The fast was broken early.
After getting 36 hours in I found that the pressures of a poorly managed project at work were causing me to react negatively to a number of things. The first fast I undertook for 72 hours was at a time when I was off work. I had the luxury of sleeping when I wanted to and shifting my attention. On this occasion however, the pressures of work were not congruent with a three day fast. So, point of learning there: for a three day fast one requires three clear days to function as one pleases. At least at this point in my learning and development in fasting goes.
Was I disappointed - no. I remain fairly sanguine about it. I achieved a 36 hour fast and then had to make a rational decision to continue functioning properly in a professional capacity. As I see it there is nothing to feel bad about. Also, this is not a competition. There is no “pushing the envelope” here, it is simply exploring what works and establishing new routines.
So, from this experience I will take a new approach. Instead of a single, monthly three day fast, I will undertake two twenty four hour fasts - one on the full moon and one on the new moon. Why am I using the lunar calendar? Because this is a natural rhythm and we are nature, simple as that. I am sure I could provide all kinds of complex and scientific reasoning as well, but I am happy to simply trust in natural rhythms and processes and not question these things too much.
So, two 24 hours fasts two weeks apart. This is a different pattern: little and often. Therefore, in two weeks time I will undertake the first twenty four hour fast. Will I be blogging about it? No, and I will tell you why.
The Why
Another reflection I have made during this fast is that it is time for change. The last five years have been extraordinary. They have been a journey of learning, pain, reconciliation, forgiveness, grief, joy, comfort, fear and love. This process is soon going to be ending as I move into a new home and start making new choices, meeting new people and remembering how to live again.
This means that the next month is going to be a time of activity and movement. I have to keep my eye on the ball and because of this all things to do with the development of Driftwood Studio will be temporarily taken offline. Me and my excellent friend and co-conspirator
have been doing a good deal of work on the plans and strategy for Driftwood, but we need a break.So if you have been reading my words over the last few months and enjoy them, then please stay subscribed, keep following us and please share what has been created so far, because we are going to be coming back with new things.
I want to start using SubStack a primary platform for our creative output. We will restart the newsletter “FLOW,” and I also want to start publishing my poetry and some of the video work Dave and I have been working on. Then there is the work by some of the fabulous artists we are connected with, as well as the writing of
and more.I also have plans for a new series of fictional pieces called “Stories from the Drift.” Then there is my fifteen years of work with the Kawa Model and the power of narrative metaphor.
All this is to come, but first I must literally get my house in order.
So please keep reading and if there is anything you want to share please email us at info@driftwoodstudio.co.uk.
Many thanks and big love from Driftwood Studio.
Thanks, David. Happy to stick around for the return. Go well mate.