techniques Archives - NURTURE YOUR SPIRIT

Fasting For Spiritual Awakening (How To Fast For Breakthroughs)

February 7, 2024

If you’re on the journey to awakening you’re likely trying all kinds of techniques and practices. One such practice that can aid in a consciousness breakthrough is fasting. Are wondering if fasting is worth it for spiritual awakening? And if so, how do you do it and for how long? Let’s find out together in today’s post. Key Takeaways Fasting as a spiritual practice The practice of fasting can be found in just about every world religion and spiritual tradition out there. Why? Because fasting really does have spiritual benefits. Christians often fast and pray during specific seasons of the year. Muslims fast during Ramadan. Other traditions fast simply for it’s cognitive and consciousness enhancing effects. Humans in general have been fasting both intentionally and unintentionally out of necessity for tens of thousands of years. Spiritual Benefits of Fasting There are several reasons to fast for spiritual growth and awakening. Here are some spiritual benefits of fasting: Heightened awareness The greatest benefit of fasting is it’s consciousness enhancing effect. Fasting creates conditions in the body such as ketosis which enhance focus and hone your awareness. Fasting can create a mindset of clear consciousness that is conducive to having spiritual insights. Having clear awareness is the foundation of awakening. Cleansing Many spiritual traditions fast for the purpose of cleansing. The Hindu tradition believes that fasting can cleanse the mind, body, and spirit. There is real scientific evidence to back. Research shows that fasting can: This can have a compounding positive effect on your mind and body. Having an optimized mind and body will make the experience of awakening easier to achieve. Practicing discipline and focus Some spiritual traditions simply fast as a practice of discipline. Developing discipline through fasting can give you an edge during meditation and other spiritual practices that aid in awakening. How to Fast for Spiritual Breakthroughs Fasting for spiritual insights is relatively simply, but there are a few things you should know before starting your fast. Set Your intention The first step in a spiritual fast is to set your intention. Setting an intention may not seem that important, but it can really make a big difference. State that the purpose of this fast is to help you break into greater consciousness. This will give a sense of focus and purpose to your fast. Don’t go into a fast without a proper reason, otherwise you may not receive the outcome you hope for. Where focus goes, energy flows. Choose what type of fast There are many different types of fasts you can choose to try including: These are the main types of fasting. One isn’t better than the other, however I’d recommend an intermittent fast for your first attempt. Determine how long you will fast Before you begin should determine how long your fast will go for. There’s no right or wrong answer here and you should always listen to your body if you feel the duration is getting too long to handle. However, to enter into a state of ketosis, which creates many of the consciousness enhancing benefits you’re likely looking for, you should fast for at least 12 hours. Meditation and fasting If you’re attempting to fast for the purpose of having an awakening meditation can be very effective. Meditating while fasting will compound the consciousness expanding effects of both. This can be a particularly potent combination for spiritual awakening and existential insights. Try to set aside 20 to 30 minutes to meditate during the peak of your fast for the best results. Breaking your fast If you’re breaking a fast of less than 36 hours then simply eat a regular sized meal that you would normally eat at that time of day. If you’re breaking a fast of more than 36 hours then eat a high protein snack of roughly 200 calories first around an hour before your true sized meal. This will allow your gut to reengage and mitigate unpleasant refeeding syndrome symptoms. Fasting Challenges Fasting, especially your first few time, can be more challenging than you anticipated. Let’s talk about how to overcome some of these common challenges. Weight loss Some people find that fasting can cause unexpected weight loss. For some this is a pleasant surprise, while others aren’t as happy about this aspect of their spiritual practice. If this is a concern of yours simply fast for shorter periods of time and eat plenty of calories before and after your fast. see also how spiritual awakening can cause weight loss. Feeling weak and/or dizzy A common concern during a fast for spiritual growth is weakness and dizziness. This happens quite commonly for first time fasters. If this happens to you make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and not being over active. Take it easy on fast days. The emphasis of this type of fast should be on slowing down and going inward, so limit your physical activity on fast days. If you ever feel to weak or uncomfortable simply break your fast with the recommended guidelines above. Hunger and cravings Many people at the beginning of their fast will feel very hungry and experience cravings for food. This is very normal and should be expected. Eventually later on in a fast these cravings will tone down. While your hunger and cravings are present simply observe it and mindfully tap into the unpleasant experience. Use this as a focus point for your meditation until it goes away. Tips on fasting for awakening Here are 2 extra things to keep in mind while fasting for awakening. Stay hydrated Make sure you’re not getting dehydrated during your fast. Drink plenty of water throughout your spiritual fast. Listen to your body Finally, make sure you’re listening to your body. If you ever become too weak or dizzy it may be time to break the fast. Overdoing it for the sake of a spiritual breakthrough is not worth an accidental trip to the ER. Stay in touch with your body and take it

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How To Awaken Through Self-Inquiry Meditation

