“As opposed to making me feel more spiritual, it sometimes makes me feel more physical when I can only focus on these base needs.”
This in itself can be, paradoxically, a spiritual experience. Although I know that fasting is difficult for me, I am still surprised every time at how hard I find it and how much I find myself looking at the clock and thinking about when I will be able to eat again. For me, fast days call my attention to the fact that I am, as a human, a very physical being. Realizing how much I rely on food, showers, and other physical attributes makes me aware of the spiritual void that this can create and helps me to refocus my energy on loftier spiritual matters.