energy for spiritual blossoming.