Spirituality and Mental Health

The Autumnal Equinox falls on Tuesday, September 22 at 9:30 AM EST in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the moment in the cycle of the seasons when the amount of daylight and darkness will be exactly equal. It is the time of perfect balance between the polarities of day and night. I find it reassuring,…

I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” —J.R.R. Tolkein “The Fellowship…

My friend and fellow holistic psychiatrist, Courtney Snyder, MD, and I have embarked upon a new project entitled “Two Holistic Psychiatrists Talking…”  We plan on recording ourselves weekly discussing a variety of topics related to holistic psychiatry. Our inaugural conversation explores holistic approaches to self-care during this time of great uncertainty. Please let us know…

This evening the eight day Jewish festival of Passover begins, which is celebrated with a ritual meal, the Seder, that symbolically recounts the dramatic story of the liberation of Jewish slaves in ancient Egypt. It’s a complex archetypal tale, full of magic , mystery and miracles, and laden with contemporary relevance. Once upon a time in ancient…

I collect blank books. When I see one that I like, I buy it, even though I have no specific or immediate use for it in mind. Then when the need for a journal arises, I go through my stash and select one that is apropos. My youngest child, YoYo, was sent home from college…