Joy is NOT an Option
by C. Charis Coyle

Joy is not an option.  It is a necessity for life.  When we smother the sparks that make us sparkle we become dispirited, drained of the Sacred Spirit. Our energy level bottoms out, dropping to such a low our angelic companions are no longer able to sing or dance in our company.

If we are honest with ourselves we know when we are living a life that is aligned with our inner soul’s calling, our inner guide’s guidance.  This does not mean that our lives will be free from sorrow.  Sorrow is a part of life, and something with which we all have to engage and wrestle. So how then do we hold the joy despite the sorrow that all too often plagues our lives?  How do we remain infused and en-spirited, rather than an empty husk of “I wish I coulds.”  

I offer the possibility that to be filled with joy is different altogether than the feeling we tend to equate with happiness.  I propose that joy is not the opposite of sorrow, but rather of despair.  Joy is present, even if we don’t always see it shivering around us, when we live from our deepest integrity and truth, when we constantly check to see if we are engaging in right intention and action. When so engaged, life is as it’s meant to be, the sun shines and the angels sing despite the state of the external world. 

In order to nurture the best we each have to offer, what one might call the Good, the Beautiful, and the True, it is crucial to honor our inner sovereignty, to discover and rediscover our hidden talents and gold-dust latencies.  If this sounds like an impossible challenge, never fear for the daimon is near.  Our inner partner can help us stay in touch with what is near and dear to our souls.  All we need do is learn to listen, and learn to dance to the tune that will sprout our dream seeds into life.  What aspects of life fire your blood, rattling and sizzling your cells with passion? What is that long lost dream that was shuffled away in the closet, but never really forgotten? What do you need to feel whole and complete, to know your life was well lived? What is the long lost dream that was shuffled away in the closet, but never really forgotten? When you find the courage of creative questing, the strength to ask the tough questions and the wisdom to listen deeply for the answers.  

 These are the depth soundings, clues to our soul’s print. The answers differ for each and every one of us since we are all completely unique, having come into this world with our own paradigma, our own purpose or grail quest.  

All we need do is stop running from the inner wisdom that yearns to share itself with us.  If we embrace the courage of creative questing, the strength of tough questioning, and the wisdom of deep listening we can open ourselves to that inner stream of joy in order to become the Dancing Star we were born to be.

I wish you joy-filled dancing. 

 
C. Charis Coyle is a soul dancer.  She is a life coach, author,
storyteller, mythologist, performer and all around choreographer
of the eclectic and unusual. The Daimon Dance (website and
newsletter) is her praise song dedicated to the inner partner,
her way of re-membering the soul’s inner dream. The purpose of
the Daimon Dance is to gently remind each and every one of us
the importance of periodically recharging our connection to our
inner dancing star. www.daimondance.com

Copyright 2006 Charis Coyle.  Please feel free to pass this
article on to your friends, or use it in your ezine or
newsletter.  It's a shareware article.