Rage, Love and the Audacity of Joy
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Through cultivation of friendliness, compassion, joy, and indifference to pleasure and pain, virtue and vice, respectively, the consciousness becomes favorably disposed, serene, and benevolent. 1
By cultivating kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity in the messiness of life’s pleasures and pains, we weave ourselves into the tapestry of existence with an open mind, heart, and elevated awareness. 2
What the Hell Just Happened?
On November 8, 2016, I co-led a yoga retreat in Umbria, often regarded as the Green Heart of Italy. We concluded our class, attended by 20 participants, when a friend slipped into the room, whispering in disbelief, “Trump won.”
A profound silence filled the space. Without warning, a Doctor who emigrated to Canada from South Africa as a young girl suddenly collapsed to the ground, sobbing. This seasoned world traveler cried, “I’ll never feel safe traveling in the US again.” Another student rushed out of the room. While others repeated like a mantra, “No, no!”
My co-leader and I hadn’t considered the elections when choosing our retreat dates. Like good yogis, we planned our time in Italy around the full moon, conveniently compartmentalizing the growing Trumpmania in the US.
As shell-shocked as our students, we gathered everyone into a circle and invited them to share their feelings. The lone Republican quietly excused herself, allowing the group space to begin processing what the hell had just happened.
At the gelato and coffee shops, locals asked our thoughts on Trump’s victory. They seemed genuinely curious about how Americans could vote for someone like him as our President. Of course, most of us wondered the same thing.
In the remaining days of our retreat, exploring ancient sacred sites, breaking bread, and drinking wine together, we felt privileged to be in Italy, sharing these experiences while simultaneously feeling ashamed, confused, angry, and worried.
Ground Hog Day.
On November 8, 2024, the memories from eight years ago crashed through my consciousness like an ocean wave, ready to pull me under. My body trembled. My heart raced. My friend and I began furiously texting. “WTF! How can we be here again?”
One retreat participant was a Gold Star mom— a mother who lost her adult child in a war. It was a significant leap for her to travel and attend our retreat. She had lost her son and was grieving, but a statement she made during our time together has stayed with me. “Joy has begun to seep in.” Regardless of the election outcome, she decided that she would continue to let joy seep in.
Etched on my heart, the image of another wise woman comforting her younger friend, making slow circular motions, gently rubbing her back while calmly reassuring them both, “I won’t let anyone steal my joy. We can’t let anyone steal our joy.”
Holding It All.
These memories surface when the noise and nastiness of the 2.0 era screech in my ear like an Aztec Death Whistle drowning out decency. I’m sure these tender moments that slip in and around my heart are about self-preservation and reassurance. We will survive. Or we won’t-if we don’t cultivate the four qualities the Yoga Sutras speak of: friendliness, compassion, equanimity, and joy.
On a return retreat, Italy was in the throes of an earthquake. Several times, while we practiced asana and sat in meditation, the hardwood floors beneath us shook with aftershocks. Today, thousands are collectively experiencing a surge of emotions as the earth trembles beneath us, and it’s only March. From shame and anger to fear, we question what actions we can take and whether feeling joy is acceptable.
I know writers who find writing about life’s joys, delights, and personal everyday experiences challenging. Especially when thinking about the struggles faced worldwide and in the aftermath of global political tumult.
Joy Is a Necessity.
To that, I say, friends, we must! It’s not only acceptable, it is necessary. Whether you are a writer or not, none of us can afford to waste energy wallowing in sadness, self-pity, and sorrow, wishing away the next four years while worrying about whether and how we will ever recover from the damaged years that will follow. Feel the myriad of emotions, yes. Numb and wallow, no.
Even if you don't identify as a yoga practitioner, embracing joy, kindness, compassion, and friendliness means you are a yogi. This embodies the essence of advanced yoga.
Tantra yoga is not passive.
It demands full-throttle engagement with life. Tantra teaches us to ride the “Coney Island Cyclone” of life—holding on through the steep climbs and drops, leaning into the twists and turns, all without death gripping, all without closing our eyes to what is. Awareness is key.
Tantric yoga doesn’t recommend burying our heads in the sand. Rage has its place—the heat that burns away apathy and stirs us to action. Audacity is what keeps us from collapsing in despair. Remember Arjuna, the warrior on the battlefield of truth and justice who faced his dharma (duty) with courage and compassion?
Do we need to do more? Yes. Do we stop enjoying and delighting in life? No. Cultivating joy is a courageous act of resistance.
In times of uncertainty, joy is not complacency—it is the face of courage. Amid darkness, love is not passivity—it is rebellion. Rage ignites change, but joy sustains the fight.
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If you’re new to Tantra and curious about its teachings you can read more below.
I won’t be in your inbox next week. I’m working on an essay discussing another relevant topic: the Panchakrityas — the Five Acts of Shiva.
Sutra 1.33 from Light on theYoga Sutra’s of Patanjali, translation by BKS Iyengar (Classical Yoga)
Classical yoga: Focus on detaching from the physical body and the material world to achieve union with the divine through self-discipline and rigorous practices.
Sutra 1.33 My interpretation from Light on the Yoga Sutra’s of Patanjali. (Tantric perspective)
Tantric yoga: Focus on embracing the physical body, the senses, and life’s experiences as pathways to divine expression and spiritual awakening.
Wonderful powerful words as your passion and wisdom provide a rallying call for unlimited Joy.
Tyranny feeds off fear and despair , so joy is rebellion and celebration. 🥳
Thank you Paulette, for this excellent and timely ode to Joy . X
Wow! How interesting to have been in Italy during the 2016 election.
Thank you for this call for joy, Paulette. I do believe it's a yes/and. Yes, we must let joy seep in (beautiful words from the wise woman you quoted indeed). It's like putting on our own oxygen masks. So yes, we can also see the hurt and pain being caused and figure out where and how we can best step in. Or I probably should have worded that all as I. I must let the joy seep in. i must also see the hurt and pain and figure out where and how I can best resist. I'm not interested in telling anyone else how they SHOULD respond.
Beautiful post. 🥰🥰🥰