The Sun - What is the Secret to Happiness?

The secret to happiness is, is that there is no secret!

Truth is I seldom draw this Major Arcana card but when I do my heart does the happy dance, because this card reminds me to be happy regardless of what is going on around me. For me it's a matter of attitude, and gratitude.

Happiness may seem like a secret but it's not. Simply to some of us, myself included take a while figuring out what makes us happy and learning that we're the only ones responsible for making our own happiness, nothing or no one else will. Oh sure people, places and things can add to our happiness, just not what will ultimately make us happy.

When I drew this card today my thoughts immediately went to my late friend Lillian (Diamond Lil) that I spent many hours with. She taught me a lot about happiness. She was also a long time Tarot reader and The Sun was her card, that she kept placed on the door of her refrigerator. After reading Lil's cards one day, which was the best card reading I've ever seen to date, I came to completely understand why the Sun was her card. Lillian was a finest example of what it means to have a striving and victorious spirit, both aspects symbolized by the sun-god.

And like the sun-god Lillian loved her music, played and entertained many folks over her long life. And just like Apollo, music,  an expression of the sun-god that transforms our darkness into light and meaning.When sorrow and fear was brought to Apollo in song he would take those sorrows and fears away.
Music is what healed, helped and transformed Lillian.

Summer Solstise

 This quote from my Mythic Tarot sums up my thoughts regarding the Solstice. The Sun in this deck portrays Apollo the sun-god or ' Apollo Long sight ', representing that part of ourselves " which can see the purpose and reason for experiences long before we have emotionally processed them, and left them behind. "
He plays his lyre of love symbolizing the transforming power of music, having divine harmony, and being in tune with the self.

 The Sun dissipates the dark, and provides a clarity of vision, with positive energy and growth. Especially, the Sun brings love, joy, and happiness after peril. The bondage of darkness, the fear and the imperfection will give way to light, hope, faith, eventual perfection and freedom. We will triumph over tragedy, and loss will be no more.

I must express that today, June 21st was my wedding day in 1981 when I married my best friend, and soul mate. Leading up to this year's Summer Solstice I was thinking a lot about Bill.  We were only married for, four short months, when he died.

 I haven't thought so much about this day like I have today. Perhaps because Summer Solstice comes the same time as National Aboriginal People's Day. My later husband was Metis, and I feel a very close bond with First Nations. I experienced conflicting emotions today, a comforting sadness, and more than any of the past years, when Summer Solstice came round. I am certain I was having that  ' Long sight '.

When we experience these times of darkness, just before, and as the sun comes pouring in, the brightness of The Sun can be overwhelming emotionally, and even painful. But speaking for myself, I have learned the important lesson, not to run from these emotions. Tears heal. We love, and love always means loss; we can't have one without the other, we can't have the sun without the rain. But if I embrace the rain the sun is sure to shine again.

Blessings to you this Summer Solstice and National Aboriginal People's Day.