#10 Birthdays of the Joyful Gods
Joy in the World
The Birthdays of the Joyful Gods
December 27, 28, 29, 30. 31
The Lady’s Year of Joy offers nine months of forty days each, with each month inviting an exploration of one of nine aspects of Joy in the World. That means a year of 360 days, leaving in our planet’s year, five intercalary days.
The ancient Egyptians had a similar challenge; they decided those five extra days in their calendar meant the birth of each of the five children of Nut, the sky mother, and her consort Geb, the earth father. These five became the newest of the gods, each important teachers and guides for humanity. They are: Osiris, Isis, Seth, Nephthys, and the “elder” Horus.
Inspired by the example of those wise ones, the last five days of the year of Joy mark the birthdays of the Gods of Joy. Theirs is not the “Don’t worry, be happy” kind of joy. They recognize and honor human suffering. And yet they invite us to be also aware of happiness, goodness, delight, and peace.
On December 27th, the gods who rejoice in Humanity and who remind us of the joys of being human are born.
On December 28th, the gods who provide joyful Direction throughout our lives come to new life.
On the 29th, we celebrate the birth of the great gods of joyful Passion and passionate engagement.
On the 30th, the gods of joyful Beauty and the joy in beauty, seek and find new birth in each of us celebrants.
On the 31th, we honor the birthday of the gods of joyful Spirit, those who enchant and enhance our spiritual lives, and remind us of the joy inherent in spiritual life.
PARTNERING THE JOYFUL GODS
HUMANITY, DECEMBER 27:
Our joyful task is to give birth every day to the gods of joyful humanity and to relish the wonder of being human, focusing on those events and people and aliveness that inspire us. (Art by Patti Kaufman)
DIRECTION, DECEMBER 28
Trace the paths our lives have taken, find the joy of knowing our direction is toward greater and greater happiness, true happiness, for ourselves, the holy Earth, and all who dwell here with us.
(Art by Patti Kaufman)
PASSION, DECEMBER 29
Engage the world with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. To quote the amazing Howard Thurman:
“Don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive. And go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
(Art by Patti Kaufman)
BEAUTY, DECEMBER 30
Poet David Whyte is the spokesperson for these joyful gods:
“Beauty is the harvest of presence,
the evanescent moment of seeing, or hearing on the outside what already lives far inside us. . .”
– Consolations
(Art by Patti Kaufman)
SPIRIT, DECEMBER 31
The perfect guide to Spiritual joy, even bliss, even ecstasy is Hafiz, who tells us:
“O listen, O listen more carefully to what is around you right now. In my world all that remains is the wondrous call to dance and prayer rising up like a thousand suns, out of the mouth of a single bird.”
(Art by Patti Kaufman)
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
JOY IN THE WORLD.
Coming up next is a new year of the Practice of Joy, with new reflections, and you’ll have them soon.
Buy the calendar:
The Lady’s Year of Joy: The Calendar
Explore a Ninefold Path that brings, finds, celebrates, enhances and strengthens Joy. The year consists of nine months, each named for a step on the Ninefold Path, and each with 40 days. It is perennial, that is, not tied to any particular year. Each month is divided into four weeks of ten days each, and each week is devoted to one of the elements, Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. $15.00 plus shipping
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