flower

Ritual to Alleviate Depression

flower ~you are not alone ~

1. Get up.

2. Get out.

Go for a brisk walk. Get your body moving. Depression loves to flourish in dark corners of the mind. If the body is moving, it’s harder for sadness to take hold. Move your body.

3. Wash up.

Wash your hair. Clip your nails. Scrub your body. Cleanse your face. Be vigorous.

4. Lighten up.

Essential oils have a reputation for enhancing prana, nourishing ojas, and brightening tejas. These oils can be used alone, in combination, in spot treatments or in aromatherapy massage. Bergamot has a strong reputation for its ability to gently uplift. Bergamot combines the ability to both relax the nerves and refresh the Spirit; it is suitable for many types of depressive states. Try incorporating a body oil with uplifting essentials oils like infuse, our organic herbal oil of amber and bergamot to enrich the skin and wake the nose. Neroli comforts the mind and heart and is best suited for nervous and emotional exhaustion. Neroli uplifts the Spirit, releases repressed emotions and unifies a fragmented psyche. Neroli is specifically indicated for individuals who, in order to escape from emotional pain and suffering, cut themselves off from their feelings and senses. Try our neroli water for facial pick me up on the go or just after your morning cleanse. When depression is of an overly aggressive nature, it often involves an imbalance of joy and love – the root emotions of the heart and mind. This kind of depression afflicts the heart and involves a loss of one’s natural sense of joy. There is often an accompanied lack of enthusiasm and interest as well as an inability to become inspired. Rose Absolute may have a profound effect on this state. Rose is thought the Queen of essential olls, heart opening and deeply aromatic. Incorporate our simple rose water throughout the day to open the heart. Geranium can be used for spiritual practice and meditation as she assists one in connecting to the intuition and message of the heart. Known for its support in releasing negative and dis-harmonious memories, Geranium eases nervous tension and stress and is balancing to the emotions. An excellent oil for those whose lives are ‘lacking color’, Geranium is celebrated for its ability to lift worry and anxiety, clear stagnant energy bring motivation and strength to manifesting one’s vision. Try these powerful guides in oil for a self massage or a few drops in a warm bath or steaming bowl of water for a facial steam or deep inhalant – these oils can work wonders. You can also experience a trilogy of oils in our facial balm protect. With preciousness neroil, geranium, and rose in our facial balm protect to feed the skin and kindle the spirit day or night.

5. Brighten up.

Eat whole fruits. Cook leafy greens like kale and collards. Make your plate a work of art that is colorful, grains for a balanced diet. Wear bright colors.

6. Speak up.

Make a list of all the things you want to do, wish you could do, would rather be doing if money, time and external circumstances were of no concern. Keep each item to one sentence.

7. Step up.

Take your list and circle a single word. Go on, Select one word that jumps out.

8. Show up.

Can you make that single word happen today? Right now? For example, if I circled ‘write’, I could spend some time and write even if it’s not the novel I listed. If I circled ‘travel’, I could walk or drive somewhere I hadn’t planned, even if its not South Africa. If it was ‘money’ I could count, give, or draw images of money. The idea here is to engage parts of what you really want. Chipping away at your dreams could begin with taking in a single word. When you’re ready you’ll naturally take in the whole sentence. But today get lost in the word.

9. Shut up.

At the risk of sounding harsh, I would like to ask the part of you looping the negative tape of self-loathing, pity, and despair to kindly shut up. Enough is enough. You are a brilliant, highly creative individual who is stuck. It’s not personal. It’s physical.

10. Chin up.

Outlook takes practice. The first step in training is to hold the proper view. In Buddhism, we practice the Four Reminders to support right view. They are:

Precious Human Birth (i.e. you could have been a toilet seat. Be grateful for your life. Don’t waste it.)

Impermanence (Everything changes – the good, the bad, the best, the worst. This moment will change too.)

Truth of Karma (For every action there is a reaction. This is why it’s particularly important to fill your life with good deeds – It multiplies. Anything we have now is the result of the fruit of past actions.)

Inevitability of Suffering (When the Buddha awoke, he spoke about the three kinds of suffering: the suffering of pain, the suffering of change, and the suffering of suffering.)

Sit in a quiet space. Reflect on one reminder for a deeper understanding. This practice has proven to be extremely powerful for me. I hope these contemplations inspire you as well. If you’d like to share your story on ritual or the breath work, send us a note at admin@earthbody.net

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