Burnout is a Constant Under Capitalism
Burnout is a spiritual problem. Burnout occurs when your spirit asks for ease, and capitalism forces you to say "no."
Capitalism is a spiritual enemy. Capitalism is an enemy of wellness. Capitalism is an enemy of the body itself.
Some of us learned this when we watched our mothers work their fingers to the elbows, day and night, sick or well. Others got a grip on it when we realize our grandmother's retirement plan was the grave.
We're our elders experiencing burnout? Did they have time to assess their feelings about work at all?
As a diviner, I've grown up alongside many of my clients, some who I've read for damn-near two decades. I've had the privilege of speaking with their ancestors, and with my own spiritual court.
Without intentional elevation, and a commitment to a reciprocal relationship with ancestors, they can overwork you. Many of them learned in life that their value was their labor.
This doesn't die when a person dies. It dies when they learn a new way.
Those of us who were born into cycles of unbroken hard work have much to gain from identifying and addressing burnout.
My great-grandmother, who I lived with when I was young, spent decades as a domestic. She retired in her seventies, by which I mean she started an at-home daycare for local children.
My great-grandmother, who I called Mema, worked until she was very old. My grandmother, who worked three jobs at all times herself, lamented Mema's absence in her childhood her whole life.
Now, I'm not saying my ancestors, which both these women now are, did something wrong. They didn't have the privilege to work less, nor would they have been fond of the language of "burnout."
I am an overworker myself, a trait which I inherited from my grandmother. "I'm my own princess," she'd tell me as she picked me up at 10pm from my job at Joyce Leslie.
"Whenever I get paid, I get one nice thing for myself." This was resilience building advice, and I remain grateful for it. She didn't stop working until she was pushed out of her post-"retirement" full time job.
One of the ways I elevate my ancestors, in addition to spiritual means, is by learning better, doing better, then teaching them. I do this by setting boundaries with them, being clear about what I'll accept from them, and not repeating their mistakes.
I understand that burnout is cyclical under capitalism. It's not avoidable without generational wealth.
That said, working through burnout with intention may make total burnout less frequent. It may also aid in spiritual recovery from burnout, and help you identify it earlier so it's not as severe.
Here's three ways I move through burnout with intention:
Identify: When I'm about to experience burnout, I get a weird feeling under my ribs. Its like this weird cloud of tiredness settles around my energetic heart.
My shoulders start to feel heavy, and I see an increase in pain throughout the day. This is a big deal to me as a person with Lupus, because I'm always in a lot of pain. Any more pain is intolerable.
Others may feel quicker to cry, or quicker to anger. Everyone will have different signs of burnout. These signs may cover up other things as well, which is why it's important to have lots of different layers of wellness support.
That said, I work with spiritual technology, specifically tarot, to identify the verge of burnout. Unlike lenormand and playing cards, tarot is interested in my emotional state and spiritual journey.
It's helpful to see an affirmation of my feelings, with the option to do something about them.
Reconnect: For me, much of burnout is about feeling disconnected. Disconnected from my desires. Disconnected from my body. Disconnected from the world.
Going outside, getting grounded inside, or working with plant medicine help me move through burnout more quickly.
I'm not talking about hiking, unless you like to hike! I'm talking about anything that helps you remember that you are part of the world. I mean anything that reminds you of needs that transcend capitalism's constraints.
Wave at a squirrel, safely light a campfire, watch the wind. It doesn't have to cost you any money. If you're in a big city, the pay off, in my experience, is bigger.
The trees in many cities can still be spoken to. Humans domesticated pigeons, then abandoned them, though they didn't abandon us.
Nature is literally everywhere, including inside us. Forgetting this leaves us more open to burnout. Remembering this helps us reconnect.
Observe: Dreams. Love them.
When working through burnout, dreams tell us if we've been successful or not.
This is particularly true for reoccurring dreams, which I'll write about in more depth another time.
Our dreams are a thermometer for how we're doing. With careful observation, dreams will tell us about overwork, relationships, anything tbh.
Helpful dreams start with good sleep, and healing from burnout requires rest.
Getting as much sleep as one can, as often as one can is a balm.
Identify. Reconnect. Observe. Repeat.
Or Reset.
Check Out 🌿the Reset
the reset, a guided invitation to (re)ground your intuition for fifteen minutes each day for three days.
Hey, I’m Cyrée
I’m a rootworker, diviner, and clinical herbalist. I believe that spirit work is an essential part of all movements for justice. I hope you’ll take a look around, there are plenty of opportunities here to deepen your connection with your gifts (with my guidance.)
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