Ekadashi Lifestyle

For more detailed information, visit the website Drik Panchang for moon phases for each Ekadashi date cycle and traditional names associated with each one.

Ekadashi happens twice a month and about 3 days in advance of new and full moon cycles. It's a time to fast, if you're seeking to advance on the spiritual path. Why? The moon affects our bodies as we are mostly made of water. The moon affects the tides of Earth, so movement too happens within us that we can become more sensitive to when we fast. Part of the idea is that what we eat one day may break down and affect us 2-3 days later. So we purify our bodies so when we enter the potency of the new or full moon, what is amplified is not the sugar we had put into our system a few days back. This is partly an exercise in refining our awareness aside from physical benefits for both body and mental health.

Although Drik Panchang calls out one specific date, it really encompasses two days and so this calendar will reflect the date spread.

JANUARY

6th-7th

20-21st

FEBRUARY

5th-6th

18th-19th

MARCH

5th-6th

19th-20th

APRIL

4th-5th

18th-19th

MAY

3rd-4th

17th-19th

JUNE

1st-2nd

16th-17th

JULY

June 30th-July 1st

16th-17th

30th-31st

AUGUST

14th-15th

28th-29th

SEPTEMBER

13th-14th

27th-28th

OCTOBER

12th-13th

26th-27th

NOVEMBER

11th-12th

25th-26th

DECEMBER

10th-11th

25th-26

If you join the JIVANA TANTRA WhatsApp group, more tips will come as reminders for Ekadashi dates will be sent out in advance of every date cycle. But here's some considerations.

Think about what kind of a fast you want to be on and plan accordingly. For instance, perhaps you want to do a water fast. Make sure you research this first. Although it sounds like it might be the easiest to plan for, you may want to restrict your normal activity. I will be advising that all Ekadashi cycles are taken as a practice in YINing out. Trying "being" during this period, less (attempted) "doing".

What other fasts are there? There are some fasts where you are just cutting out certain types of foods. It might be no solid foods. Another may be that "rabbit food" is permitted in super moderation just to stave off severe hunger. Some people might do a juice fast or a smoothie fast. It depends on what you're used to. Fasting means you step out of your comfort zone a little. If you're used to juicing or smoothies, challenge yourself a little more during Ekadashi.

Why fast? The idea is that it gives our body some time to really get through potential gunk or build up. If we keep feeding the body, it doesn't have time to do a deep cleaning. Many ancient cultures knew about the importance of fasting including the Ancient Egyptians, especially (according to Dr. Muata Ashby) the temple system and followers of Aset (Isis).

• Citrus helps cut your appetite.  I like to make sure I have prepared in advance some lemon juice I can utilize during my fast.  Just cutting something open and sucking on it will work as well.  For me, the hunger aversion works better with lemons, limes, and grapefruit vs. oranges.
• Fasting, for me, is perhaps easier as I have been doing "butter coffee" for years.  The fat in the coffee helps stave off hunger up to lunch.  Although my husband and I call it "butter coffee" we actually alternate between using avocado and MCT (coconut oil) and using ghee (clarified butter).  Oil or clarified butter could also be used in tea or take the fats by themselves and just drink water.  As I mentioned, it depends on how you are seeking to challenge yourself.
• On my fasting, fruit (structured water), small dried fruits and nuts are ok (but not preferred - goal is to only have some of these past 4pm).  If I feel I really need "something", I might try to intake a teaspoon of a nut butter, an oil (fats)
• One of the biggest tips I can provide is the preparation of Kanji water to break the fast.  I hurt my stomach severely the first time I came off a fast.  I didn't think it would be a big deal doing a one day fast and then having pasta and sourdough bread later.  I was wrong!  My dear friend Deepti, from Goa, told me we must always break the fast with Kanji water.  It is prepared with a ratio of about 1:4 rice to water.  You can keep it that simple or add some herbs or spices to infuse it with other medicinal qualities.  Ultimately it will serve like a tea in the end.  I like to cook it early and then slow cook it the rest of the day. I sometimes add black pepper, turmeric, oregano, tarragon, (whatever seems appropriate for that fast AND of course always organically grown ingredients). Around 4pm I'll start taking my first sips and try to build up the sip intake through all of 5pm to prepare my body for some kind of food around 6pm.  
• Typically at night I do have a dinner which is comprised of "rabbit food" - fruits, nuts, cooked greens, a smoothie, some avocado or maybe some of the rice from my Kanji water.  You could, of course, do some fresh greens but cooking them might be easier on the system which is part of our aim.
• Don't go all in after a fast, trust me.  Go moderate and build back up to your normal routine over a 2-3 day period.
• All in for Ekadashi as part of your spiritual lifestyle?  You can create calendar entries and set alarms and notifications ;)