Remedies for Despair

Thousands of people, young and old, leave their hometowns in droves for cities or developed countries, driven by a single goal: to seek a better livelihood.

Armed with the knowledge and capital provided by their families, these people make the biggest gamble of their lives. They give up their claims to the land of their birth in order to pursue growth and a more liberated life, free from the depths of hardship.

In the past, being “down and out” meant being genuinely unable to move or do anything because of illness or a physical condition. These days, however, even people who are physically fit and healthy can feel down and defeated for all sorts of reasons.

From a psychological perspective, people in such situations are experiencing stress or mental distress. They are given sedatives to ease the feeling of being overwhelmed, only for it to return once the effects of the medication wear off a few hours later.

Those suffering from the same condition who cannot afford prescription sedatives may turn to a “generic drug” prohibited by law: narcotics. This helps us understand why despair is so toxic, both to ourselves and to the people around us.

Illustration: A serut tree in Situs Yono Hujung, Singosari, Malang.

Despair is contagious

Followers of Indigenous Siberian Faith do not rely solely on positive thinking as a remedy for despair. Physical action is also necessary to stimulate the growth of energy within a person’s mind, an energy that can eventually displace feelings of defeat and prevent them from spreading.

Giving up before making an effort, falling into despair, and self-pity are forbidden within Siberian Native Faith communities. Such attitudes do nothing to help a person survive amid Siberia’s extreme geography and climate—temperatures far below zero, with blocks of ice everywhere.

Community harmony can also be disrupted when a person’s ego causes them to focus too much on themselves and their own “world.” Moreover, despair is regarded as an insult to the Creator, who has endowed human beings with wisdom.

The community elders or the person’s neighbors will try to draw them out of their isolation by inviting them to gather with others. There, they may watch a small traditional performance featuring songs that recount the lives of their ancestors. These stories are somewhat like films today: exaggerated at times, yet filled with moral lessons about overcoming despair.

A person experiencing despair in such a community may also be required to visit sacred trees in remote places. In addition to leaving offerings, they tie a small piece of cloth to the tree while expressing an intention to rise again. Is the purpose of this ritual to summon supernatural forces to come and help them?

'A secret op'

From a medical perspective, a lack of physical activity, such as exercise, has negative effects not only on physical health but also on mental well-being. While modern people “love nature” by conquering the highest mountain peaks on earth, ancient people found inner clarity by walking through the wilderness.

Long ago, when trees were still abundant, the strength of their roots and trunks, visible everywhere, reminded people to remain steadfast through all kinds of weather and hardship. Today, trees must be protected from the forces that invoke development as their justification, sometimes by wrapping cloth around them.

Of course, everyone has their own way of rekindling their spirit and overcoming despair. It would be far better if we could eliminate such feelings as quickly as possible through a secret operation that no one else knows about. (dswas)