Fasting As A Vision Quest by Ingrid Petres

"​Our evolution over the last two millennia has focused increasingly on material reality, economic growth, consumption, and scientifically oriented mental development." Hoffman. Man has created many fantastic things through this mentally oriented expansion, but it is becoming increasingly obvious that the manner in which we are brought up in Western society is not sustainable for the future of our planet. ​
Our Earth is sick.

As above so below, as without so within.

​We cannot run from the destruction we are causing. It is, and will continue to affect our species health if we do not cc

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​Changing our view of reality starts with disconnecting from our culture. Right now, Earth is telling us to unplug. Disconnect from the society and our enculturation and reconnect with Nature.
We have been enculturated into certain belief systems that are not working. All This mental expansion has expanded our mind but atrophied the heart.  Nature is providing us an opportunity to fast from our enculturation. I want to encourage people to utilize this time wisely. ​​Past cultures often fasted to cry for a vision. They fasted to cry for healing and direction. I believe we all need to be crying for a vision.        
We need to unplug and reset. 
It begins with each one of us individually. We do not need to be pointing our finger outside of ourselves and blaming others for our problems. We need to have humility and realize our job is to heal one person...Ourself. We are either the Victim in this journey or we are the Hero in this journey. It is a personal choice. At this unprecedented time in history we are being presented with a chance to fast from our incessant consuming and to separate ourselves from the unhealthy culture that we have been brought up in. Let us reclaim the ability to be the hero or heroine of  our journey and truly heal from the wound of our way of life. Let us reconnect with our hearts and our souls to heal. Let us reconnect and develop true gratitude to nature and her creatures. Western culture has been built on trauma. Trauma inflicted on the Earth, other species, and our own species. It is no wonder Heart disease is the biggest killer in western cultures. Our culture weakens our connection to our heart and soul.  "In all older cultures there was a belief that the soul resided in the heart. All languages point to this underlying truth. Our daily language contains (as do all languages) wisdom about the heart that we rarely call up into our conscious minds... Big-hearted, goodhearted, kindhearted, heartfelt, heart’s desire, follow your heart listen to your heart, lost heart, broken heart, have a heart, heartless, cold hearted, hard hearted." Buhner 
​Our culture has atrophied our heart and our belief in soul and spirit. The more our society has focused on mental development the more our heart center has atrophied. 

​I believe we need to disconnect so we can begin to redevelop the ability to directly perceive the spirit of the Earth and her creatures. We need to regain reverence to nature. We need to detoxify from our culture and clear the scars from our hearts. We need to reconnect to our energy and the energy that sustains us in actuality ... our Earth. I believe Western culture needs to develop Direct Revelation of the Spirituality of Nature. Open ourselves up to the possibility that the way things will change is by directing love toward our beautiful Earth and consciously directing love to our heart and soul.
We need to cry for a vision of a healthier future. 
Carl Jung warned that if we did not explore and nourish the psyche, we would not survive as a civilization. 

​Our soul has a purpose. It has a medicine for humanity and it is your job to shine your light. The light we shine into the world needs to live in accordance with our inner truth but this truth has become clouded by our cultural conditioning. We all so often have been encouraged away from the direction our heart and soul beckoned to us. This has caused soul loss. By being stripped of our connection to our soul we rely on our culture too much to dictate what we should be doing. 

How can we then Heal?
I believe the first step is to loosen the chains of the over-culture through fasting. Stephen Harrod Buhner, a well known herbalist and author, claims 
"Fasting has always been viewed, in every culture that has existed prior to contemporary time, as an essential act at some time in every person’s life for creating an opening in the self into which knowledge of the sacredness of the world and the work of the soul can come." Buhner 

Fasting dissolves physical toxins and helps you become more balanced and sensitive and aware of what is healthy for you personally. During the fast attending to what surfaces emotionally can help you clear past traumas that need to be dissolved. The journey often leads you psychologically to moments you experienced soul loss. When acknowledged and released you gain pieces of your energy back and become whole and balanced. In shamanism they refer to this as "Soul Retrieval" As we travel on through this journey we rediscover our purpose. 

If each of us individually rebalances and regains health we will effect the health of our whole society. Our unique gifts will arise to answer the problems of today. 

​This blog post is intended to provide the reader with inspiration and a guided Journey. The program can be tailored to suit yourself. As you foster a relationship with your unconscious you experience direct revelation and may be lead intuitively. I firmly believe you are your own healer and by healing yourself you will be doing your part in the journey for the healing of the world. I hope this guide rekindles in you a more intimate connection to nature, and purges you of any scars that prevent your beautiful light from shining bright. May you reclaim your soul's purpose and achieve vibrant health. 

