Have you heard of Nick Cave's The Red Hand Files where he answers letters from fans online? It's often insightful, poetic, philosophical and poignant. One of his reader questions once was on finding joy - something that can be hard to do when one has experienced profound tragedy and is suffering a terrible loss, as Cave did when he lost his son. What does joy mean? Where do we find it? His reader responses ended up so epic that he created an entire page dedicated to joy which you honestly should bookmark and come back to now and again. For Cave, and others, finding joy is intentional: 'a decision, an action, even a practised method of being.” One seeks out joy and finds it in the small things, not just the large. It might be the birth of a child, or a butterfly alighting on a flower, or how the light hits in Autumn. It's there all the time, even when we think it's not.
Here's a snippet from one, for example:
I find my joy in the fragmented moments of each day. The morning sunlight that gently twinkles through the blinds; the sound of magpies singing in the distance; the books I will never read sitting lopsided on my shelves; seeing my dogs living like there’s no tomorrow, because there mightn’t be. Spending time with ageing parents whose stories will soon fade in my memory; listening to music in the quiet of the night. Knowing that the multiple little events that occurred throughout history to enable my existence might not have happened, except they did, and here I am. The joy of having known or experienced wonderful things, if only for a minute. Joy is being grateful and kind. It is the sparks of emotion whether happy or sad that tell me I’m alive. I often forget to be joyful because life can be like a much loved painting that you hang on the wall and forget to look at after a while. We all need the occasional reminder to look for the joy in our lives, because it is there, we just need to find it. - ANNIE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
or this one:
I have been pondering a lot on what brings me real joy. I had so many things coming up but most of them involve other emotions, too. Remorse, sadness, grief. And then I remembered a recent excursion in a majestic spruce forest at a high altitude where I suddenly discovered a very tiny bright blue mushroom in the moss standing alone in the sunshine filtered by the trees. A true beauty, a discovery, a new species for me, I was suddenly forgetting about myself, just kneeling in the moss, admiring. Yes. Its scientific name is Entoloma nitidum, just in case - GYONGYVER, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
I was thinking about joy this week when I heard this new release from Valerie June - it's totally rocking but the message is also about finding joy in your soul even when the seas are rough. She's also a meditation and yoga instructor which makes sense given the lyrics. It's the kinda song you put on and play loud when you're feeling sad and you're singing just as loud you're going to banish some of the darkness at least for a little bit.
There is a light you can see
That is wanting to be free
A hidden light deep inside
Learn to trust your spirit guide
There is a light you can find
If you stop to take the time
Know when it's right, rise and shine
The seas will part, the stars align
[Chorus]
You'll find that joy, joy in your soul
Yeah, you'll find that joy, joy in your soul
You'll find that joy, joy in your soul
You'll find that joy, that joy, that joy
That joy, that joy, that joy, that—
[Verse 2]
And when you feel you're not enough
Has this old world been hard and rough?
A golden seed beneath dark soil
To seek the sun is often rough
And when you'll flower know not the hour
An ever present superpower
An effervescence from below
No onе can tell, just trust and grow
Thinking of other songs that make me feel a sense of joy, there's quite a few. They are often songs that aren't really attached to memory or people but stand independently, as if they are my songs and mine alone. I love this one from Taj Mahal. His guitaring and singing just make me happy. Dad loved Taj Mahal and we saw him live once. This one makes my heart sing big time. Enjoy!!
I also love this version of it with Roseanne Cash and Ben Harper and some other pretty famous people. I know it's Three Tune Tuesday (it's hosted by @ablaze, if you're new to Hive, and you share three songs on a Tuesday and tell us why ya like 'em) but this is just the same song so you gotta let me have it, right?
A good, joyful song will make you forget yourself. It will make you sing loud. It will make your spirit soar. And I think a lot of Bob Marley does that for me. You can't help singing along. I always kinda forget about Marley as I listen to a lot of reggae from a ton of different artists, but then Jamie'll put on Legend on vinyl and I'm like - ahhh, yeah, he was bloody good wasn't he?
What songs bring you that pure, beautiful feeling of joy?
With Love,
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Excellent compilation, I love Taj Mahal, his guitar playing is unique.
Thanks for making me spend a good time listening good music.
!PIZZA
!BBH
You're welcome. I love him too
finding joy comes with contentment, as well as sharing love. When you share what you have (Love), it comes back in many folds and it does not come alone, it comes with joy
Cheers
That's lovely.
Hmmm! Synthesizing joy out of tragedies and unpleasant situations can be difficult. It's only those who have the experience that can help others out
True. I think joy exists everywhere but sometimes we find it hard to see it.
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I never heard about Valerie June and Taj Mahal, but I have to say that your post accomplished its purpose! I felt joy listening to both performers, and I especially liked the guitar and the voice of Taj Mahal...
Thanks for sharing!!!
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I'm so glad you enjoy them!!
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I didn't know about Nick Cave's Red Hand Files, but I will look into it now. I love the idea of him responding to people's questions. Love the two examples you shared about what brings you joy in life. It's something we need to focus on more I think, time to spend in gratitude .
I hadn't heard of Valerie June wither so thanks for that as well xxxx
I was really hoping you'd catch this song in particular!!!
The Red Hand Files are awesome.
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