Detoxification & The Master Cleanse: Day Four

What would make anyone WANT to do a fast or detox?

Still got a headache which is really surprising. Nothing major, just a gently boom, boom at the back of my eyes. I felt really tired and heavy when I woke up this morning but effortless once I got going.

What I’m thinking about today is what would make someone want to do some kind of a fast or cleanse? What benefits would be tangible enough for people, in the midst of their busy lives, without going on some kind of health retreat, without leaving family or work commitments to do a fast or a cleanse or detoxification program? What would speak to you?

I know the benefits for me and how magically my life changes when I give my body a break from food but what would be the benefits for you? I can rabbit on all day about massive increases in energy, incredible clarity of thought, insight about life/relationships/food/death and everything in between, greater sensitivity of internal processes and awareness of how the body and mind respond to certain foods, curing chronic skin conditions and other diseases and food allergies, transforming the immune system response, cleansing the liver of harmful toxins, weight loss, greater creativity and vibrancy and passion, revitalising the whole body and mind… and phew! That’s only what I’ve personally experienced!

But this is not about me. (Really! It’s not! I swear!) I’m curious to hear what you reckon. What would make you want to do some kind of cleanse or fast? (I’m not talking about 40 days on water or anything so extreme – just a bit of a break.) What I think I’m really asking is what would be worthwhile and valuable enough for you to go through the pain (if you’ve been reading this so far then you know it’s not all pretty!) to get to the pleasure?

I was talking with a friend about this very question and to paraphrase, she spoke about eating a really healthy diet in general (apart from one or two occasional treats) and feeling good most of the time and not really having any real motivation to do a cleanse or a fast. She thought about it a little more and said, “Well, to get rid of my cellulite I spose.”  Cool, I said, so weight loss? She said “Yeah.”

This made me have a really good look at my own motivations for fasting and internal cleansing. Of course I want to be vibrantly healthy for the rest of my long, long life (with my mental and physical capacities fully intact till I die peacefully in my sleep at age 120) but there’s really only one thing I’m after. Insight. Heightened states of consciousness. Bliss. Total clarity. (Oops! That’s much more than just one thing!)

These are all totally subjective and internal processes – not tangible at all (my mind doesn’t really work in tangibilities I’m discovering. I’m much more interested in vast concepts and universal theories!). Apart from maybe a twinkle in my eye and a beatific smile on my face all the time (think the Dalai Lama here), you cannot tell whether or not I have achieved a state of clarity and insight and expanded consciousness. Losing weight’s a little different. It’s very easy to see. It’s about results. It’s easy to put your hands on. And, it’s easy to get feedback from others when they notice a change. So I pondered a little more on tangibility and my own personal goals with fasting and detoxification and couldn’t come up with anything. Nothing. Just a blank.

So, I need your help.

What benefit (tangible or otherwise) would make you want to do some kind of
internal cleanse, detox program or fast?
What would you want to get out of it? What results would you like to see?

I love to hear your thoughts…