Mental Health & The Magician

Depression, high anxiety, addiction and other mental health issues effect a huge number of us. Many are looking for answers or ways that we can get better or deal with these afflictions ourselves. How does Magic and the Occult intersect with such things? Are there similarities, and if so- what can we learn from them? The amount of internal pain that many of us carry with us each day is difficult to deal with, but there are ways in which we can get help as well as create help. On this extremely personal episode of WMiT?, Douglas has his first ever guest Andre, back on the show to discuss. Fair warning- This episode may have somewhat triggering segments in it.

Show Notes

• Helplines, Hotlines and Crisis Lines from Around the World – If you at any point feel you have nobody to turn or talk to, PLEASE reach out. There are people that do want to help you. The world needs you in it, as your perspective and experience adds so much
• This could be why you’re Depressed or Anxious – Very good talk from Johann Hari
• Depression and Metaphysics – Article by Mitch Horowitz. Please read
• Reddit Forum for Depression – Stories of other people’s struggles and perspectives are extremely helpful. People who post and respond want to help and are brilliantly nonjudgmental
• Reddit Forum for those that Struggle with Alcohol Abuse – Like above. I still read this forum on a daily basis as the stories stick with me. There are many resources available here such as support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous and much more. Also, there are forums for all forms of addiction, and all of them are extremely useful. Please find them on Reddit
• Introducing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – A fantastic introduction with many ways to go. Highly recommend
• Looking to start Meditation? I did a whole episode on it. Some of the links in the show notes may be helpful
• More than Half your Body is not Human
• For my favourite perspective on Animism and how it fits with Magic, the Paranormal and Ecology in general- A MUST READ BOOK is Greening the Paranormal Edited by Dr. Jack Hunter
• Everything You Need to Know about Animism – Sarah Anne Lawless has some wonderful resources regarding a way of relating to the world that I find especially pertinent to my own mental health, one that gives my life exceptional amounts of meaning
• How One Year of Microdosing Helped My Career, Relationships, and Happiness as well as A Guide to Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms. Remember, this is only one of many options. Also- DO NOT CONSUME HALLUCINOGENS when you are already in an awful mental circumstance
• Colin Wilson has helped me tonnes. Especially his ideas of a New Existentialism. I did a whole episode about him. Please Check out the Show Notes
• The Ultimate Colin Wilson – Astounding collection. But please try and grab the Audiobook as it is 100% worth it. The Narrator Liam Gerrard nails it. Colin Wilson’s New Existentialism is a very beneficial philosophy in my opinion
• Magical Practice and Mental Health – Great stuff here from Sam Block
• The Miracle Club by Mitch Horowitz – Another Must read book if you feel you are not flourishing
• How Tucker Carlson Saved my Life – Article by Mitch Horowitz. Yes. That Tucker Carlson. But please park all judgment at this point and read the article. It goes to the heart of abusing substances and your own success
• The Miracle Habits by Mitch Horowitz – Looks to be a fantastic book
• Small Article about The Kids in the Hall film Brain Candy. The movie that allowed me to recognize that perhaps something was not right. I owe a huge debt of gratitude to this film. And I also happen to think it is a Dark Comedy Classic
• Healing Depression Without Medication by Dr. Jodie Skillicorn – A very good book. Certainly Recommended
• Interview with Dr. Jodie Skillicorn
• Lost Connections by Johann Hari – One of the Better books about Depression that you can read. Recommended
• How to Build and Tend an Ancestor Shrine – From Chiron Armand. After reading the article please journey around Chiron’s site Impact Shamanism. He is a fantastic teacher
• Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise. A great short book and so much to learn here
• 4 Simple Steps to Commune with your Ancestors – This is Great. Mallorie Vaudoise lays it out very simply and I couldn’t have said it better myself. Must Read
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – One of the most brilliant and devastating accounts of mental illness
• Mental Illness in Fiction – I find reading fictional (but usually no doubt based on the authors personal experience) accounts of mental illness to be very helpful sometimes
• More Fiction Books about Mental Illness
• Adventures in Depression. Sometimes saying the hardest things in the simplest way makes a huge difference. The Second part of this comic destroyed me; I was shaken to my core. Please please please read Part I, but most especially Part II
• The Irrationality of Alcoholics Anonymous – I do not agree with much of this article but there are some good insights. AA did not work for me completely but parts of it were very good, and the people are fantastic
• Depression, The Secret We Share – Talk by Andrew Solomon. His book The Noonday Demon is quite good as well
• Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
• This might seem out of place but I find these simple exercises to be incredibly helpful for my Brain/Mind/Whatever. Please give them a shot
• From Hell Tour? What in tarnations are Doug and Andre jabbering on about at the Beginning of the Episode?
• Fudō Myō-ō – A Deity that is very important to Andre. Please journey around that site as well. Fantastic stuff and so much awesome information
• Narita-san – Beautiful Shingon Buddhist Temple in Japan

I just want all of you to know, that you are loved, and that you can find ways of healing. Please be kind to yourself. Again- You are worthy of conservation and the world is better with you in it.
Always.