Have You Forgotten What Brings You Joy?

When was the last time you did something simply because it brought you joy?

Not because it was productive.

Not because someone needed you to do it.

Not because it was good for your spiritual growth.

Not because it was on your list.

But simply because...it made you happy.

As we move into October and continue exploring this season of harvest, I've been thinking about all the different things we harvest throughout our lives.

We harvest the results of the seeds we've planted.

We harvest wisdom from our experiences.

We harvest healing from the inner work we've done.

We harvest relationships, opportunities, abundance, and spiritual growth.

But there's another harvest I don't think we talk about enough.

Joy

And this week, I would like to introduce you to an Archangel who can help us reconnect with it.

Meet Archangel Haniel

Archangel Haniel is known as the Angel of Joy, Intuition, Divine Feminine Energy, and Grace.

She is associated with beautiful soft blues, pale green, and lunar silver.

Haniel can assist us with joy, grace, intuition, Divine Feminine energy, emotional healing, creativity, inner harmony and peace, fulfillment, lightness, and playfulness.

She can also help us dissolve negativity and reconnect with a greater sense of fulfillment.

And I think her energy offers us a beautiful question:

Have you forgotten what brings you joy?

Somewhere Along the Way, We Got Very Serious

As adults, there are so many things requiring our attention.

Work.

Family.

Finances.

Responsibilities.

Relationships.

Our homes.

Our health.

Our spiritual growth.

And even our healing can become another thing we're constantly working on.

What do I need to heal?

What do I need to release?

What pattern do I need to change?

What lesson am I supposed to learn?

All of these things can be important.

But I wonder sometimes...when did our spiritual journeys become so serious?

We've spent the past month talking about some very deep healing.

We've explored courage, transcendence, emotional healing, grief, release, balance, gratitude, blessings, and even the grief we may carry from having felt separated from our true Divine nature.

All of that has been beautiful and important.

But perhaps after doing all of that inner work, one of the most spiritual things we can do is...experience joy.

Joy Doesn't Have to Be Earned

Sometimes we unconsciously treat joy as a reward.

I'll relax when I finish everything.

I'll travel when I have enough money.

I'll have fun when things calm down.

I'll celebrate when I reach the goal.

I'll be happy when...

But there always seems to be another thing that needs to be done.

Another goal.

Another responsibility.

Another healing.

Another something.

What if joy isn't something we're supposed to earn after we've taken care of everything else?

What if joy is part of what nourishes us while we're living our lives?

Haniel reminds us of the importance of lightness and playfulness alongside healing and spiritual growth.

And maybe that's something some of us need to remember right now.

What Used to Make You Happy?

Think back for a moment.

What did you love doing before you started deciding whether it was productive?

What made you lose track of time?

What made you laugh?

What did you create simply because you loved creating it?

Where did you love going?

What music made you want to dance?

What made you feel alive?

And what have you stopped doing because life became too busy?

You might even think back to childhood.

Children don't usually ask:

"Is this activity contributing sufficiently to my personal development?"

They play because playing feels good.

They create because they want to create.

They explore because they're curious.

They laugh because something is funny.

They dance because music comes on.

Somewhere along the way, many of us learn to put conditions around joy.

Perhaps Haniel can help us remove some of them.

A Message from Archangel Haniel

As I was preparing this newsletter, Archangel Haniel brought through another beautiful reminder:

We often look for joy outside of ourselves.

We think:

I'll be joyful when this happens.

I'll be joyful when I meet the right person.

I'll be joyful when I have enough money.

I'll be joyful when I finally have the life I've been trying to create.

But Haniel reminds us that joy isn't something we attain.

Joy is who we truly are.

The things that bring us joy—the music, creativity, people, places, experiences, laughter, beauty, and moments of play—aren't necessarily giving us joy.

They may simply be helping us remember the joy that already exists within us.

And I love this distinction.

God's desire for us isn't simply to find perfect Love, perfect Peace, and perfect Joy.

It is for us to BE Love.

To BE Peace.

And to BE Joy.

So as you're remembering the things that bring you joy this week, Haniel invites you to go one step deeper.

Place your hands over your heart.

Close your eyes.

Take several slow breaths.

Think about something that fills your heart with joy and allow yourself to really feel it.

Feel your heart filling and expanding with that beautiful energy.

And then recognize:

This joy isn't separate from me.

This joy is me.

Then, either silently or out loud, repeat three times:

I AM Joy.

