Today is the 3rd day.

Since I was 15, I've participated in the Bahá'í Fast, a 19-day fast preceding the Bahá'í New Year. It is a time of increased prayer, reflection, and meditation, during which we eat and drink only before sunrise and after sunset.

The early mornings and hunger bring out a tenderness and vulnerability. The day-to-day is harder with the reduced energy and adjusted schedule.

While the physical structure of the fast is important, it takes a back seat to the spiritual purpose: to open oneself to spiritual susceptibilities and draw closer to the Divine.

Personally, the Bahá'í Fast is something I look forward to with a teaspoon of dread. It is a time where I feel I can reconnect with the Bahá'í Faith and refresh my spirit. Despite the difficulty, there is a quiet joy in surrendering to the rhythm of the fast—waking up in the stillness of dawn, breaking the fast in the evening, and feeling a renewed sense of clarity.

Today, I'll share a few lessons that have emerged for me so far during the fast:

1. The Fast is an opportunity to dance with discomfort.
   Hunger is a distinct pain. Fatigue is a ball and chain to drag around. These make our daily tasks harder, but they remind me of my biggest takeaway from Vipassana meditation: pain is sensation; this too shall pass. We have an opportunity to feel these discomforts, observe what arises from them, and choose our response. We can practice cultivating awareness with each hunger pang.

2. The Fast reveals our emotions more deeply.
   This is another opportunity to rely on the Divine as a rock through the storm. I've noticed that negative emotions feel more present during this time—sadness, anger, longing. I am reminded of Rumi's Guest House—that these emotions are visitors we must welcome, honor, and release when their visit is complete. They reflect deep desires and yearnings, but they also remind me to lean on friends, loved ones, and community. I’ve found comfort in simply being together with others, co-regulating in each other’s presence.

3. Fasting with flexibility is still fasting.
   My fast is not as strict this time. A younger me would follow it exactly by the book—if it wasn't exact, it was invalid. I would compromise sleep to wake up early enough to eat. If I woke up too late, I would go hungry all day. Even during an important exam, I wouldn't break the structure. But these days, I give myself permission to adjust.

   I experiment with having coffee after sunrise. I might skip breakfast but allow myself water and coffee throughout the day in tempered amounts. I may even have a smoothie or a protein shake after a morning workout. It is not the exact replica of the Bahá'í Fast structure, but it remains in its spirit. While not a dry fast, it is a zero-calorie fast and still presents challenges. And if I do introduce calories, I try to maintain the essence of the practice. My main point is to remain in the spirit of the fast and to share with others that I am fasting.

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Here's my invitation:
If you are fasting, what is the spirit of your fast? If you’re not able to execute it exactly, what modifications can you make so that you still remain in that spirit?

You may find yourself relating to fasting in a whole new way.