Preparation
In the days / weeks before your fasting journey prepare by gathering your medicine bag. You will need kitchari supplies, a journal,  a form of Sacred Healing Bundle, Bath Salt, and perhaps a Detoxifying Herbal Tea. Begin adjusting your diet  gently eliminating sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.  Contemplate this experience as a sacred journey. Formulate a statement as to what you personally wish to achieve with this fast.

I highly recommend gathering some reading material to feed your soul through your journey. I have listed some books below that inspired this post and have all had part in shaping my healing journey. 

"The Transformational Power of Fasting, the Way to Spiritual, Physical, and Emotional Rejuvenation", Stephen Harrod Buhner  

"Absolute Beauty, Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through The Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda", Pratima Raichur with Marican Cohn

"Soul Retrieval, Mending the Fragmented Self", Sandra Ingerman

"Shamanic Journeying, A Beginner's Guide", Sandra Ingerman 

"Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm, Into the Dreaming of Earth" Stephen Harrod Buhner

The evening before you begin you may wish to have a bath, or perhaps pull a guidance card as described below. You may wish to take 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. triphala in the evening. This can be done every night of the fast. Triphala is a powdered herbal combination of three dried fruit. It is extremely high in vitamin C and it is a gentle laxative that balances the digestive system. 

Diet 
There are many methods of fasting. Ayurveda, the medical science of India, recommends a mono diet fast consisting of cooked mung beans and rice. This combination they call kitchari is prepared with spices that aid in digestion. This balanced combination of food is an excellent complete protein. It nourishes the tissues of the body and is excellent for
de-ageing the cells. The goal is to relieve your digestive system by feeding it easy to digest foods so that your body may focus on detoxification. As we clear toxins both mentally and physically we begin to gain more intuitive guidance that can help us uncover our greater purpose. Below is a typical kitchari recipe that is balancing to all doshas. STL Herbs and Aromatics have created a Kitchari Kit that includes everything in the below recipe except for the ghee and the rice. 

​A Basic Kitchari Recipe:
1 cup rinsed mung beans. Soaked over-night at room temperature.
1 cup basmati rice
3 Tablespoons Ghee or Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Turmeric Powder
2 teaspoons Cumin Powder
2 teaspoons Coriander Powder
6 cups of water 
¼ tsp salt
 
Heat a medium sauce pan with ghee. When hot add spices and warm them until they become fragrant. Mix in rice, beans, water and salt. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 25-30 minutes or until done. 
 
This is the only food taken during the duration of the fast which typically lasts 1-3 days. The kitchari is eaten by the cup full when hungry. Some steamed vegetables are allowed as well. Eliminate alcohol, and caffeine.

Drink 6-8 cups fresh water or herbal tea. Detoxifying Herbal teas like Burdock or Red Clover assist the body in the detoxification process or Try STL Herbs and Aromatics Detoxifying Liver Tonic. Digestive Herbal Teas like Ginger, Fennel, or Clove would be good choices as well. STL Herbs and Aromatics make a Digestive Support Tea, or try our Immunity Chai. 


Sample Daily Routine 
This sample daily cleansing routine to be done during the kitchari fast can be mixed and matched to taylor the program to your needs. During the fast it is important to be as disconnected from society as possible. Of course this may be difficult for you in your life but try to consciously talk as little as possible. Spend time in nature. Try to be present, aware and contemplative. Do not watch TV, or engage in social media. The goal is to UNPLUG. 

Morning 
Greet the sun. 
In the morning light incense or a candle and consciously thank the sun for providing energy to us and our planet. Ask it to enlighten your path. 

Detoxifying Bath
Take a detoxifying bath anytime you wish throughout the fast.  It is contemplate how grateful you are for  water. Contemplate how grateful you are to have water to bathe in and to quench your thirst. Ask the water to guide you so you may understand how to heal. Our physical bodies are 80 % water. Consciously connect to this unity. Ask the water to absorb any toxins from your body and transmute them. 

You can add 1 cup of sea salt, epsom salt, baking soda, or try our Detox Bath Salts to enhance the detoxifying effect.  This is often when I listen to a guided meditation or shamanic drumming.

Walking Meditation
Get out on a walk every day of the fast. Physically ground with the environment. This is so beneficial for balancing our energy. The rhythmic energy of the "cross crawl" motion of walking balances our energy. I like to ask the wind to cleanse me of energy that doesn't serve my highest good. Contemplate what you are grateful for. If you wish, ask a question to the universe and pay attention to the world around you. Allow your attention to be led by the surroundings. You may see an animal or hear the lyrics to a song as a car passes that may answer your question. Journaling your experiences will give you greater depth of experience. 

