#10 Happy Birthday to the Gods of Joy 2019

Birthdays of the Joyful Gods

The nine months, 360 days, come to an end on December 26,
leaving five intercalary days before the Year for Joy begins again on January 1.

On these days, we celebrate the birth of the gods of joy,
using the fingers of our hands as a device for remembering.

Humanity

DECEMBER 27
The gods of Joyful Humanity are born: those who Joy in Humanity and those who bring joy to humanity. (the thumb)
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.

Direction

DECEMBER 28
The gods of Joyful Direction are born: those who offer directions toward greater and greater joy. (the second finger, the pointer finger)
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.

Passion

DECEMBER 29
The gods of Joyful Passion are born. (the fire finger, the middle one)
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.”

Beauty

DECEMBER 30
The gods of Joyful Beauty and of Joy in Beauty are born. (the fourth, the beauty-carrying finger)
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

Spirit

DECEMBER 31
The gods of Joyful Spirit are born. (the baby finger, the heaven finger)
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.”