Inner Winters: A Celtic Exploration of Depression and Melancholy

Abstract

How can the ancient Celtic wisdom embodied by the mythological goddess figure of the Cailleach serve as a guiding force in facilitating transformation and intrapsychic processes amid states of depression and melancholy? Many individuals are impacted by clinical depression or melancholic personalities which may bring similar feelings of lower mood states that are difficult to cope with. The ancient Celts had a unique understanding of darkness and of the winter season as sacred. Using heuristic and alchemical hermeneutic methodology, this thesis brings in Celtic wisdom from mythology and folklore, exploring these lower mood states metaphorically as inner winters and presenting ways to navigate the challenges they bring.