Serious topic for today. Each year I like to remind everyone about seasonal depression. It can be really strong and it’s something that you want to be aware of and careful of.
Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD as it’s often called is a type of depression that happens with the changing seasons. It can start in the fall and go through the winter. For some it is caused by the colder weather coming. I know I have a tough time each year when my garden’s start dying. It’s tough as I love them so much and I need to learn to live almost half the year without them. As much as I love fall and all it’s beautiful colors I often will experience mixed emotions as I watch the beautiful emerald wonderland that I’m currently in disappear knowing I will have cold weather and trees with no leaves soon. While I love celebrating the Wheel of the Year there are definitely times that I struggle with it. It’s honestly my celebration of the turning Wheel that has made SAD a bit easier for me to deal with.
It’s not just the cold or for those who live in cooler climates. It’s primarily caused by the lack of sunlight and the shorter days. It can impact anyone anywhere in the world and that’s the important message that I like to get out there. It’s also important to note that it doesn’t just happen for fall and winter. For some it may happen in Spring and Summer. You may live in a climate that really gets hot in the Summer and it’s tough to go outside. There are so many different variables. It’s important to know yourself and to know your body.
Things to watch out for are feeling depressed, tired, extra emotional or sad, anxious, or just really not having the enthusiasm for things that you normally do. If you ever have suicidal thoughts you know you always want to reach out to someone immediately. It’s not something to dismiss. I’ve lost several friends to suicide and I always wish that there was something I could have done to help them. Just don’t ever be afraid to reach out for help. It’s not uncommon to feel these things and there are so many people out there who would love to help.
If you know you have SAD there are some things that you can do to help. Light therapy is one of the biggest ones. They have daylight LED bulbs that are almost magickal they are so wonderful. I have converted my entire house. Not only do I love them but my plants love them. It’s an incredible win. I recommend them to everyone. They will save you money in electricity and you can fill your house with plants which are so good for you for so many reasons. My house is filled with so many plants. Plants are also amazing in helping to combat SAD especially if yours is New England style.
You can also plan things to look forward to during times that you know are hard. For instance I really struggle November through February. During those months I try to focus on the holiday lights, the holidays and anything else I can think of. It’s not uncommon for me to line things up for these times as well. For instance during the summer time I am always outside when I can. I have special arts and crafts that I set aside for that time of year as it’s harder to get outside.
If you ever have any questions or you are struggling with it please make sure you see a professional. They are there to help you understand yourself better and to help you figure out what works best for you. They can be absolutely amazing in helping you on your journey in life if you need them.
Have a magickal day!
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Jasmeine Moonsong
Seasonal Depression and the Wheel of the Year
