Be the Soil

From the Brady Tarot, the Six of Horns (Cups); from the Holitzka I Ching, Hexagram 1:

          Do you remember the last time you had a belly laugh or played just for the sheer joy of it? It seems happiness has been a struggle for many people lately (for good reason). However, it also might be because we look on happiness as a destination we reach when our train pulls into the station - when the right candidate is elected, when the check comes in the mail, etc. Once it leaves again, we feel empty. But that's actually a misunderstanding; our 'train' is where we'll find joy, not the station. Every moment we can choose to be content or discontent if we take the time to check the labels and stories we're wrapping around it. Hexagram One is often called The Receptive or The Creative, which suggests a creative force that works with what it receives. It is akin to a seed that falls to the ground, and the soil that nourishes it regardless of what type of seed it is. In the words of Thich Nhat Hanh, "If you are aware that you are alive, that you have twenty-four hours to create new joy, this would be enough to make yourself happy and the people around you happy."