Fasting is arguably among the most ancient and universal of spiritual practices. Across cultures and religions, it serves as a means of restoration by way of stepping back from excess and reordering our desires.
In Islam one of the Five Pillars known as Sawm refers to fasting during Ramadan, which is meant to cultivate empathy, obedience, and self-restraint. In Judaism, fasts like Yom Kippur mark a solemn return to God through repentance (Teshuvah). In Buddhism and Hinduism, fasting serves as a path to discipline that aids in purifying the body for the sake of awakening the mind. Even within the broader scope of Christianity, fasting takes many forms: from the structured abstinence of Catholic Lent to the spontaneous fasts of evangelical Protestant devotion.
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