En Joy



Above is the I-Ching Hexagram for joy.  A poet friend of mine, Ernesto Mercer, shared on social media that we should be mindful of the joy Black Panther and Wakanda has produced for members of the black community and African Diaspora.

I've been meditating on joy lately.

In the I-Ching, joy is also linked to pleasure.  In my studies, I have often connected with the idea of joy as pleasure that is shared with those of like minds.  We must have joy in our lives; and we must have folks of like minds that we can share our thoughts and feelings with.

I have also thought quite a bit about how impenetrable joy is.  Joy is meant to be shared, not attacked or critiqued.  When we find people with joy, we leave them alone.  If one feels negative in the presence of joy, one must find someone else to discuss the unjoy with.

Transcendence as a blog rises up out of my studies of African American history and culture.  There in the black we often struggle with the unjoy.  In my younger years, my search for knowledge led me to a series of codes and restrictions that I sought to apply in my life towards better balance.  I was eager to accept some religion or philosophy that functioned like Christianity.  It was all in the pursuit of joy.  Joy is the opposite of suffering on the axis of feeling.  Many are drawn to the study of the black because of our suffering and trauma.  Though it will take some thought to get to it; those who are drawn to decode the suffering of the black are in search of joy.

There's much more to be said about joy.  There are different types.  And there is a joy in consumerism that mixes in with Black Panther/Wakanda moment.  In some ways, we get to purchase joy.  But Wakanda is by no means the only one.  Often when we talk about consumerism, we forget the joy associated with it.  It works.  Consumerist joy is one of the key components of American society.

The only response to joy is to enjoy with others.  It is the unity of thought and feeling.  It is thought held in balance with feeling.

Enjoy

Transcendence

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