December 30 2017

#1 Joyful Sourcing 2018

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to Joyful Sourcing.

In the realms
where ecstatic joy
is the
primal
force
behind, beyond,
and within
all creation,
the forty days between January 1 and February 9
provide a perfect time for

Sourcing and Re-sourcing in Joy.

Playfully.
Through the elements of earth, water, fire, and air.

This year, we add a fifth element, common to Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, SPACE and spaciousness.

Buddhist tradition describes these five elements as the Five Wisdom Dakinis, and invites us to incorporate them this way:

Earth: our bodies
Water: our blood
Fire: our bodies’ heat
Air: our breath
Space: our consciousness.

(These elements of Joy provide the territory we will explore during Shakespeare Effect workshops in 2018.)

Adding the element of consciousness helps create a subtle weaving between the discovery of sources of joy in the outer elements (earth, water, fire, and air) and bringing them home to our physical and energy bodies.

Examples:

A mysterious white four-legged creature just scurried across the back yard, pausing to investigate the fence, the rhododendron bush, the parked car. It’s a ferret! Never before seen here. A strange new joy is born. With consciousness I can imagine – and begin to feel – that searching, rummaging, seeking, investigating, exploring creature offering this new source of joy to my body.

The mountain snow drifts down to become flowing water beginning its journey through the creek to the river to the sea. From my deck I can hear the creek water rustling its way around rocks and tree roots. Consciously I imagine that journey from snow to fresh water to salt water singing its transformations through my blood and all the fluids of my body from arterial blood to venous blood, to cells, to spine, to brain. Ever new, ever renewing. A source of infinite joy.

I choose to light a candle to remind me of the sustaining potency of the element of fire; next to the candle is a blessing bowl filled with quotations collected by a generous friend. One is waiting on top of the others; it is by the poet Robert Browning. And reads: “How fit to employ all the heart and the soul and the senses forever in joy.” Surprise and synchronicity, sources of joy found in honoring the element of fire. My consciousness builds a bridge from the candle, the friend’s gift, and the Browning quote, to my life’s inner fires, and they blaze with fresh power.

No wind today; the air rests, only a bird disturbs its quiet. All the leaves have fallen. The “bare ruined choirs” of tree branches offer themselves to the closing day and the silent air. This tender silence, through the element of space (consciousness) inspires my breathing to grow calm and easy. And offer itself (and me) to the joyful sourcing grace that is fresh air.

Joy in the World. And in me.

Buy the new calendar:

The Lady’s Year for Joy

The Lady’s Year for Joy is your personal guide and journal as you seek, focus, explore, test, recognize, experience, embrace, offer, and report
the truth of Joy in the world.

For you and for gifting your friends — this new calendar will enrich your daily reflections.

$25.00 plus shipping

Join the Daily Poets via Telephone

In 2010, several members of Jean Houston’s West Coast Mystery School joined to support one another with a daily phone call to ponder the inspirational writings collected by Peggy Rubin. All are welcome to join the calls. For those who wish to join the call at 9 am Pacific time the number is 1-641-715-3272, code 884124#. Read more about them HERE.