March 2025 sees three faiths, Christianity, Islam and Baha’i, enter into a period of fasting. Pagan traditions don’t have any specific requirements for a period of fasting, although some Pagans choose to incorporate fasting into their spiritual practice.
For Christians, the period of Lent takes place in the six weeks before Easter. Traditionally it was a time when Christians would abstain from certain foods such as eggs, meats fish and fats. Shrove Tuesday (pancake day) is an opportunity to use up the last of fat, flour and eggs to make pancakes. The first day of Lent begins on the following day- Ash Wednesday. In modern times, Lent may involve abstaining from things like chocolate, social media, alcohol or other things that help Christians in their spiritual focus. The focus of the period of Lent is as a time of solemnity and self-reflection on their failings according to the Bible, and resolve to live a godlier life based on the teachings in the Bible.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml
This year Ramadan falls in March (28th February to 30th March). During Ramadan, Muslims engage in fasting (Sawm) from dawn until dusk for a month. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, the remaining pillars being Shahadah (belief in one God, Allah SWT), Salat (prayer), Zakat (charity), and Hajj (pilgrimage). There are a number of reasons why Muslims fast during Ramadan. These may include helping them restrain from worldly pleasures and focus on spiritual growth, to reap the benefits of Laylat-al-Qadr, also known as the Night of Power, which falls within the last ten days of Ramadan, to seek forgiveness of past sins and to appreciate the pain and discomfort of hunger which helps them recognise the gap between the rich and poor, fostering a spirit of unity and compassion and potentially lead to Zakat (charity) that would help.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ramadan
During the last month of the Baha’i calendar, from 2nd to 19th March every year, Baha’i’s engage in fasting from sunrise to sunset. 20th March marks the Baha’i New Year (first day of the Spring Equinox). The Baha’i faith teaches that fasting is conducive to mindfulness, increasing empathy towards others, and acts as a spiritual, physical and psychological reset to correct our tendency to indulge the body and forget about nourishing the spirit. The fast is a symbolic gesture of sacrifice, purification and orientation to the life of the spirit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/customs/fasting.shtml
In many shamanic traditions, fasting may be adopted to aid the process of entering into an altered (shamanic) state of consciousness, which is used to access the spirit or other worlds to gain insight into spiritual aspects of things that are affecting the ordinary or mundane world. As mentioned, Pagan traditions don’t have a set period or requirement for fasting. But some Pagans may use fasting as a method for personal cleansing, prior to ritual, and/or to help enter a ritual mindset in order to connect with divine/numinous spirits. In our heavily consumerist world today, some Pagans may consider fasting for a period of time to reduce their impact on the environment through consumerism.
It’s interesting to reflect on common points of connection between different faith and belief traditions and their purpose for fasting, perhaps giving us suggestions for how it may play a part in our own spiritual journey.
Mike Stygal
Pagan Federation Interfaith Manager
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