My Dark Night of the Soul

[BrownEye]

Depression is potentially inevitable. It’s so much a part of our potential that whole types of music and art are defined by it. Whenever you struggle to the point your strength fails you, you will go into at least a temporary depression.Mostly, we get in trouble with depression, because of our beliefs surrounding the state of being. Our value judgements, or the idea we have or were taught regarding how to deal with depression. Like the idea that trying to forget it will make it get better. Forgetting that our body has needs can wind up making you very dead. Well, your mind has needs also.
One of the needs of the mind is managing your mental and emotional strength. When we strain our muscles so much that they scream in pain, most of us know to stop. We rest a bit and either try the same task again, let our bodies get over the pain, or while we are resting we think of another way to perform that task that doesn’t involve so much strain. This is very natural. But when it comes to the mind, we seem to believe that it should be able to do anything, all of the time, constantly. When the mind begins to hurt what do we do? The mind can indeed hurt. It doesn’t have pain sensors. Mental pain results in the same thing as physical pain does, stiffness.
Most people just push on, in my experience.
Judge it as bad.

Medicate. That seems to be the answer for a lot of things. Medication is very often self sabotage, and institutions only care if society approves of how they handle things.
Rest, meditate, put mind to other parts of your reality to remind you you are not trapped by this depression. This is a good strategy.
Everything on this planet survives and thrives by adapting. What happens if you drive a nail deeply into a tree? It grows around it. Yes. It doesn’t fix it. It doesn’t destroy it. It doesn’t obsess on why a nail was driven into its body.
You put a bucket on it, catch the sap, make maple syrup. Yes. Sometimes you just bleed. It bleeds sap, and our mind bleeds also. It’s called sorrow. We weep.
The tree that doesn’t bend in the storm breaks. You have to be strong enough to be weak. You cannot avoid points of depression in your life, everyone will have them, but with understanding they will be a strength and not a threatening disease.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~
http://dragonintuitive.com/needs-of-the-mind/

To take depression somewhere useful… A plant grows from its roots. We grow from that lowest of our emotional points, but we can grow. If the forces we choose for ourselves are too harsh, we grow twisted, like a blighted tree. But if we grow from our inner game, we will grow in the true way that is meant for us.Ever notice that children will just sing or drum or play pretend without really intending anything by it? They don’t even have to be taught. Left to their own devices they just find something to do, and the defining factor is joy. It is fun and happiness at being themselves. We all do still have that. We have just ignored it.
Growth isn’t playing simple games your whole life. Growth would have been continuing to play and letting that grow in depth and range with our experience. We don’t as adults have to all go play hide and seek to be wise, but we do need to understand that we can choose that if we want, and realize that we have countless options and even ways of elaborating on that.
We can choose based on what comes naturally to us. Some children don’t play chase games, but sing all day long. Some children build things from sticks and mud. Others don’t try to build anything, but instead draw lines in the dirt. They are all just playing. No game better than any other, but some games are better for them personally. When they share their games with their friends, then everyone’s play is enriched. They can grow from that. What would this be if our adult world didn’t cut itself off from these roots?
A lot more fun. Peaceful. Perhaps more sane as well. Enlightened.
So about depression in summary. You don’t have to go backward, but do it if you really want to in time or space. Likewise, you don’t have to go forward, but do it if you feel drawn forward. If the way forward feels healthy and whole and holy.
You can even go sideways. I like going sideways myself. I do it when, though I know a thing, I ask someone else anyway just to see what they will say about it. This makes for a fuller moment. I like my moments that way. It isn’t just about me in the sideways moment. It’s about me and you also, and on any given day, you can play Ring Around The Rosie. Go all the directions, and fall down at the end of the day when it’s time for bed. Would that be so bad, really?
When you don’t know about a choice, play the Hokie Pokie. Put your right foot in, then take it back out again. That is ok to do. This is why laughter is healing, but laughter is not an idea. It’s not a sound you make with your voice, though it can include that.
Thoughts about depression? Feet! It is indeed all about feet. [Contemplates the holy holey socks.]
I am going to go play a different game now. Enjoy your play my friends. Take care, take fair, and carnival too.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~
http://dragonintuitive.com/we-can-grow/