See The Light - How Color and Light Can Affect Your Mood

Have these short days got you down? Ice and snow got you in the doldrums? That may be more than just Post-Holiday Depression and having to shovel snow off your driveway. It’s possible you’re suffering from what’s known as Winter Blues, or it’s more virulent cousin Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). It’s unclear whether the acronym was intentional, but there’s no denying that it’s accurate. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines SAD as a pattern of major depressive symptoms during the winter months, followed by full remission when the seasons change.
 
If you have seasonal depression, be it mild or monstrous, you’re not alone. According to Mental Health America, roughly 5% of the U.S. population suffers from seasonal depression. The condition manifests most frequently in women ages 20-30, right when they’re trying to build a life for themselves.

One such individual battles seasonal depression in a unique and inspiring way; The Eclectic Chic Boutique’s very own Maria Jordan. Through her brand Ravenwolf Creations, Maria Jordan has created stunning pieces of glass-work to fill her life and her home with dancing lights and colors. Her crystal sun-catchers use multifaceted and pigmented glass to filter and reflect the rays of the sun, filling the room with bright colors that dance across the walls as the sun-catcher twists and turns in the wind. In the cold winter nights when there is no sun to catch, her handmade glass candle holders keep the nights alive with therapeutic rainbows. 

​Adorned with colored glass, the light beaming out of them is transformed into a radiant painting. Maximize the brightness with LED lights, or even use scented candles to add an element of aromatherapy. Art is always more powerful when experienced with all of your senses.

​If you know someone who struggles with seasonal depression, remember to treat them with patience and understanding. If you are the person struggling, remember to offer yourself that same kindness. If you’d like to support an artist dealing with this all-too-common affliction, or just personalize your home with artisan glass work, check out Ravenwolf Creations by Maria Jordan.

---