joy and laughter

by Bill Tiepelman

Flames of Jubilation

In the heart of the Everbright Forest, where the trees whispered secrets older than the stars and the air pulsed with a quiet magic, there lived a creature of boundless joy. Her name was Lyra, a flame sprite born from the first spark of creation itself. With fiery hair that danced like a wild inferno and feathers that shimmered with the colors of the sunrise, Lyra was a living embodiment of celebration. But not just any celebration—hers was a jubilation born from hope, renewal, and the laughter that comes after surviving the darkest night. Lyra wasn’t just a sprite of flames; she was a beacon for all lost souls who wandered into the Everbright Forest, searching for something they couldn’t name. They didn’t know what drew them there—perhaps it was the flicker of her flames between the trees, or the warmth that seeped into their hearts as they ventured deeper into the woods—but somehow, they all found their way to Lyra. And when they did, they found more than they expected. The Laughing Healer “Oh, you,” Lyra would say, laughing brightly as she floated toward yet another weary traveler. Her laughter wasn’t the quiet, polite kind—it was the belly-deep, face-crinkling kind of laughter that shook you from your core and made you question why you’d ever stopped laughing in the first place. “You look like you could use some light!” she’d exclaim, her fiery wings flaring out behind her, creating an explosion of color against the deep green of the forest. She never asked what brought them to her or why they carried the weight of the world on their shoulders. She already knew. It was the same reason every soul came to her forest. They were searching for hope, for healing, for something to ignite the fire inside them that had long since flickered out. Lyra’s magic wasn’t like other healers. She didn’t mend broken bones or cure illnesses with potions or spells. No, her magic was simpler than that—yet more profound. She reminded people of their own inner light, the flame that never truly went out, even when they felt cold and lost. “Look,” she’d say with a mischievous glint in her eyes, holding out her hands, palms up. A tiny flame, no bigger than a candle’s flicker, would appear in the center of her palm, glowing softly. “See this? This is you. It may not look like much right now, but give it a little air, a little encouragement, and—” With a quick puff of breath, the flame would suddenly surge into a brilliant burst of light, like a firework going off in the middle of the forest. Lyra would grin and laugh again, her whole being glowing with delight. “—Boom! There’s your spark. It was never gone, just waiting for the right moment to reignite.” The travelers would watch in awe, and sometimes, for the first time in years, they would smile—maybe even laugh with her. And that was the moment the healing began. The Phoenix of Renewal But Lyra wasn’t alone in her role as the bringer of hope. Nestled close to her heart was a creature of legend—a tiny, vibrant phoenix named Solis, whose feathers glowed with the same radiant energy as Lyra’s flames. Solis wasn’t your typical towering, majestic phoenix. No, Solis was small—no bigger than a sparrow—but what he lacked in size, he made up for in power. “Don’t let his size fool you,” Lyra would say with a wink. “Solis here could burn down a mountain if he really wanted to. But lucky for us, he’s a softy. All he wants to do is help me remind people that life can be reborn, no matter how many times you’ve been reduced to ashes.” Solis would chirp in agreement, hopping from Lyra’s hand onto the shoulder of whoever needed his warmth the most. And in that moment, they would feel it—a deep, soul-warming glow that spread through their chest like the first rays of sunlight after a long, dark winter. The kind of warmth that made you believe, even if just for a second, that everything could be okay again. “See?” Lyra would say, nudging them with a playful grin. “You’re not as broken as you think. You’re just... in between forms. It happens to all of us. You fall apart, you burn out, but then you rise again. That’s the way of things. That’s the way of the fire.” The Visitor One day, a woman named Mira stumbled into the Everbright Forest, her heart heavy with grief. She had lost everything—her home, her family, her purpose. Life, to her, felt like a cruel joke, one she no longer had the strength to laugh at. She wandered aimlessly, hoping the forest might swallow her whole, take away the pain that weighed her down. But instead, she found Lyra. “Oh dear, another one!” Lyra said, not unkindly, when she saw Mira standing at the edge of the clearing, eyes downcast, shoulders slumped. “You look like you’ve been dragging a boulder uphill for far too long. Come on in, don’t be shy. Let’s see what we can do about lightening that load, huh?” Mira looked up, confused. “Who... who are you?