| We live at a time when increased spiritual energy on | | | | these are, indeed, contributing factors, but only |
| the planet is creating a raised awareness of the | | | | address the symptomatic picture - the symptomatic |
| values of the heart and of life itself. At the same | | | | expression of depression, not its cause. To look at |
| time, it is bringing into consciousness all that is out of | | | | the cause, nationwide or worldwide, one must look at |
| balance and not in harmony with these newly | | | | the changing inner landscape of what people value |
| awakening values. It is in this way that it is possible | | | | and what they find missing. |
| to look at the increased incidence of depression in | | | | Depression (and also post-traumatic stress) is a |
| developed countries, which, in many nations, has | | | | teacher, a signal, an announcer, that something needs |
| become of epidemic proportions. In the same light, | | | | to be addressed within one's life that has not been |
| though from another world, we can look at the | | | | addressed. It is a calling of the spirit for an increased |
| increased incidence of post-traumatic stress or | | | | awareness of what is missing. Although on an outer |
| 'post-traumatic stress disorder' in military personnel | | | | level, it may seem that what is missing is practical |
| returning from the 1990s Gulf War, the Iraq War, | | | | and tangible - such as a job, more money, adequate |
| and now from Afghanistan. | | | | housing, or improved prospects for the future, on an |
| What brings these two phenomena together is that | | | | inner level, at least for many, these may still only be |
| they are emotional and spiritual 'signals' of something | | | | 'signposts' to what the real cause of depression is. |
| being wrong. One may look within the individual | | | | Depression, as a teacher, tells us that something |
| psyche to see what is 'wrong,' but that reveals only | | | | essential is missing within life that needs to be found. |
| a partial truth. The awakening of the values of the | | | | Often, one can fill the outer elements of life with a |
| heart creates a greater collision between the values | | | | job, greater security, relationships with others, and |
| of one's humanity and the actual exigencies and | | | | still it remains. Because, as a collective human family, |
| 'necessities' of hand-to-hand combat and war in | | | | we still do not think of spiritual causes in relation to |
| general. Similarly, the values of the heart awakening | | | | physical symptoms, we continue, for the moment, to |
| create an increased sense of urgency that the | | | | look at the neuro-biology of depression as its |
| empty, loveless, or meaningless places in one's life be | | | | explanation. We study higher cortical functioning, |
| filled with something real and something meaningful. In | | | | understand the work of neuro-transmitters, and think |
| both cases, there is an interaction with individual | | | | we understand what causes depression. However, |
| psychological and spiritual motivations, and the actual | | | | the level of the physical is, without exception, |
| landscape of one's present life. In the case of military | | | | activated by the level of consciousness in which |
| engagement, one can only wonder that there are not | | | | spiritual, moral, and emotional values reside. |
| more post-traumatic stress reactions to the tragic | | | | Therefore, in an analysis of the future, we will not |
| and often unforeseen involvement in the killing of | | | | view neuro-biology as a cause of depression, but |
| children and of innocent civilians during a military | | | | itself as a symptom. We will, at that time, look to |
| operation. | | | | the domain of spiritual energy and spiritual |
| The values of the heart are those enhanced by the | | | | consciousness as the primary cause for physical and |
| presence of spiritual light: peace, unity, love, | | | | biological conditions. |
| compassion, generosity, forgiveness, and a desire to | | | | For the present, we are still immersed in material |
| live in harmony with others. These values may come | | | | explanations for a material world. We still explain the |
| up in contrast to the outrages of war - the horrors | | | | physical by the physical. As the world changes in its |
| that cannot be put out of mind or heart regarding | | | | understanding of spiritual reality, depression, |
| what one witnessed, felt, or took part in. Though of | | | | post-traumatic stress, and, indeed, all physical |
| less dramatic intensity and certainly of less violent | | | | disorders will come to be seen to be energetically |
| impact - the meaninglessness of a life lived without | | | | based, and new forms of healing will develop in order |
| the full measure of love, joy, or a sense of deeper | | | | to treat them. |
| connection with oneself or others, can also bring to | | | | For individuals today, and before such a collective |
| awareness the sorrow of loss - of a hole that needs | | | | development takes place, it is important to |
| to be filled. At bottom, depression fosters a yearning | | | | understand the 'signal' function of depression and the |
| for a spiritual, energetic, emotional, and relationship | | | | wisdom of the body that is trying to convey |
| healing that can only take place if one is aware that it | | | | something important from the soul. Though society |
| is needed. | | | | may not be ready, individuals may be ready to bring |
| The increased rise in depression in developed | | | | their lives into greater balance and harmony, restoring |
| countries may, by some, be attributed to more | | | | to both the body and the consciousness a spiritual |
| proficient and earlier diagnostic capabilities, the | | | | energy of love, hope, and unity, that for many has |
| availability of a wider array of treatment options | | | | been missing for a long time and on a very deep |
| including an entire pharamaceutical industry devoted | | | | level. |
| to treating the symptoms of depression. Both of | | | | |