All This Joy

"All this joy, all this sorrow
All this promise, all this pain
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love

City of joy, city of sorrow
City of promise, city of pain
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love

World of joy, world of sorrow
World of promise, world of pain
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love

All this joy, all this sorrow
All this promise, all this pain
Such is life, such is being
Such is spirit, such is love
Such is spirit, such is love"

- John Denver

For the past few years, I have been meeting on Wednesday mornings for kirtan, a call-and-response chanting practice, in our case, often accompanied by a harmonium. Occasionally, a contemporary song makes its way into our practice, and last week it was "All This Joy" by John Denver. 

What struck me about the song was how fitting it felt for this season of stark contrasts. Winter solstice, when the shortest day and longest night signal the return of light, connects us to nature's cycles and the promise of renewal.

It also acknowledges that, while this time of year can be filled with "all this joy" and sparkle, it is also a time when many of us wrestle with expectation, loss, and longing. Such is life, such is being. 

As we round out the year, we are centered on making space for our own imagination in the months to come. Creating space—whether in our studio or simply in our attention—is how we plan to navigate all that lies ahead.

Thank you all for making space in your attention for our work as we begin our 17th year of practice. We are deeply grateful.

Happy Solstice out there, friends!