This week, I invite you to find the Joy of June: "June is the Joy of God!" (Larry Morris) If you are keeping up with the news, I realize these times of uncertainty and dramatic shifts here in America (and the world in general), may eclipse a call to Joy. I confess that my own awareness of Joy is pretty tightly related to weather--when the literal dark clouds roll in--identified in L.A. as "June Gloom"--I'm more prone to retreat to the light of meditation than venture out in the throb of life. But on days of sunlight and more or less blue sky, Joy is awaiting discovery! We don't have to ignore the human reality that life brings times of difficulty. Rather, the task of spiritual upliftment is recognizing the Good, naming the Good, and watching the Good blossom.
A few days ago my son-in-law sent me this photo from his sidewalk cactus garden. A small barrel cactus had suddenly opened with three bright blooms. As I looked at it, I saw the dichotomy of prickly, sharp and wounding needles below, ultimately giving way to burst free in soft sunshiny petals of Joy. I went over to see it myself, shining bright above the rocks sheltered by neighboring succulents. It was as lovely and joyful as birdsong.
I think of the conflicts of our lives right now, the forces of anger, revenge, threats that feed on attention and fear. I think of the forces of nature that humanity has yet to learn to harmonize--in our push for domination and technological power. And then I think, maybe the world is just full of prickly egos, fearful of actually blooming, always in self conflict, that is to say, in conflict with the truth of Beingness, and therefore unable to find harmony with others. Harmony is another path to Joy in a world of differences. As Emmett Fox advised: "Harmony is inevitable when our thoughts are positive, constructive, and kindly."
We cannot force ourselves to feel Joy. But we can give it permission to be. We can recognize it in ourselves, hold it for a moment, recognize it, name it, let it expand within us, let it bloom. That cactus silently bloomed, as people walked by with their kids or dogs, heading up to the park and the mountain trail. Cars, bicycles, and trucks (carrying fire debris down the mountain) passed by. Lizards, and squirrels raced along that sidewalk, maybe even a bear or coyote or two took a look. Maybe the people and wildlife noticed, maybe they didn't, but it seems to me regardless, the cactus was joyful. So was I. "June is the Joy of God"! Have a joyful week. (Susan Nettleton).
for poetry: https://mercedeslane.tumblr.com/post/101716028/first-love-by-denise-levertov https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/B/BashoMatsuo/templebell/index.html https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/42710/joy-56d2215426412