Physical Well-being
It is an absolute must that you put your physical well-being first in this ceremony. While fasting is intended to be a challenge it should never be harmful. Hard, yes. A challenge, certainly. Risky or harmful to your physical health… absolutely not. That would be the exact opposite of the intention of the fast.
While the challenge is to go from sunrise to sunset without food or water, please ensure you do this only if it is safe and healthy for you. Please tailor your fast to meet your physical needs. If you have any health-related questions, concerns or conditions about fasting, please consult your health professional.
While the challenge is to go without food or liquids for the full duration, please only do so if you are confident that it will not in any way negatively impact your well-being. Again, this is not about harm, it is about standing by a commitment to end harm.
If you need to eat, eat. There is no room for a sense of failure in this work. You may feel you need to have water. That is fine. We are here to be healthy men, and to hold each other up. Please tailor your fast or the fasting day to meet your physical needs.
Prior to the fast, it is important to get a good night’s sleep. Before going to bed take a second to remind yourself of your intention for fasting the next day and do the same as soon as you wake up.
Upon waking and before sun up, drink plenty of water or other hydrating fluids.
During the day, take some time to slow down and check in with how you are feeling and set some time aside, whether it’s the whole day or just a few minutes to spend with others who are fasting. Certainly, we find the more time together the better.
Breaking the fast
As with any fast, it is important to break your fast with intention. We recommend eating and drinking clean, simple foods easing yourself back into your regular diet.
It is also a good time to make a formal transition from your experience back into your day-to-day life. At our gatherings, we conduct fast-breaking ceremonies where we show our gratitude, share food, ask witnesses to share their words, and celebrate the effort and sacrifice as we reflect upon the day and the road ahead. Our fast-breaking ceremony will be livestreamed this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and we encourage fasters to take the practices of this ceremony into your own bubbles and virtual groups.
If you have any questions about the fast or the Moose Hide Campaign please contact us at info@moosehidecampaign.ca
Thanks for your support