nature's zodiac

Put it in the books! Mario Day (Mar 10) has come and gone, and our third annual party hosted some delighted kids. We prepped leisurely this year, starting days in advance, and we all noticed how enjoyable it was. By the eve of the party, we were joyous! We beheld our Mario-charged atmosphere with a satisfied awareness of our fridge crammed with Goomba pudding and Princess Peach punch materials. It was joyous to anticipate the party and come this far in creating it.

Philosopher Henri Bergson recognized the inseparable connection between joy and creation. He said, “Wherever there is joy, there is creation. The richer the creation, the deeper the joy.” 

There was a creative cascade effect in prepping for the party. As Geo fashioned gold plates into coins, he dreamed up a game to be played with them. “Coin Flip” had the kids in a tizzy of laughter, as “Mario” took on “Bowser” in a timed race to flip over more coins (gold side for Mario, Bowser face side for Bowser).

The day was full of surprises, from balloon sword fights to walkie-talkie hide-and-seek. Food was eaten with gusto. Beautiful piranha plant skewers and mushroom power-up cookies graced our entrance to join forces with the fireflower veggie platter and deviled Yoshi eggs. The day was beautiful and sunny, and it was near seventy degrees, and the Moon graced the day with Sagittarian zest.

Bergson said that “joy is the feeling of having brought something to life” and that it carries with it a “triumphant note.” He saw this as a way to create harmony between the soul and the generative effort of life (the elan vital), making the individual no longer isolated but at home in nature.

When I sit outside these past few mornings and hear the lively, ever-diversifying chitters and melodies of birds, I sense their participation in the creation of each new day, and for that rich moment, I share their joy. My joy-meter may not attain the same heights as my son’s on Mario Day, but I am still learning.