To be honest, for the first several years or so, I secretly resented fasting and felt extremely hypocritical for doing it. I felt so incredibly hungry and thirsty (and blasphemous) that I couldn’t fathom how one was suppose to be feeling “spiritual” at the same time. I even had a print out of sunrise and sunset times and followed it staunchly: big last minute gulps of water within 30 seconds of sunrise and a big steaming spoon of food in my hand READY to inhale seconds before sunset. I would often tell myself that once I got married, I would have at least three kids because with combined pregnancy and breastfeeding that would be at least six years of being exempt from fasting! How spiritual is that!

Shoghi Effendi explains the point of the Baha’i Fast in the following excerpt:

…essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.

(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 232)

I am happy to announce that some progress has been made over the years. Last year I found myself on a work trip in Ethiopia during the fast and strangely blasé about all the tasty injera and incredible coffee. I managed to connect with the Addis Ababa Baha’i community one evening and had an unforgettable dinner filled with prayers and celebration.

It would make sense at this point to go on and describe that one magical event that completely revolutionized fasting for me, but the truth is, the internal progress happened and continues to do so as the years go by and, I deepen my understanding for prayer and fasting through the sacred Baha’i writings.

Before I finish off this blog, I wish to share a few gems from a wonderful book of compilations called the Importance of Obligatory Prayer and Fasting and wish all my sisters and brothers throughout the world a spiritual, reflective fasting period:

These are the days of the Fast. Blessed is the one who through the heat generated by the Fast increaseth his love, and who, with joy and radiance, ariseth to perform worthy deeds.

Verily, I say, fasting is the supreme remedy and the most great healing for the disease of self and passion.

And We have ordained obligatory prayer and fasting so that all may by these means draw nigh unto God, the Most Powerful, the Well-Beloved.

Even though outwardly the Fast is difficult and toilsome, yet inwardly it is bounty and tranquility.

There are various stages and stations for the Fast and innumerable effects and benefits are concealed therein. Well is it with those who have attained unto them.

The fasting period, which lasts nineteen days starting as a rule from the second of March every year and ending on the twentieth of the same month, involves complete abstention from food and drink from sunrise till sunset. It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.

(Shoghi Effendi, Directives from the Guardian, p. 27)

Thou hast endowed every hour of these days with a special virtue, inscrutable to all except Thee, Whose knowledge embraceth all created things.

Glory be to Thee, O Lord my God! These are the days whereon Thou hast bidden all men to observe the fast, that through it they may purify their souls and rid themselves of all attachment to anyone but Thee, and that out of their hearts may ascend that which will be worthy of the court of Thy majesty and may well beseem the seat of the revelation of Thy oneness.

(Baha’u'llah, Compilations, Baha’i Prayers)

Find out more about the Baha’i Fast here.