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. Lyra floated toward her, her flames casting warm, inviting shadows across the forest floor. “Oh, I’m just someone who likes to remind people how bright they actually are. You’re Mira, right?” Mira blinked in surprise. “How... how did you know my name?” Lyra laughed, the sound ringing like chimes in the wind. “Oh, I don’t need magic for that. You just have the look of someone who’s forgotten her own name. But don’t worry—I’m here to remind you.” Lyra took Mira’s hand, placing it gently on her own chest, where the small, glowing form of Solis rested. “Feel that? That’s the fire of renewal, the one you’ve forgotten is inside you. But don’t worry, it’s still there. You’ve just let the ashes pile up a little too high.” Mira felt the warmth of Solis’s feathers against her palm, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something stir inside her. A spark. It wasn’t much, just a tiny flicker of something she thought was long dead, but it was enough. Enough to make her believe, even for a moment, that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t completely lost. Healing Through Laughter Lyra grinned and flared her wings. “You know what’s really going to help? Laughter.” Mira raised an eyebrow. “Laughter? I haven’t laughed in... I don’t even know how long.” Lyra beamed, her fiery hair flickering with excitement. “Well, you’re in for a treat, then. Because laughter is the best way to remind yourself that life is still worth living, even when it feels like everything’s crumbling around you. It’s the most powerful healing magic there is, and the best part? It’s free.” Before Mira could protest, Lyra spun her around, her laughter infectious, pulling Mira into a twirl that felt both ridiculous and freeing. They danced under the canopy of glowing trees, Solis chirping along, and slowly but surely, Mira felt the weight on her chest begin to lift. It wasn’t gone, not entirely, but it was lighter. And for the first time in years, a small, shaky laugh bubbled up from Mira’s chest. It wasn’t much, but it was something. Lyra beamed, her whole being glowing with joy. “There it is! That’s the sound of life coming back to you.” The Flames of Jubilation As the sun began to set, casting the forest in hues of gold and crimson, Mira sat with Lyra and Solis, feeling a warmth she hadn’t felt in years. She didn’t know what the future held or if her pain would ever fully go away, but for now, she had something she hadn’t had in a long time—hope. “Remember,” Lyra said softly, as the last rays of light filtered through the trees, “you’re like this little phoenix here. You may burn out, you may fall apart, but you’ll rise again. The flames of jubilation are inside you, waiting for their moment to burst into light. And when they do, it’ll be glorious.” Mira nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “Thank you, Lyra. I think... I think I can believe that now.” And as she left the Everbright Forest, feeling the warmth of Solis’s glow still lingering in her heart, Mira knew that the road ahead would still be difficult. But now, she had a light to guide her—and a laugh to carry her through the darkest of nights. Because that was the magic of Lyra, the flame sprite of jubilation. She didn’t just reignite your fire—she reminded you how to laugh while you did it.    If Lyra’s joyous flame and her message of hope and renewal have ignited something in you, bring a little of that magic into your own world with a selection of vibrant products. For those who enjoy creative expression, the Flames of Jubilation Cross Stitch Pattern allows you to stitch the warmth and energy of Lyra’s spirit into your own work of art. You can also infuse your home and daily life with the glow of Lyra’s magic. The Tapestry adds a burst of color and life to any space, while the Throw Pillow brings comfort and brightness to your home. For those on the go, the Tote Bag is perfect for carrying a reminder of joy with you, and the Puzzle offers a fun way to piece together the vibrant energy of the flames. Whether you’re decorating, crafting, or simply looking for something to remind you of the fire inside, these products will help you carry the flames of jubilation with you, wherever you go.