Create
There are many great methods to creatively express emotion. Collage, paint or dance if you feel the desire. Creative expression can help us process trauma that arises to be detoxified. If trauma arises express these feelings and release them energetically through creative expression so they no longer hold your energy. In art therapy creative expression is used to transmute difficult feelings. I like to "bathe" in  aromatic smoke of fragrant herbs to cleanse myself of negativity. 

Smudge
Using aromatic smoke to cleanse and detoxify is an ancient practice. Preindustrial societies cross culturally used various strong smelling herbs often of the Salvia and Artemisia genuses. White Sage may be the herb most commonly associated with the practice that is often referred to as smudging. The aromatic smoke of these plants have been scientifically proven to be antiseptic and antibacterial. The smoke also releases negative ions into the atmosphere. Although this sounds like a bad thing, in this case negative is a positive thing. Modern Science has shown that negative ions are present in great amount around waterfalls and other healing natural places. Smuding can be looked at as a practice of bathing in the aromatic smoke to clear toxins and invite intuitive connection. To smudge yourself, light a sacred herb bundle or stick of incense. Extinguish the flame leaving the tip smoldering. Gently waft the smoke around your body being aware that ash may drop from the wand as you move. Envision the smoke dissipating any toxic / negative energy surrounding you. The ancients believed that the smoke of the incense carries messages to the spirit world. If you desire send a wish or prayer up with smoke. 

"Our contemporary society has become too
human-centered and materialistic. This separates us from each other and our source. We forget the spiritual nature that lives within and behind all forms. We have attached ourselves to certain beliefs about the way things are and these beliefs often imprison us. 

To bring our lives back into alignment with the cosmos, to reconnect with the source that deeply feeds us...we must recognize the spiritual aspect that lives within and behind all forms and structures. When we enhance seemingly ordinary things with smoke and prayer we invite spirit into our homes and work places. " 
Alfred Savinella

During your fast use the healing smoke to clear yourself before and after leaving your personal space, during your bathing ritual or before you go to bed. Clear yourself if you feel angry, sad, or any other imbalance. Envision the smoke energetically dissipating any toxins and traumas that are being released throughout the fast. Modern psychology has proven envisioning a goal happening will make it more likely to happen. You can control your destiny. You can heal. 

If you'd prefer an alternative to the use of smoke,  check out our Sage Room Spray. 

Journal 
I strongly suggest journaling your journey. Journal and sketch your experiences. Journal your dreams. You may experience amazing releases and gain intuitive guidance. Journaling can help you deepen your experience. You are writing your Hero's tale. In my experience symbols that come to you through dreams and through journeys begin to come to you in waking life. In recognizing and documenting these experiences you begin to  have direct perception of reality.  I believe you are your hero and you can create a healthy future for yourself and for humanity. By recovering your particular souls purpose and reconnecting with Nature you can become a non domesticated observer of reality. 

Yoga / Movement / Dance
It is important to physically attend to balancing your energy. There are tons of ways to do this even walking can do this as I mentioned. You may just wish to do some simple stretching, take a walk, or dance to some music. If you are familiar with reiki or energy medicine these are powerful healing modalities that can aid you in your journey. 

Twisting is particularly good for detoxification. One of my favorite practices is the Kundalini Basic Spinal Series.

I also really enjoy the yoga series described in Raichur's  "Absolute Beauty". Despite this books name, it is more of an Ayurvedic guide to complete health. 

Music
Music feeds the soul. It is so important for me in my journeys. I use listening to SoundCloud as  a journey. This music platform detects my musical tastes and continues to send music to me that inspires me. I'd love to promote these beautiful musicians and their gifts. Go check my Soundcloud account ingrid*108*  for inspirational music you can listen to while walking, for ecstatic dance, and yoga .

Evening
Go outside and gaze at the moon in appreciation for her beauty. Maybe ask her to guide you into your dreams that they may bring insight.  


Massage
​During a fast,  massage can help the lymph system to work toxins out of the system. Sesame Oil or Coconut Oil are great options for self massage. I often add 15 drops of Rose or Sandalwood Essential Oil to 1 oz Sesame oil and use this as my body oil. Self massage is a sensuous and enjoyable experience that can help you to develop a loving relationship with your physical body. You can be your own healer even your own massage therapist. Do what intuitively feels good . Absolute Beauty by Raichur explains several great methods for self massage. 

Card Pull 
If you are inspired pull a tarot / guidance card. We really love Michael Tierra's Herbal Tarot and Maia Toll's Illustrated Herbiary.  They both provide an Herbal Ally to work with throughout your experience. I have gained such deep and sacred guidance through both these beautiful decks and their manuscripts. Working with Plant Allies in this manner has given me more personal and spiritual depth of herbal knowledge than any other method of learning about herbal medicine. 

