“There is a hidden sweetness in the stomach’s emptiness. We are lutes, no more, no less. If the soundbox is stuffed full of anything, no music comes. But if brain and belly are burning clean with fasting, every moment a new song comes out of the fire.
The fog clears and new energy makes you run up the steps in front of you. Be emptier, and cry like reed instruments cry. Emptier, write secrets with the reed pen.
When you are full of food and drink, an ugly metal statue sits where your spirit should. When you fast, good habits gather like friends who want to help. Fasting is Solomon’s ring. Don’t give it to some illusion and lose your power, but even if you have, if you have lost all will and control, they come back when you fast, like soldiers appearing out of the ground, pennants flying above them.
A table descends to your tents, Jesus’ table. Expect to see it when you fast, this table spread with other food, better than the broth of cabbages.”
Rumi
Fasting is often seen merely as a physical practice aimed at health or weight loss, but through Rumi’s evocative imagery, it becomes a profoundly spiritual journey. Personally, I have found that fasting clears mental fog and sparks creativity much like how Rumi describes the emptiness allowing a new song to arise. When my stomach is empty, I notice an increased presence of mind and a sense of calm that helps me write and create with more authenticity. Rumi’s metaphor of us being like lutes that cannot produce music when overfilled resonates deeply. In my experience, constant consumption—whether of food, media, or distractions—dulls the spirit and saps motivation. By fasting, I reset not only my body but also my mental habits, allowing “good habits to gather like friends” as Rumi writes. These habits bring discipline and clarity that enable a stronger willpower and deeper self-awareness. Moreover, Rumi’s vision of a spiritual table appearing during fasting touches on the idea that true nourishment transcends the physical. I have felt moments during fasting where insights and peace replace the usual hunger pangs, almost as if an inner feast offers sustenance beyond calories. If you are curious about incorporating fasting into your lifestyle, starting gradually and observing how your energy and thoughts shift can be eye-opening. It’s not about deprivation but making space for clarity, creativity, and empowerment within. Listening to your body’s signals and combining fasting with mindful practices like meditation or journaling can amplify these benefits. In essence, fasting is more than abstaining from food; it is a practice of creating room for new life, art, and strength to arise from within. Rumi’s poetry beautifully captures this profound interplay between emptiness and fullness, reminding us that our most powerful self emerges not from excess, but from quiet, intentional restraint.