I AM Joy.

I AM Joy.

Don't just say the words.

Feel them.

Allow yourself to remember the Joy of who you truly are.

Joy Can Also Be Part of Your Harvest

At the Autumn Equinox, we talked about recognizing what we've already received rather than immediately asking for more.

I think Haniel takes that teaching one step further.

Perhaps part of recognizing our blessings is allowing ourselves to enjoy them.

Maybe you once prayed for the home you're now too busy maintaining to enjoy.

Maybe you prayed for the relationship that has somehow become another item competing for your attention.

Maybe you wanted the business, career, family, friendships, spiritual community, or opportunities you now have.

Perhaps you worked incredibly hard to create something...

and then forgot to stop long enough to experience the joy of having created it.

What if enjoying the harvest is part of the harvest?

Connecting with Archangel Haniel

This week, I invite you to spend a little time with Haniel.

You don't need to make it complicated.

Find somewhere comfortable.

Take a few slow breaths.

And simply call upon her as you would a dear friend:

Beloved Archangel Haniel,

Please be with me now.

Help me reconnect with the joy, grace, creativity, lightness, and playfulness within me.

Show me where I may have become so focused on responsibilities, healing, or what comes next that I've forgotten to enjoy what is already here.

Help me recognize what genuinely brings fulfillment to my heart.

Strengthen my intuition so I can recognize what nourishes my spirit and what no longer does.

Help me dissolve the negativity that keeps me from experiencing greater inner harmony and peace.

And remind me that joy does not need to be earned or found outside of myself.

Help me remember the Joy that I AM.

And so it is.

Then don't immediately get up and move on to the next thing.

Sit with Haniel for a few moments.

Ask. Allow. Notice.

Maybe a memory comes to you.

Perhaps you suddenly think of something you used to love doing.

Maybe you feel drawn to a particular place.

You might hear a song in your mind.

You may feel inspired to call someone.

Or you might simply feel lighter.

Pay attention.

Your intuition may be showing you what helps you remember the joy that are you.

And Then Do Something About It

This is the important part.

If Haniel reminds you that you love to paint...

paint.

If you're reminded how much you love walking on the beach...

go to the beach.

If you miss dancing...

turn on the music and dance around the room.

If you haven't laughed with a certain friend in far too long...

call them.

If you love flowers...

buy yourself some flowers.

If you love sitting outside doing absolutely nothing...

go sit outside and do absolutely nothing!

It doesn't have to be profound.

It doesn't have to cost money.

It doesn't have to accomplish anything.

Let joy be enough.

And as you're experiencing it, remember:

The experience isn't creating the joy within you.

It's helping you remember the Joy that you already ARE.

What Are You Harvesting?

As we continue through this season of harvest, perhaps we can expand our definition of abundance.

Abundance isn't only money.

It can be love.

Time.

Friendship.

Beauty.

Creativity.

Peace.

Laughter.

Nature.

Meaningful work.

A quiet morning.

A beautiful sunset.

A conversation with someone you love.

Or one completely ordinary moment when you suddenly realize:

I am happy to be here.

Perhaps this week, instead of asking what else you need to manifest, ask Haniel to help you recognize something deeper:

What helps me remember the Joy that I AM?

And when Haniel shows you...

don't analyze it.

Don't postpone it.

Don't decide whether you've earned it.

Experience it.

Let that experience remind you of something you may have forgotten:

Joy isn't simply something you experience.

Joy is who you are.

Maybe joy isn't distracting you from your spiritual journey.

Maybe remembering the Joy that you already ARE is part of your spiritual journey.

Love & Light,

Joelle St. Germaine

P.S. I'd love to hear what Archangel Haniel brings back into your awareness. What is one thing you used to love doing—or something you still love but haven't made time for lately? Hit reply and tell me. And then give yourself permission to actually do it this week!

P.S.S. One of the things I love about the Archangel Mastery™ course is discovering just how many different ways the Archangels can support us. We don't only need to call upon them when something is wrong. We can invite them into our joy, creativity, relationships, work, dreams, spiritual growth, and everyday lives. Archangel Haniel is a beautiful reminder that our relationships with the Archangels can include lightness and play, too.

P.S.S.S. If you're ready to experience the Archangels at an even deeper level, keep an eye on your inbox over the next couple of days. I'll be sharing how you can join me and the Archangels in Ireland in May for a sacred journey of Soul Remembrance and Divine Activation.