Chapter 8: On Joy and Sorrow ~ Gibran’s The Prophet with Journaling Prompts
Then a woman said, Speak to us of
Joy and Sorrow.
And he answered:
Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.
And the selfsame well from which your
laughter rises was oftentimes filled
with your tears.
And how else can it be?
The deeper that sorrow carves into your
being, the more joy you can contain.
Is not the cup that holds your wine the
very cup that was burned in the potter’s
oven?
And is not the lute that soothes your
spirit, the very wood that was hollowed
with knives?
When you are joyous, look deep into your
heart and you shall find it is only
that which has given you sorrow that is
giving you joy.
When you are sorrowful look again in
your heart, and you shall see that
in truth you are weeping for that which
has been your delight.
*****
Some of you say, “Joy is greater than
sorrow,” and others say, “Nay, sorrow is
the greater.”
But I say unto you, they are
inseparable.
Together they come, and when one sits
alone with you at your board, remember
that the other is asleep upon your bed.
Verily you are suspended like scales
between your sorrow and your joy.
Only when you are empty are you at
standstill and balanced.
When the treasure-keeper lifts you to
weigh his gold and his silver, needs
must your joy or your sorrow rise or
fall.
***** *****
~ Chapter 8: “On Joy and Sorrow” from The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Spirit Nourished Earth created the image in this post in collaboration with DALL·E 3
Journaling Prompts for Self-Reflection
The Interplay of Joy and Sorrow
Gibran suggests that joy and sorrow are inseparable, giving rise to the other. How have you experienced this duality in your own life? Can you recall when your sorrow transformed into joy or vice versa?
The Depth of Emotion
Gibran speaks of sorrow carving deeper into your being, allowing you to contain more joy. In what ways have your most difficult experiences led you to more profound capacities for joy or growth?
The Gifts of Suffering
The potter’s oven and the lute that soothes your spirit symbolize transformation through suffering. How do you relate to the idea that pain or struggle can shape your life into something more significant?
Suspended Between Joy and Sorrow
Gibran describes us as being suspended between joy and sorrow, much like scales in the hands of a treasure-keeper. How do you navigate the fluctuations of joy and sorrow in your life, and what do you learn from that dynamic?
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