Sitting Bull ~ What is Joy

I am Sitting Bull, ancient warrior and bringer of peace. Welcome my children of the plains – many of you say you do not know joy – you do not know what it feels like – you do not recognize it any longer – you do not feel it in your heart or body. So I come this day to speak to you about joy and how to rekindle the knowing.

When we have walked the trail of tears, when we have suffered at the loss of the land we loved, when we have fought and died for our birthright of freedom it was important to our survival to remember the Joy – to carry it with us – on our skin, in our hair, painted on our bodies, woven into our blankets. It was important for us to remember that the people are joyful people and that can not be stripped away by any being. And yet you my children in your loss of memory are allowing that birthright to be stripped from you. This loss is not from Great Spirit – it is the confusion of humans who have lost their vision and their way. Let me help you in the most straightforward of ways to remember.

The first teacher of joy is the Earth Mother, Gaia – she will show you the joy and help you remember who you are. The flower that turns it’s face to the sun and grows is expressing it’s joy of being alive and in harmony with all; the eagle soaring on the currents of air high above the Earth is living it’s joy; the water that babbles with excitement and then rests in the golden eddies is shouting it’s joy; the buffalo that thunder across the plains are expressing their knowing of their power and that is joy; the deer who shyly shows us her fawn is sharing her joy; the pine that stands in silence and awe is holding the joy.

Look around you my friends if you have forgotten what joy looks and feels like – look to nature and you will remember – and it will stir within you the memory of your being and expression of this Joy. For what is Joy – it is the supreme knowing that the Great Spirit has smiled upon you and that you live. It is the blood rushing in your veins, it is the coolness of morning on your skin, it is the privilege to know that you will love and have the chance to hear your new born baby cry. It is to grow old and sit in the circle of elders. It is the whoop of the war dance and the quiet of the sunset. Joy is the gift of being alive – no matter what the circumstances of that life – it is a gift and has needed to be honored as such.

In our tradition all gifts are shared – that is why we did not understand the greed of the white man. So in this way the gift of joy is one that grows and multiplies with the sharing. When you share a smile you share the joy; when you hold a hand you transmit the joy; when you hold one who is sick and dying you share the joy that they have lived; when you sit in reverence to the directions, above and below, you honor your joy and why you are here.

So do not tell me that you do not know joy my friends – look around you – look within you. Do not look for the spectacular bolt of lightning or comet across the winter’s sky – look to the daily joy of the blessing you receive in every moment of your life. Choose to live in joy as the external world looks fearful – meet it head-on and declare yourself. You are a being, a joy warrior and I am with you to show you the way. Ho.

Channeled by Linda Dillon Nov 7, 2007