I
am not fasting this Ramadan. Over the past few years I have often not
fasted, due to the blessings of babies. Consequently, in my
endeavours to move closer to Allah during this month, I have
retained, rather than given up, my dependence upon food and plentiful
drink during daylight.
I
used to practice a Lenten fast, for which I did not abstain from
eating and drinking from dawn til dusk, but rather I temporarily gave
up particular consumer practices over a six week period. For my last
Lenten fast, I chose to give up a few key things that I felt mastered
how I planned and enjoyed my daily structure. Having let go of them,
I shifted easily into devoting more time, thought and love to
activity which nurtured my sense of spiritual well being and my sense
of being able to be useful for good in this world.
For
me, it has been easier to make shifts in my living habits and
patterns when I've given up tangible things. So this year for
Ramadan, I want to use Ramadan as a focal period for giving up
consumer things that consume me spiritually and are destructive to
myself and others, and for moving towards my true needs for spiritual
wellness and for being constructive to a better world. My intention
is to be guided by the transformative approach behind Wisdom in
Nature's, Fast
for the Planet.
http://fastfortheplanet.net/
I
have chosen to focus upon two movements from the concept of Fast
for the Planet:
'to move away from our collective submission to consumerism'; and 'to
move towards simplicity, sharing, and community building.' So, if
Allah wills it so, I'll keep you up to date with how I act upon these
intentions.
Wishing
you the blessings of Ramadan,
Elizabeth
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