The coffee priestess has been offline for a bit dealing with relationships and the usual fall depression that has hit like a maelstorm.
I think we do eachother a great disservice in our culture when we assume that depression is an unnatural state. That somehow being depressed is a sign of sin in our lives (I have heard this from well meaning pastors) or that if we are not prozac happy all the time we must somehow numb the pain to ignore it or hope it will go away without addressing things.
I would like to remind my gentle readers that depression, especially seasonal depression is a natural part of the ebb and flow or our lives. Much like with anger and jealousy it is how you deal with depression that makes or breaks you.
In my own life, I have a tendency to be more introspective about everything. When I am dealing with my depression in a healthy manner, it results in giving thanks for the many blessings that I have been given and when I take that hard look at what seems missing work on goals and steps towards healing the breech. I sleep a little less or a little more. I eat the occassional blizzard for supper and slog on.
If I am not being healthy, I allow myself to get stuck. I wallow in the misery. I only stay fixated on what is wrong and allow that I don't deserve bugaboo to take over. I isolate myself from family and friends until spring comes when I might be willing to poke my nose outside again. Yes, in the really bad times thoughts of suicide can and do occure.
On a practical level remember that when you can't walk, you crawl and when you can't crawl you ask for help. The slogans from the 12 steps play a huge role in my life. Reminding myself to never get to hungry, angry, lonely or tired. Remembering to be honest, open, and willing with the people around me. Remembering the Wiccan tenants that we are all interconnected. Choosing to reach out to other people and allow other people into my life.
On a magical level, I do rituals to help inspire balance. I burn a lot of white sage, cedar, and copal this time of year. Sage to purify. Cedar to invite in good spirits and copal to balance the energy from any power struggles occuring. From my Santeria and Spiritism teachers, I take a lot of white baths, use a lot of florida water and pray for support and clarity from my ancestors.
I invoke faith, hope and love to get me through and by Ostara, we are back in a better space again as the sunlight increases.
I pray that as we start going through the dark of the year, the love of the gods shine brightly in your life and bring you balance.
Blessed Be.
