Paganism is not a single, centralized religion but rather
an umbrella term that encompasses a wide variety of nature-based, polytheistic,
and animistic belief systems and spiritual practices. Pagan traditions can be
found all around the world. They exist in different forms and under various
names in many countries and cultures. As such, views on depression and mental
health within Paganism can vary widely depending on individual beliefs,
traditions, and perspectives. Some common themes in how various Pagan
traditions may address depression include:
1. Holistic
Approach: Many Pagan traditions embrace a holistic view of health, which
includes mental and emotional well-being. They may see depression as a
condition that affects the whole person, including their spiritual and
emotional aspects.
2. Nature
Connection: Paganism often emphasizes a deep connection with nature. Some
Pagans find solace, healing, and support for mental health issues by connecting
with the natural world, engaging in outdoor rituals, and communing with the
elements.
3. Rituals
and Healing Practices: Pagan traditions may incorporate rituals,
meditation, and energy work as tools for addressing depression. These practices
can be seen as therapeutic and may help individuals work through emotional and
mental challenges.
4. Community
Support: Many Pagan communities value the support and companionship of
fellow practitioners. This sense of community can be a source of understanding
and comfort for individuals dealing with depression.
5. Personal
Responsibility: Some Pagans emphasize personal responsibility for one's
mental and emotional health. They may encourage individuals to seek
professional help when needed and to engage in self-care practices.
6. Myth
and Symbolism: Paganism often uses mythology and symbolism to explain human
experiences. Depression may be understood through the lens of myth and symbol,
and individuals might seek guidance or inspiration from relevant deities or
stories.
7. Acceptance
of Duality: Paganism often embraces the duality of life, recognizing that
darkness and light are intertwined. Some practitioners view depression as a
natural part of the human experience and a challenge that can be overcome with
inner strength.
It's essential to note that within the Pagan community,
there is no single dogma or central authority that dictates beliefs and
practices. As a result, there can be significant variations in how different
Pagans view and approach depression. Some may incorporate modern therapeutic
techniques into their practice, while others may prefer traditional or
spiritual approaches.
9 Ways to Manage Depression
Candles and Altar
Depression is a suffocating and miserable experience, and
periods of depression can be both debilitating and life-altering. Symptoms not
only include suppressed emotions and reduced energy, but also brain fog and
body aches. Struggling to think or act can impact life plans, from education to
family to career, and behavioral changes can result in loss of motivation, as
well as struggles with addiction and other health problems. The percentage of
people who experience depression is on the rise, but incredible progress is
being made when it comes to treating this complex condition. Pagans can do well
to supplement both traditional and emerging treatments, such as medication and
therapy, by addressing the spiritual harm that results from periods of
depression. This is a condition that impacts the body, mind, and spirit, and
treating it on all three of those levels has the potential to multiply the
effects of just therapy or medication alone. Here are nine ideas for how to
proceed.
1.
Pray. According to Courtney Weber, "You
should go to your altar every day, but if you're in a bad place, go three times
a day." Pagans may uncomfortable with prayer; the late Judy Harrow said
it, "feels like begging." It doesn't have to be that way. If your
entire relationship with a human is you asking for favors and gifts, then
talking might feel like begging after a while, too. Try simply telling the gods
about your day. Perhaps if you're also in the habit of leaving offerings, you
might catch them in the mood to intervene. Spending time with your gods should
bring comfort in any case.
2.
Meditate. To focus attention on something like a
candle flame, or to cease thinking altogether, is a way to quiet the conscious
mind. This allows deeper parts of the self some space to heal, a respite from
the barrage of recriminating thoughts common during depression. This is
sometimes considered a form of shifting consciousness, but at its best this is
an altered state that puts consciousness in the back seat and allows other
parts of the mind to drive instead. It can be surprisingly difficult to
meditate at first, particularly if the mind is filled with runaway thoughts,
but it's not impossible. Even starting with just one minute at a time
establishes the habit, but try to extend that by a minute as often as you can.
A solid goal is to have sessions that last at least twenty minutes each, but
take as long as you need to in order to reach that point.
3.
