"Honeymoon with Big Joy" #3

Featuring Mary Oliver and Ruthie Foster

Oct 04, 2023

Welcome to “Honeymoon with Big Joy”

Remember, you’re the co-creator of this dive. Do as much or as little as you’d like, when you’d like, how you’d like, with the materials I provide. Just keep gentle faith with yourself.

Set your intention

Take a moment to name the primary intention you have for this month-long deep dive and/or this particular session. Take a quiet moment to center yourself in that intention.

En-JOY the music

Read the selection

I invite you to read this piece twice—aloud, at least once. You may also listen to my reading, perhaps with your eyes closed.

1×

0:00

-1:19

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published


DON'T HESITATE
Mary Oliver

If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy,
don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty
of lives and whole towns destroyed or about
to be. We are not wise, and not very often
kind. And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this
is its way of fighting back, that sometimes
something happens better than all the riches
or power in the world. It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant
when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid
of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb.


(from Swan: Poems and Prose Poems)

Contemplate/Create

Use any of these questions however you wish—e.g., as openings for meditation or prayer, as prompts for journaling or poetry-writing, as sparks for drawing or painting, as catalysts for change-making . . . You may also ignore my questions altogether to go off in other directions!

Give this line of the poem your own ending (or perhaps brainstorm a sequence of endings!): “Joy is not made to be a ________.” Use this response stem to reflect/write/create.
Have you yourself noticed joy “in the instant/ when love begins”—love of whatever sort? How might joy and love be related?
Are you ever hesitant to feel joy? To talk about joy? To express joy? If so, why? What might help you “give in” to joy? What/who might benefit from your giving in?

Want to visit with other Rafters in the Deep Dive?

Here are two options: either leave a comment on this post using the button, or join the chat thread dedicated to this Deep Dive. (Note: if you haven’t created a Substack profile yet, you’ll be asked to do so before you can comment or chat.)

Join us on October 31 for “Rafter Refuge”!

6:30-8:00PM Central (7:30 ET, 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT)

Let’s close this Deep Dive with a time of voluntary sharing. (It’s fine just to listen!) Come and reflect with other Rafters on “Honeymoon with Big Joy.” Registration is required for this celebration.