Lenten Journey as an Opportunity for Renewal !
I feel for both religious and non-religious folks Lent is a perfect opportunity to detoxify, shed the excess and think about the life. The main purpose of the Lenten Journey according to the church is Giving, Prayer and Fasting but you don’t need to be an avid church member to benefit from this tradition.
According to the traditions of Apostolic Orthodox church that I grew up with , during Lent you go Vegan as well as cut down on Wine and Olive Oil consumption. Which means eating a lot of greens , vegetables, nuts, legumes, as Swedish say “eat less chew more” during this time to get the most nutrients out of small amount of food.
Going vegan does not mean panicking and eating more! It does not also mean depriving yourself of proteins. Consuming beans, tofu and/or lentils work perfectly . Also it is probably not a good idea for crazy work out sessions.
I found out that yoga works the best for me at this time, and not the super intense one, more of the meditative strength building sessions are much easier to tolerate, be gentle towards your body, don’t strain it. Although it is not in the “rules” of the Church but trying to cut down “white “ products as well, like starches, sugar and salt are much, much better for body and no risk of gaining 20 ponds on carbs and sugar instead of loosing it.
The purpose of these dietary restrictions is to reminds us of what is essential in our lives. During Lent we strip away all the excesses, we purge our system of the toxins and we find what we need to live. (Fr. Vazken Movsesian)
Second Part is Praying. It can also be Meditating, asking for Guidance from the Higher Power, just reading about Philosophy of life or plain Journaling and reflecting on life , whatever works. Basic concept is the same , less in more out. Putting less useless information in, while reflecting and gaining more insight. If you’re ambitious, you can also cut down on TV, shopping, overall excess consumption of staff. This is the time to practice self-control , restrictions, pure living and minimalism. Since it is not for rest of your life, but only for 50 days, it is kind of a cool challenge .
The third is about giving. Giving does not have to be about making a monetary contribution to your favorite charity,( which is always good of course ) but rather about giving kindness, love, consideration ,forgiveness and patience to the people that you encounter in your daily life. Even not cutting someone on the freeway might be an act of giving. Not snapping back at a rude person, but rather letting them be, with the thought that they might be having a really bad day. Giving is all about small acts of kindness.
I did follow lent for few times and every time you feel , physically lighter( literally !) , start to get into a habit of eating less and being satisfied with less. Afterwards food does taste better!… you start sensing more flavors, after restricted diet. You feel a bit kinder. Feel less inclined to judge people and be more excepting. Going shopping feels fantastic since now you are more mindful about staff you buy and more appreciative .
And feels just awesome to know that you were able to go trough the challenge and make it!
Again I don’t think you have to be super religious to benefit from the Lenten Journey, It is a great challenge to try!
That is so interesting, thank you for posting that…I knew very little about Lent so it was fascinating to get a real sense of what it involves.
I am happy to hear that,I think it is a good “spring cleansing” for soul and the body and everyone should have an opportunity to try , not only religious followers.
Excellent post, wonderful explanation, and great advice. It’s so refreshing that you go over the points, but explain that anyone can benefit from the exercise of dietary restrictions, prayer/meditation and giving during the Lenten season.
The photos are fabulous.
Thank you ! You’re right Timothy, I will work on a new post to make those points clear, because it is a great exercise in self discipline.
What a wonderful post; Lent means a lot to me, and I love the responses you note, so many ways to mark this time of year.
Thanks for following my blog.
I love the skull tank! It reminds of the Day of the Dead. And I totally agree with you about Lent- I’m not religious myself, but it feels like a period of renewal and transition.
You are stunning and I love that skull shirt. And, of course, great article!
I love this post, I have gone Vegan without actually planning to and I find it harder than anything. I don’t eat fish so and cutting out all meats – has turned me into one automatically. And I am starting Yoga soon – EXCITEMENT!!
i NEED to get into the habit of “get into a habit of eating less and being satisfied with less” — Seriously, I start tomorrow!
x
It is kind of tough , because cooks like to “cream” everything they see! ..but some ethnic restaurants offer a great variety of dishes that are Vegan friendly, such as Chinese , Thai, Indian…wish you good luck! If you need I am here for support
i love these images. that third one, especially, is so timeless. if it were in black and white, it could be a silent movie still — thing garbo, or theda bara. thanks for sharing!
I blinked &
there was she
~
A beautiful
spirituality
~
Beckoning a prayer
from me…
This a gorgeous outfit, you know?
xx
Very interesting and informative post, I just posted about lent as well…although I’m not Catholic so I don’t know nearly as much about it. I’m trying to follow through on it this year though! Beautiful photos!! (:
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I was drawn to the photos, but I stayed for your writing. Nice discussion about Lent. I happen to be Catholic, and we aren’t particularly vegan during this season except for abstinence from meat on Fridays. But you got the other good points down. Nice to hear someone else being serious about meditation and charity.
Whether religious or not, I think it makes everyone a better person to eliminate excess and focus on cultivating selflessness and forgiveness – thanks for sharing.
Beautiful pictures and great article. Lent is a time for mindfulness. It heightens awareness of yourself and others. It promotes gratitude and self-love. Keep up the good work.
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Very inspiring! I’m getting increasingly tempted to challenge myself with something like this.. Maybe not follow all guidelines of a certain “diet”, but mix and match what fits me the most. When I pull myself together and start, I’m sure I will keep much of this in mind.
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