Rituals for Depression

“Enlightenment, peace, and joy will not be granted by someone else. The well is within us.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

When considering ‘depression’ - I like to take in the whole picture of mind, body, spirit and environment. I am of the belief that whatever ails us is also what can be a great teacher for us. A shaman that I worked with recently asked me a great question in regards to a challenge I was having, “What is right about this that I am not getting?” Somehow asking this question allowed deeper insights into how to care for myself as well as see the gift in the experience. Depression can be a call to take a deeper look into ourselves and learn what makes us tick. Another step on the quest to ‘Know Thyself’. 

Ayurveda, the science of India, looks at three different types of depression. A more airy type is marked by anxiety. A more fiery type is marked by irritability. A more earthy type is marked by inertia. 

While there is not a one-size-fits-all approach, these simple practices can help you begin to work with the energy arising in your system. 

*For Anxious Feelings - creating structure is so helpful. Structure looks like:

*Regular bedtime (10pm each night)

*Regular meal times with more warm, earthy, heavy foods: cooked veggies, beets, carrots, ginger, avocado, warm soups

*Routine of warm sesame oil massage on your full body after a warm shower - this will relax the nervous system

*Ritual essential oil use: lavender in the bath or on your pillow before bed

*For Irritable Feelings - create cooling conditions. This looks like:

*Cool baths with Jasmine essential oil

*Cooling foods - cucumbers, melons, lettuces, raw salads (avoid spices like cayenne, jalapeno and garlic)

*Cooling herbs - mint, hibiscus

*Walks in the moonlight

*For Inertia/Heavy Feelings - create movement and cleansing:

*Detox to move stuck energy and toxins: Try a juice cleanse, herbal detox or work with a colon hydrotherapist

*Massage Therapy - with active strokes and warming oils 

*Bathe in Mustard Bath salts

*Practice Vinyasa or high intensity workouts 

*Practice getting up immediately in the morning and do not oversleep - this creates more lethargy

Take time to journal about what this time is revealing to you. Depression can also be a natural state after a period of strong excitation (moving to a new city or town, receiving a new promotion, taking an adventurous vacation). Allow yourself to move with the emotions that arise and release what comes to the surface.

Make sure you reach out for help. You are never alone.

If you would like to explore this subject together, connect with me here.

Have a blessed day.