Joyous
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of me.” I am the priestess of joy. I have taken refuge in the black hat lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, which reminds me that I create my own suffering by the stories I tell myself. (And suffering is the true opposite of joy.) I take refuge in joy. And I sit ZaZen, which con- fronts me with the ultimate truth: It is how it is. Smile. This is how one lives a joyous life: by being its priestess, by taking refuge in it, by acknowledging it.
Joy is often killed by degrees. Comparisons. Assumptions. Expec- tations. Joy’s murderers. Routine. Inertia. Exhaustion. Joy’s poisoners. Self-pity. Envy. Contempt. Joy’s abusers. Leading a joyous life, like growing your own vegetables, requires consistent daily tending to the small details.
Joy is like a butterfly. It is not meant to be grasped, only experi- enced. It is sturdier than it seems, but unexpectedly fragile. Often fleeting, yet eternally present in memory. And, like the butterfly, joy may emerge after a seeming death, it may start out as an ordinary, unremarkable, many-footed thing. Never underestimate joy. It really is all around you, right now. To lead a joyous life is simple. One simply starts from the premise: “Life is bliss.”
Susun Weed, author of the Wise Woman Herbal series, is an extraordinary teacher with a joyous spirit, a powerful presence, and an extensive knowledge of herbs and health. Ms. Weed is the voice of the Wise Woman Tradition, empowering women worldwide to reclaim their health and wellbeing through knowledge, simply and safely. Visit:
www.herbshealing.com
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June/July 2010
Helpers for leading a joyous life.
Joy is warm and sunny; so are the places where St. John’s/ Joan’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) grows. Drop- perful doses of the tincture of the cheery yellow flowers, taken 2-3 times a day, cures the blues, banishes pain, and engenders easy joy..
Joy likes swings and slides. Take a child to the playground and see if joy doesn’t come along for the ride. Repeat frequently.
Baby goats are the embodi- ment of pure joy. Spend as many days of your life as possible in their company. Be really present, so you can relive their capricious capers with vivid memories of joyous abandon. Learn a thing or two about kicking up your own heels while you’re at it.
Cultivate your inner smile with the help of Mantauk Chia. Following his sugges- tion, I began my day with five minutes of out-loud laughter. Though I found it difficult at first, I persisted, and was delighted when my laughter echoed throughout my day. Living the Good Life by Hel- en and Scott Nearing remains one of the best testaments to the joy of living simply. Peace Pilgrim is another favorite for roadmaps to joy.
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