Depression. Ah, a word used so very often in today’s world it carries countless connotations and associations with it, unique to every mind. However, everyone who has experienced it knows one thing; it does not feel good. Who wants to be depressed? Who wants to experience a debilitating malady which prevents them from joyful living? Who wants to find themselves helplessly immersed in a world of sadness, bleak futures and apathy? The answer to these questions, quite simply, is: everyone who suffers from depression.

Perhaps this sounds heartless and cruel; perhaps too simplistic or naïve. But the truth is, we are exactly where we desire to be at every given time in any given circumstance. This is indeed a difficult concept to swallow; especially when you think of all the horrid crimes and seemingly innocent victims in the world. It is even a bit frightening to admit or to say, because of the way this truth will be perceived by so many. However, with a bit of a shift in one’s perception, with the slight dismantling of long-held paradigms regarding our human position, it can be understood.

To say that one who experiences depression wants to experience it, does in no way diminish its devastating effects. Nor does it insinuate blame or lack of worth on the part of the person suffering. Rather, it simply points out that we are much more than we seem at first glance, and that we are exercising much more power over our own state of mind than we may know.

Each one of us was born into this world, not by chance or because of some genetic, evolutionary process which holds no reason. No, each of us was born into this world because we specifically requested it. We – at some level – created our human bodies, our dispositions, our initial exterior circumstances, and gave ourselves the gift of limited vision so that we could operate in a physical world. This part of us which created the human element of ourselves (our conscious self), is now far in the background, in most cases, and long forgotten by the human being walking around on earth today. Yet, this creator part of ourselves is every bit as real and vital as it ever was, and is intimately involved with our lives and our choices at every step. The difference between being in the non-human form and the human form is that we – as physical beings – are navigating our way through life without the expanded vision of our multi-dimensional selves. Circumstances often appear to be completely beyond our control and events can slam into us without warning, leaving us bewildered and frustrated.

As we grew and developed our human brains and personalities, we became more and more attached to things physical. We forgot, as was intended, the vast reality we emerged from, and formed a belief in our mortality and limitations. External circumstances and events provoked emotional responses within us that seemed beyond our control, thus triggering fears, anxieties, self-doubt and, in time, depression. We have each had our moments of feeling alone in the universe. We have each felt that familiar lack of worth or esteem at various times in our lives. We have been afraid, doubtful, angry, resentful – have even hated at times. We have envisioned ourselves as entirely misunderstood and unreachable, often by those closest to us.

These emotions are all very real, and have been very beneficial in countless ways. They have served to expand the universal intelligence more than we can imagine, for as spirit, we cannot experience such emotions; they would make no sense at all in that world from which we came. But here they not only make sense, they are the basis for much of what makes the world function!

The reality we find ourselves in today, in this physical place we call Earth, has its roots and foundation based firmly in negative emotion, among other things. A very interesting turn of events, from the spiritual point of view. You can be sure there are many not of this world who spend their time scrutinizing and documenting the unfolding progress of this planet and its inhabitants, for its lessons are profound and will reach far and wide forever.

That said, it is nonetheless a challenge to be here, among the fray, experiencing these negative emotions ourselves while still human beings of flesh and bone. We try various remedies, sometimes with success, often without, and make our way through life wishing we could feel better somehow. The moments of lonliness and emotional unrest are very real indeed, and not pleasant, to say the least. So, what can we do about it? How can we alter our mindset enough so as to lift ourselves above the dark night of the soul?

A helpful approach is to view the climb out of depression as a voluntary journey. It is a journey of remembrance, a journey back in time to where it all began. It is also a journey into the bright and unending future which holds promise and wonder for each and every one of us. What we experience with depression, as well as the emergence out of it, reveals aspects of our Selves to us that we may never have noticed otherwise. We gain closer access to that eternal truth which lies at the core of every being. We explore sides to our nature that can be scrutinized and understood through no other avenue - not in the same way. Depression and its consequences, effects and lasting impact serve to expand our view of ourselves. And, getting to know ourselves is a big part of what we are doing here in the first place - that and the expansion of being. If we had not become human, had not subjected ourselves to the vulnerable nature of physical existence, we would never be able to explore the nature of being from such angles. We would not understand the depth of anguish, sadness or despair from a place of such limited comprehension.

One of the most important things to remember is this: You are not alone. You have never been alone, will never be alone – not ever. Not really. This is the first awakening. It cannot be realized until you feel it, experience it, and realize it down into the depths of your being, but you can while still here in the physical world. The connections that brought us here continue to be with us and will remain with us long after we leave this place. Every time we experience suffering, as well as joyful discoveries and celebration, there is an immense gratitude for all of it within the non-physical realms. The parts of ourselves that are non-human - the soul or spirit, whatever you like to call it - is ever aware of what is going on here. We do love ourselves and appreciate the experiences of our human adventure.

I, too, have suffered immensely from deep depressions in the past. I struggled, as so many do, to find the path to freedom. These experiences taught me many valuable lessons I could not have learned any other way. And, one of the biggest lessons was in realizing that there is absolutely no reason whatever that any human being should ever be depressed, astounding as that may sound.

We can be if we choose. But we can choose differently. I don’t mean this to sound flippant or harsh, for I am not suggesting that such a choice is an easy one. Awakening, in itself, may sound like a chore you just don’t feel able to accomplish. But I know, through personal revelation, that it doesn’t have to be work – it just happens. In fact, often it seemed that the more I 'tried' to change things, the worse the depression became. It wasn't until I surrendered myself to Spirit and to the invisible parts of myself that my depression vanished, without a trace, overnight. It was simply lifted from me like a gift, with no effort at all on my part, and that was that.

Experiences like this taught me to trust deeply in the invisible forces of nature, of myself and of All That Is. They made me realize for absolute certainty that I was not alone at all, and that my physical intellect was but one small part of who I am. Many things which cannot be figured out rationally or intellectually are just those things which reveal our most deepest connections to the Source of all life. It is within the mysteries and the unexplainable that hope and eternal life are found. It is within the comforting embrace of an invisible force that we find ourselves as we truly are - perfect, immortal and forever loved.

May your many selves and deepest spirits guide you through this physical life with an open mind and heart as you reach out for answers. Any answers you find while here in human form have been within you all the time. Life experiences serve as triggers for your own memories! My greatest wish for all who are suffering in any way from depression is that your awakening from this despair leads you to a joyful reunion you have long awaited – a reunion with your Self.

Rebecca LeTourneau is a passionate soul who lives and breathes for the joy of writing. She has become the kind of writer who keeps readers longing for more. She lives with her husband Larry, poetic daughter Christina, and her artist son Larry Jr. Together they manage a house full of kittens and embrace the raging cold of northern Minnesota! She has published many short stories and articles, both on the web and in print. Currently, she is busy working on a metaphysical adventure series soon to be released in ebook format.

When she is not busy writing, her talents are applied to the building and designing of websites, another of her passions. With an anthropology degree and interest in mythology, she continues to study folklore and symbolism, collecting tales from around the world. Much of her inspiration has come from fellow students of anthropology and folklore, such as the late Joseph Campbell and the poetic Clarissa Pinkola Estes.

Rebecca is the co-founder and co-owner of the Laki Lines Ezine, a creative writing publication, and co-author of Late for My Plane, the autobiography of clairvoyant Michelle "Mija" Senjem. She is also the creator and manager of the popular site Web World Women, an online resource site for women.

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