Fasting: An Exceptional Human Experience
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Since prehistory, fasting has been used in various ways as a means of transformation. As a spiritual practice, it is the oldest and most common form of asceticism and is found in virtually every religion and spiritual tradition. Political fasts, more commonly known as hunger strikes, have been around since antiquity. Fasting was used as a method of protest and receiving justice in pre-Christian Ireland as well as in India and Japan. Whether a hunger strike is undertaken by a group or an individual, it has the power to create massive paradigm shifts in individual and global consciousness. In medicine, fasting is one of the most promising therapies. Research has suggested that the healing state that is activated by fasting may be so far reaching that it even causes certain drugs to work better. Using existing literature and original research, this book focuses on the transformative characteristics of fasting in a variety of contexts. The relationship between fasting and transpersonal psychology is examined, with a special focus on peak experiences, consciousness, and other exceptional human experiences. Fasting is considered from contemporary and historical perspectives, exploring the purpose and scope of practice in psychology, medicine, and religion. By examining how fasting affects the mind, body, and spirit, an attempt is made to demonstrate its holistic nature.
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About the Book
Fasting An Exceptional Human Experience Since prehistory, fasting has been used in various ways as a means of transformation. As a spiritual practice, it is the oldest and most common form of asceticism and is found in virtually every religion and spiritual tradition. In psychology, studies have suggested that fasting can alleviate the symptoms of some psychiatric conditions, including depression and schizophrenia. In medicine, fasting is one of the most promising therapies, with research suggesting that fasting can cause certain drugs, such as chemotherapy, to work better while reducing drug side-effects. Hunger striking, sometimes called political fasting, may be the most powerful application of fasting. Proof of this occurred in 1948 when Gandhi’s hunger strike caused millions of Hindus and Muslims in India to cease their fighting. As a practical guide, Randi Fredricks, Ph.D. provides detailed information on the different types of fasting, where people fast, the physiological process of fasting, and the contraindications and criticisms of fasting. Using existing literature and original research, Dr. Fredricks focuses on the transformative characteristics of fasting in the contexts of psychology, medicine, and spirituality. The relationship between fasting and transpersonal psychology is examined, with a focus on peak experiences, self-realization, and other exceptional human experiences. Dr. Fredricks demonstrates how fasting can be profoundly therapeutic, create global paradigm shifts, and provide personal mystical phenomena.
About the Author
RANDI FREDRICKS, PH.D. is a psychotherapist, researcher, and author who specializes in the treatment of mental health using integrative medicine and natural therapies. Her other books include Healing & Wholeness: Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Mental Health. She lives and works in San Jose, California. Dr. Fredricks’ website is randifredricks.com.