Is it OK to be joyful in "interesting times"?
And what's the difference between happiness and joy?
The Big World is a difficult place these days.
It can be hard to do my work - my writing and editing, running Ariadne’s Tribe - because I have to be on screen devices for those, and sometimes even on social media. And that puts me up against all the overwhelming horrors of these interesting times.
I've had to pull back and create some boundaries, be less active on social media, limit my exposure to the news, just to maintain sanity. I bet some of you have done that as well.
A big part of the work I do, both in my writing/art and spirituality, is meant to help the world heal and grow, one person at a time.
Sometimes I feel like it's not OK if I'm peaceful and calm, since so many people out there are currently in precarious situations.
But then I look at my own household and realize that if I can find some joy underneath all the chaos, I can anchor that for the people I love. And spreading that joy further out, with compassion for all of humanity, feels like a worthwhile use of my energy.
Joy is a big part of what we do and who we are in Ariadne’s Tribe. It’s a major aspect of several of our deities, and it’s an important part of our lore.
By joy I don’t necessarily mean bubbling, excited happiness; happiness and joy aren’t exactly the same thing. Happiness, to me, feels more temporary, connected with specific life events and experiences.
But to me, joy is a kind of vibrance and depth that underlies all of life, even the sad and difficult parts.
For those of us whose worldview involves deity or deities, joy can be an aspect of connection with the divine. As an animist, I also find joy in my connection with all the other inspirited beings of the many worlds.
Tomorrow, I’ll be heading out to Mystic South, an amazing, magical pagan and polytheist conference in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). I’ll be presenting a paper about a particularly mysterious Minoan symbol on Friday. And on Saturday, I’ll be leading a ritual for joy.
We’ll be inviting our joyful deities to help us connect with that energy, and I’m hoping the attendees will all go home after the conference still carrying that spark of joy within them.
Because in difficult times, a bit of joy may be what we need to make it through.
May your days be filled with wonder; May your work be filled with meaning; May your life be filled with joy!
My Substack is free, but if you’d like to support my work, you can find my books here and my art here and here.
About Laura Perry
I'm an author, artist, and creator who works magic with words, paint, ink, music, textiles, and herbs. I'm the founder and Temple Mom of Ariadne's Tribe, a worldwide inclusive Minoan spiritual tradition. My spiritual practice also includes spirit work and herbalism through the lens of lifelong animism. I write Pagan / polytheist non-fiction and fiction across several different subjects and genres. I'm currently working on an illustrated book of modern Minoan myths and a Minoan entry in the Moon Books Pantheons series. I’m also an avid gardener and living history demonstrator.
I think joy is absolutely vital. It gives us the energy and hope to face every day. Our perception creates our reality. Nothing is ever totally dark and hopeless. We need to remember the concept of yin and yang of our existence.
Oh, goodness yes for us on the social media thing too. It's like over the past couple months Ve have been naturally progressing to "less" social media. Trimming fat and just putting the *bleeping* phone down haha! Or rather, not even picking it up in the first place. Interesting times indeed. Just get outside and roll around in the grass more, people!