Trataka
Trataka is a powerful practice outlined in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. This yogic meditation has you focus your eyes on a candle flame or the tip of a lit incense stick. The incense or candle is placed three feet in front of you at eye level in a dark room. Focus intently on the smoldering tip for 2-3 minutes. Close the eyes and focus intently on the residual image of the light for a minute or so. Repeat this process several times the breath should be calm and even. End the practice by rubbing the hands together then cup your warmed hands over the eyes to help soothe and relax them. This relaxing practice is said to stimulate the pineal gland creating greater intuition and mental acuity. It is also said to improve vision. This practice can be done in the morning before sunrise but I prefer to do this practice prior to retiring for bed. I have found it to encourage vivid and meaningful dreams. 

Journey 
​Throughout the fast you may wish to explore meditation. There are many methods of meditating. The goal in meditation is to alter our state of conciousness. Altering ones state of consciousness through various methods can facilitate access to unconscious material that can aid us on our healing journey. Ancient shamanic societies had specific methods of doing this. Rhythmic drumming and aromatic smoke help induce theta Brain waves. A guided journey of sorts led one down through a portal into a "lower world" Often an animal spirit or ancestral spirit comes to deliver a message. Modern psychology of today has methods that were born from Jungain Psychology called Active Imagination. It is an extremely similar guided journey of sorts. The guidance that is provided, according to the epistemology of a shamanic culture, is provided by spirits. According to Jungian Psychology the guidance is archetypal knowledge coming forth from the collective unconscious. Sandra Ingerman has many books describing the technique of the Shamanic Journey. I have provided a Youtube link of her describing the shamanic journey. 

Pixie Lighthorse has many lovely guided journey and shamanic drumming tracks you can listen to for free on her SoundCloud page. 

Dream Work. 
Dreaming is in a sense a journey as well. It is a place where the unconscious talks to us through symbolic language. As we fast it is beneficial to be open and attempt to engage our unconscious through every method possible. Many Herbs and their respective Essential Oils are well known to help relax and link us to our unconscious knowledge. Mugwort, Clary Sage, and Laurel are three of my favorite Essential Oils for intuition and Dreamwork. Below is a link to our Aromatic Products containing these plant allies for dreamwork. Try burning our Dream Incense just prior to falling asleep or use our Dreamtime Essential Oil Mixture in your diffuser while you sleep. Before bed simply ask for your dreams to deliver you guidance. 

Conclusion
This outline is just an idea of how to get started constructing your own healing journey. Tailor it to your personal likings. May you clear the scars from your heart and discover your soul's purpose. May we recover our medicine and our connection to our beautiful Earth. May we help heal humanity and begin to evolve into a sustainable, loving world. Blessings to You on your journey
Ingrid

~All photography and artwork are my original creations~ 

Bibliography
Buhner, Stephen Harrod, Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm, Bear and Company, 2014

Buhner, Stephen Harrod, The Transformational Power of Fasting, Healing Arts Press, 2012

Buhner, Stephen Harrod, Secret Teachings of Plants In the Direct Perception of Nature, Bear and Company, 2000

Frawley, Dr. David, and Dr. Lad, Vasant, The Yoga of Herbs, Lotus Press, 1992

Gee, Judee, Intuition awakening Your Inner Guide, Samuel Weiser Inc., 1999

Hoffman, David, The New Holistic Herbal, Element Books, 1992

Holmes, Ernest, The Science of Mind, Wilder Publications, Inc., 2010

Ingermann, Sandra &Wesselman, Hank, Awakening to The Spirit World The Shamanic Path of Direct Revelation, Sound True Inc., 2010

Johnson, Robert, A., Inner Work Using Dreams and Active imagination for Personal Growth, First HarperColliins Paperback 1989

Lad, Usha & Dr. Vasant, Ayurvedic Cooking for Self Healing, The Ayurvedic Press, 2006

Popham, Sajah, Evolutionary Herbalism Science, Spirituality, and Medicine from the Heart of Nature, North Atlantic Books, 2019

Muktibodhanananda, Swami, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yoga Publications Trust, 2008

Raff, Jeffery Ph.D., The Practice of Ally Work Meeting and Partnering with Your Spirit Guide in the Imaginal Realm, Nicholas-Hays Inc., 2006

Raichur, Pratima, Absolute Beauty Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda, First HarperPerennial, 1999

Sachs, Melanie, Ayurvedic Beauty Care Ageless Techniques To Invoke Natural Beauty, Lotus Press 1994

Savinelli, Alfred, Plants of Power, 1997

Vukovic, Laurel, 14-Day Herbal Cleansing A Step-By-Step Guide To All Natural Inner Cleansing Techniques For Increased Energy, Vitality, and Beauty, Prentice Hall Inc.,1998

Warren, Mark, The Magic and Mystery of Plants and The Lore of Survival, Waldenhouse Publishers, 2015

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