Saint Dymphna ritual for anxiety and depression

This is a quick ritual I perform during times of increased anxiety and depression.

May is an important month for my practice. In addition to its association with the Blessed Mother and the taurus sun, it’s also the month of Saint Dymphna’s feast (the 15th).

I don’t have an altar dedicated to Dymphna but she’s frequently in attendance at my main space. If you’re not familiar, St. Dymphna is the matron of victims of SA, those suffering from mental illness, therapists, mental health professionals, and runaways.

I’ve talked before about how one of the main functions of my altar is to serve as a place of recovery, which is why I try to keep it set in a way that generates calm and stability. Often, though, I need a remedy I can use in a different location.

To accomplish this, I’ll spend some focused time at my altar creating a layered incense. One nice thing about making your own blend is that you can hone in on each ingredient and its purpose, and as you add each new layer, you continue to build and combine correspondences for a specialized mix.

I started with calendula for its uplifting sun energy. Then I added spikenard to increase depth, birch to purify the space, cinnamon to represent the presence of ancestors, and white copal to sweeten everything. All executed alongside Dymphna.

Yesterday I was able to take the blend and burn it in my kitchen to reduce stress and it worked wonders. The first few ingredients tend to burn rather bitter, but when the cinnamon and copal come through, it’s like the arrival of spirit.

Happy May Day!