Growing up in Asian culture with Buddhist and Taoist roots, the concept of eating vegetarian wasn’t foreign to me. In our tradition, observing a plant-based diet on the 1st and 15th days of every Lunar month is a natural rhythm used to purify the mind and spirit. It was an easy, familiar practice.
Then, my spiritual awakening happened—and I decided to go all in.
I dropped meat completely and transitioned into full vegetarianism (while still consuming dairy). For three years, I felt aligned with this path. But looking back, I fell into a subtle trap:
I prioritized external spiritual rules over my own physical body.
The Price of Extreme Fasting
Eager to deepen my spiritual practice, I began following teachers who heavily promoted extreme fasting. Their message was persuasive: fasting lightens your energy field, elevates your vibrational frequency, and naturally draws you to cleaner nourishment.
I believed them completely, pushing past my body’s limits. I over-starved myself, engaging in harsh fasts that my physical frame simply wasn’t prepared for.
The consequences were severe. My body revolted, plunging me into intense gastric distress and debilitating acid reflux. It was a painful, humbling wake-up call. I had spent so much energy striving for higher spiritual planes that I had completely abandoned the physical vessel keeping me alive. It took almost a full year to recover.
Dialogue with the Self: Healing from Within
Throughout my spiritual training, I had always been taught to listen to my chakras, organs, and cells—yet I had ignored them completely. It took getting sick to force me to stop and pay attention.
Alongside medical treatment, I turned inward during meditation. I quieted my mind and brought my full awareness down into my solar plexus chakra, navel chakra, stomach, and intestines.
When I tuned in, the sensation was undeniable: I could feel a deep fear, discomfort, and lingering pain residing in my digestive tract.
Instead of pushing the discomfort away, I sat with it lovingly and spoke directly to my body:
“I am so sorry for not taking care of you. I promise I will from now on.”
Day after day, I repeated these words. I visualised my digestive system glowing with health, holding the feeling of inhabiting a strong, vital body. Combined with energy healing, self-compassion, and proper medical care, my body slowly healed. Within 6 to 9 months, I was back to complete, vibrant health.
A Healthier (and More Practical) Relationship with Fasting
Today, my body is stronger than ever. It has built up incredible stamina and lung capacity. In fact, one of my favorite ways to celebrate my health is to put on proper hiking gear and hit the trails. Getting back out into nature, feeling strong and capable, is my new spiritual practice.
And when it comes to fasting, my approach is night and day. Now, I practice a gentle 12-hour intermittent fast, maintaining a loving dialogue with my body every step of the way. If I decide to stretch beyond 12 hours, it won’t be because a guru told me to; it will be because my body gave me a clear, healthy sign that it was ready.
My biggest takeaway? Spiritual growth isn’t about escaping your physical form to reach the light. True mastery is learning to honor the wisdom of your body first.