Connect. Seek out a person and have a
conversation. Silence is also fine, as it speaks volumes. There is healing that
comes simply from being in the company of others of our own kind. We evolved
from tribal primates, and our spirits respond to one another. We can feel like
we're completely alien during a period of depression, that we are shunned and
ostracized, or forgotten or mocked. Those introduced thoughts make avoiding the
healing presence of other humans feel justified. It's important to exercise
discernment—people who have harmed you in the past may harm you in the
future—but companionship is a necessary part of the human experience.
4.
Remember. We are open to depression in part
because of the trauma experienced by our ancestors, and inadvertently passed
down to us as our habits, beliefs, and capacity to manage stress. Our ancestors
also have an interest in our own success, and understand us in ways that no one
else ever could. Call upon the ancestors for resilience when all seems bleak
and hopeless.
5.
Laugh. Life is funny—all parts of life. Some of
the best comedy comes out of suffering, because the spark of humor is all the
brighter when it flares in darkness. Laughter shakes our body, mind, and
spirit, and allows for a reset of all three. Think of a time when something
funny kicked off uncontrollable laughter. Recall how you felt when you have
basked in the afterglow of laughing deeply and fully. Laughter is a gift of the
creator gods, a way to recenter into our truest selves. Give yourself
permission to receive this blessing with all of your being when that is
possible, but use discernment! There are times when it's best to restrain that
guffaw welling up. There will be times when it feels wiser to quash even a
chortle, but always silently honor the feeling, and thank whoever you hold holy
for this incredible gift.
6.
Move. Our bodies are parts of our full, sacred
selves. In depression it's easy to heed the call to physically slow down, to
become one with the bed or a device like a phone or television. The body's
stillness is often reflected by a fixation on negative thoughts. Social worker
Barbara Rachel taught me a saying used in Alcoholics Anonymous: "Move a
muscle, change a thought." Start simple if you must: leave the remote
control on the television stand, or your phone on the other side of the room.
Work up to walking around your building or neighborhood, spending time
gardening outside or tidying up inside, or taking up an active hobby like
bicycling, mall-walking, or hog-calling.
7.
Ground. A state of depression can include the
sensation of heaviness in the body, but this is not the same as being grounded.
More likely, that's negative emotions sucking up the energy needed to move the
limbs about. Grounding is to allow that emotional charge to pass into the
earth. Sometimes it is easier to ground with the help of another person, such
as a tree, a stone, or a human. Pay attention to how it feels when another
person is helping to ground you, as you can tap into that sensation when
grounding yourself.
8.
Purify. Acts of purification are intended to
clear out spiritual clutter that accumulates around us all, the result of
living a mortal human life. The first step in purifying a space is to clean it,
and the first space that should be cleaned is one's body. In periods of
depression, even basic hygiene can seem like too much effort, but a good
scrubbing from head to toe will at least temporarily elevate mood and restore
energy. Tackling a cluttered or untidy home space may require help, depending
on how bad it's become, but it's worth it: the home is a reflection of the
heart and mind, and improving the outer environment impacts the inner in turn.
The spirit of depression finds no value in a clean and ordered home, a mind
free of clutter, or a path to the gods unfettered by pessimistic thoughts or
stacks of boxes in front of the altar.
9.
Commune. Spend time with people who are not
human. Walk among trees, spend time with pets, care for houseplants, feed local
birds, work in a garden. Feel sand between toes, sunshine on the face, or dirt
under fingernails. Attune to the spirits of place, be they of the land or the
home built upon it. Walking is an opportunity to pay attention to local
spirits, whether or not they are incarnate. There are even forms of walking
divination that one might try while on a mini-walkabout; I recall that author
Tom Cowan taught me a Celtic walking divination once upon a time.
Depression is a condition that impacts the body, mind,
and spirit of anyone experiencing it, and treating the body, mind, and spirit
in concert is going to yield the better results than avoiding one or another
aspect. The voice of depression encourages us to avoid behaviors that are going
to be the most effective in that treatment, too. The above list is about
intended to aid the spirit, and to a lesser extent the body. None of these
suggestions is a substitute for getting treatment from a mental health
professional, someone trained in the healing of the mind. Asking our gods or
other spirits for help when we are in crisis is a good idea, but most of the
time our gods are going to help us through a mental health professional. The
gods work with the tools that work best.
Sources and Additional Information:
https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/2978
https://wildhunt.org/2015/01/treating-depression-in-a-pagan-context.html