February 6, 2024

One of the most well known meditation techniques for spiritual awakening is self-inquiry, known in the Hindu tradition as Jnana yoga. This powerful technique involves questioning your thoughts and beliefs to gain insight into your true nature. By examining the stories we tell ourselves, we can begin to see through them and discover a deeper sense of peace and freedom. self-inquiry involves gaining insight into who we truly are by diving deeper and deeper behind the layers of identity we’ve placed on our consciousness. To begin practicing self-inquiry meditation, it’s important to understand the fundamentals of meditation. If you don’t know how to meditation please see my article on basic mindfulness meditation. With a solid foundation in place, you can begin to prepare for self inquiry meditation. Key Takeaways Fundamentals of Self-Inquiry Meditation What is self inquiry? Self inquiry is the meditative practice of exploring the “I” by questioning what the self really is. This may involve asking yourself simple questions like “Who am I?” or “What is the nature of my existence?” As you continue to explore these questions, you may begin to experience moments of insight and clarity. However, it’s important to be aware of the way your ego likes to trick you in this process. Understanding the Self Self-inquiry meditation is a practice that involves questioning the nature of the self. It’s a process of self-discovery that helps you to understand who you are and what your true nature is. The self is fundamentally a made up construct of our mind. The self that we think we are is simply a thought. Your body, your thoughts, and your identify are not really what you are. The self you think you are is just a set of thoughts and constructs that you’ve been conditioned to believe is you since your birth. As you continue to practice self-inquiry, you may find that your understanding of yourself evolves and changes. Any thought that arises of “self” is not the true self. This is because who we really are is beyond thought altogether. It’s something you must simply become aware of. The Role of the Observer The observer is a key aspect of self-inquiry meditation. It is the part of you that is able to observe your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without becoming attached to them. This is why basic mindfulness meditation is important for cultivating the observer. To cultivate the observer, start by simply observing your thoughts without judgment or analysis. Notice the thoughts that arise and let them pass without becoming attached to them. As you continue to practice, you may find that your ability to observe becomes stronger and easier. This can lead to greater clarity and insight into the nature of the self. This practice paired with continually turning in on the self and questioning it can lead to an awakening of true self. Preparing for Meditation Creating a Conducive Environment Creating a peaceful and quiet environment can help you focus and relax during your meditation. Here are some to consider before starting your self-inquiry practice: The Practice of Self-Inquiry Below is one of my favorite guided meditations for self-inquiry. I highly suggest this for a first dive into self-inquiry. The Questioning Technique To begin, sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and let your mind settle. Then, ask yourself a question such as “Who am I?” or “What am I really?” Allow the question to sink in and observe any thoughts or feelings that arise. Don’t try to answer the question with your mind, rather use your awareness to try and go deeper. Focusing the Mind As you continue to ask yourself these questions, you may notice that your mind becomes distracted or wanders off. This is very normal. When you notice your mind wanders, gently bring it back to the question of “who am I?” Deepening Awareness As you practice self-inquiry, you may begin to notice a shift in your awareness. You’ll start to see through constructs of the mind and reality. Insights can happen in a single moment and be a profound experience. You can have many awakenings this way, going deeper each time. You can keep going back to self-inquiry even after you’ve your first awakening. Challenges and Obstacles False Answers As you practice self-inquiry your mind will want to answer the question you’re presenting to yourself. Any answer you think of is not what we’re looking for. Sometimes we can even trick ourselves with very subtle thoughts. Any visualization or feeling you come up with is not it. You will know when it happens. What you’re looking for is a shift in awareness that is greater than the mind or any thought. It’s more like an a-ha eureka moment. Dealing with Distractions When practicing any kind of meditation distractions are to be expected. Our mind likes to focus on noise and mental chatter. To deal with these tempting distractions simply acknowledge them without judgment and gently return to the self inquiry practice. Self Inquiry FAQs Can self-inquiry meditation lead to a spiritual awakening? Yes, self-inquiry meditation can absolutely cause an awakening. In fact it’s one of the most well known practices used to intentionally achieve spiritual awakening today. Is Jnana yoga the same thing as self-inquiry? Jnana yoga and self inquiry are essentially the same practices. Jnana yoga is simply the original Yogic practice created in India that founded the method of questioning the self through meditation. Self inquiry is the Westernized name for Jnana yoga. How long does self-inquiry take to work? Results from self inquiry are different for everyone. Some people will experience an awakening within a few days of practicing self-inquiry while others will struggle with it for years before having breakthroughs.

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What is The Qabalistic Cross? (Beginning of The LBRP)

August 4, 2023

The Qabalistic Cross (also known as the Kabalistic Cross) is part of a broader ritual known as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP). It’s a practice that originated within the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, an organization that paved the Western magical tradition. The Qabalistic Cross is essentially a visualization exercise used to expand your consciousness and bring divine light into your being. Before we begin, I want to preface the power of this visualization. This exercise is something to be taken seriously, and not played around with. Only do this if you’re ready to bring powerful divine energy into your body. Seriously… How to do the Qabalistic Cross The Qabalistic Cross serves as both the beginning and end of the LBRP. It’s a way to center and ground oneself, aligning with the cosmic forces and bring divine energy into your being. Take your time with each step. Let’s break it down: What does the Qabalistic Cross do? The Qabalistic Cross is an exercise that brings divine energy into your body. This can signals to your subconscious mind and higher self that you are ready to handle more divinity. Doing this exercise will expand your consciousness and fill you with spiritual energy. This may look like: This is why I prefaced the power of this technique at the beginning, because some individuals may not be ready for this kind of energy to be held in their body. Personally, doing the Qabalistic Cross caused a kundalini awakening in me. Chanting Vs. Visualizing Chanting the words of the ritual may be helpful for some, though it isn’t necessary. The important part of the qabalistic cross is the visualization and feeling of the energy. Though saying the words associated with each step can help, in my experience it is not the important part. Make sure you genuinely feel your body expanding during the first step and feel the energy vibrating and pulsating through your body with each next step. It’s the deep feelings you bring up that causes the real changes and consciousness shifts. Make it your own Once you do this ritual a few times, feel free to ditch what doesn’t work for you and keep what does. Fine tune the exercise to suite what feels best for you. You are your own best compass in spiritual work. Trust what your gut is telling you and focus on what feels right. Conclusion The Qabalistic Cross is an esoteric technique created by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn used to access divine energy and bring it into your being. It can create profound shifts in your consciousness and grow you spiritually. If you ever feel like you have brought too much energy into your being, stop the practice for a few days and let the energy settle down.

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