Is Ditch the Black Dog Too 'Woo Woo' For You?

Would you laugh and think I’m selling snake oil, or would you be curious?

I’ve got to be honest, I do worry that some of the tools I use might seem too ‘woo woo’ to be taken seriously!

You might be ok with me using slightly more mainstream methods such as hypnotherapy and equine assisted experiences, but tarot cards, ceremonies, spells and rituals might be a step too far.

It’s ok.

I understand if you feel cynical about the idea that the ‘witchy woo woo’ part of my work could help you ditch the black dog.

Experiments have shown that: –

💗 Bereaved people recover from grief faster if they have rituals. Funerals, leaving flowers, and talking to your lost loved one, all help speed up the grieving process.

🍀 Sportsmen are proven to perform better if they have a talisman such as lucky socks or a ritual such as eating the same thing before every game.

🤞 Students do better in exams if they use a talisman, such as a lucky pencil or wearing a specific t-shirt.

You’re probably thinking. ‘Sounds good, Maria, but come on. We’re talking about mental illness here, not winning a chuffing football game or aceing a test!’

So let’s investigate, shall we?

Scientists have proven that rituals, ceremonies, spells and talismans can be effectively used as coping mechanisms.

They can help us to feel more in control and more grounded, thus reducing anxiety and stress.

In an article for Psychology Today Jamie Gruman Ph.D. wrote: –

“Research shows that rituals can offer numerous psychological advantages such as ………. giving us a sense of control, and reducing anxiety.”

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-forget-the-basil/202104/the-power-of-rituals

This is vitally important when it comes to the black dog, because feeling out of control, anxiety and stress are major contributors to depression.

job loss;

eviction from your home;

bereavement;

abuse & bullying;

relationship breakdown;

chronic or sudden illness

a life changing accident;

financial difficulties & debt;

or loss of faith in what you believe in;

can shake you to your core and make you feel totally out of control.

In the study I quoted above, they discovered that: –

“…the results were not affected by whether or not people believed that rituals are effective in influencing how people feel.

Those who didn’t believe that rituals worked were influenced by the ritual just as much as those who believed they are truly effective.“

psychologytoday.com/the-power-of-rituals

Having a go at the ritual is all you need to do!

The feeling of taking control and letting go of the baggage you’ve been carrying with you is all that matters.

(Although, you might find yourself enjoying rituals so much that you’re drawn to start down a spiritual path, just like I was.)

It could be the start of a whole new way of life for you!

They’re natural methods, with zero toxic side effects, and are safe* for even children to take part in.

(*Unless otherwise specified. Some herbal products are unsafe for children or pregnant people.)

Methods that used to be considered too ‘woo woo’ have recently become mainstream.

The old ways of using plants and incense for health are being resurrected. 

But what about plant medicine?

Animal assisted therapy?

Crystal healing and Soul Journeys?

I use a combination of complementary therapies in tandem with rituals to help people ditch the black dog of depression. Whilst creating the Gaian Path, I discovered that using only one tool or technique could be effective, but no where near as effective as combining several of them.

Admittedly, the scientific jury seems to be out on the effectiveness of some complementary therapies.

Despite anecdotal evidence to the contrary, scientists believe things like flower essences and crystal healing have no more benefit than taking a placebo.

But is that such a bad thing if it works? ( I would also add that studies have shown that antidepressants don’t perform much better than placebos – but that’s a discussion for another time.)

I use flower essences and despite what the scientists say, I’ve seen them work time after time on animals. I was extremely cynical about them when I found out how they’re made, but animals can’t possibly be experiencing a placebo effect, so take from that what you will.

Read my story about Flower Essences here: https://ditchtheblackdog.com/flower-essences/

And as for crystals, even if they don’t work the way we believe they do, they still make beautiful talismen that we can use as part of the scientifically proven rituals!

I believe that everything is energy, humans, crystals and flowers included, so why would it be so unbelievable that we can affect each other’s frequencies?

The effectiveness of many other therapies are being scientifically proven over time.

When I first wrote this post way back when, scientists knew that rituals worked, but they didn’t know how. I’ve had to rewrite this article to reflect the new findings.

People are flocking to experience the therapeutic benefits of being immersed in nature.

Doctors are even prescribing time in nature for depression and anxiety and stress related illnesses.

Effects of forest environment (Shinrin-yoku/Forest bathing) on health promotion and disease prevention —the Establishment of “Forest Medicine”

It can be even more effective when you bring our animal friends into sessions. I’ve personally witnessed many miracles that have occured when kids have been introduced to the magick of horses.

Emotional Benefits of Horse Assisted Activities

A series of five sessions based on the EAP principles led to a reduction in the severity of depressive symptoms as measured by the BDI-II and a positive shift in dominant mood

No one thinks twice about taking passiflora, St John’s Wort or ashwaghanda supplements. Astounding when you think that women were once burned and drowned as witches for their knowledge of plant medicine!

Hypnotherapy has startling similarities to Soul journeying, mind rewilding and shamanic healing.

People have stopped smoking, lost weight and overcome phobias through hypnotherapy and the power of suggestion. Is it too woo woo for you to believe that you can also tame the black dog of depression using these tools?

There are a multitude of other modalities such as Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Reiki, Havening, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) that are helping soldiers with severe PTSD to recover.

Havening for PTSD

I’ve personally used many complementary therapies and some of them work so well it feels like magick! They’re effective for so many people with all sorts of problems.

Call it what you will – witchcraft, plant medicine, neuroscience or common sense – it doesn’t matter – they can all be effective in helping us to ditch the black dog of depression.

It may be more science than magick (although I choose to believe it’s magick.)

But Soul healing works.

Connecting with others and a higher power in Sacred Circles works.

And ‘woo woo’ things such as talismans, rituals, spells, whatever you want to call them, work.

Depression, stress, overwhelm, burn out and anxiety can all be massively improved through taking part in powerful healing rituals performed in nature. .

And that can be life-changing.

…don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it seems a bit too ‘woo woo or ‘out there’.

Don’t miss out on getting rid of some of the psychological and emotional blocks to your happiness, just because what I’m offering isn’t as ‘normal’ as popping a pill or visiting a traditional therapist to talk about it.

Maybe, just maybe, despite how ‘woo woo’ my techniques might seem, there’s scientific evidence that backs up the magick!

After all, as Arthur C Clarke famously said:

“Magick is just science that we don’t understand yet!”

I combine modern neuroscience based coaching and therapy techniques with lifestyle changes, sacred activism, connection, community and a generous sprinkle of Gaian Magick to help people ditch the black dog and unleash their passion for life.

Check out the ways you can learn more about me and my work by clicking the button below.

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First published at https://ditchtheblackdog.com/think-im-too-woo-woo/