Lent: How to find your inner freedom and mindfulness!

Lent: How to find your inner freedom and mindfulness!

March 5, 2025 marks the beginning of the 40-day Lent with Ash Wednesday - a special day for many believers. On this day, many Christians go to church, where an ash cross is drawn on their foreheads. These ashes come from the previous year's palm branches, which are consecrated on Palm Sunday. This ritual not only symbolizes the transience of life, but also prepares believers for the most important festival in the Christian calendar, Easter. During Lent, many believers abstain from stimulants such as alcohol, sweets and cigarettes. But fasting from solid food is also becoming more and more important, with the aim of cleansing the body and mind and concentrating on what is essential, according to a report by BYC News emerges.

Anselm Grün: Fasting as a path to inner freedom

The Benedictine Father Anselm Grün, known for his bestsellers and his deep spiritual insight, sees fasting as a “training time” for the mind. In an interview with the southern German newspaper He explained that abstinence can not only be punishing, but also liberating. “If I have to fulfill every need immediately, I am dependent and not lived for myself,” he says. The aim of fasting is to confront your own emotions and purify them. The challenge is not just giving up food, but also self-reflection. Green recommends resolving for a week not to talk about others, even in private. This fast of words is intended to sharpen the mind and increase awareness of the environment.

Lent is therefore not only seen as a physical cleansing, but also as a time for inner contemplation and reflection. Dr. However, Stefan Koch from the Drinking Water Forum warns that with many forms of fasting that avoid solid food, fluid balance can also become critical. A deficit of up to 1.2 liters of water per day is not uncommon, which can pose serious health risks. The German Nutrition Society recommends a fluid intake of 1.5 to 2 liters per day to compensate for natural water loss, especially during fasting. Therefore, it is important not to neglect drinking water and other liquids to ensure a healthy fasting period.