The clown, Jester or Fool is a art form and is to uplift humanity. Where it is reflected as a dark art is the opposite and not the true essence of tom-foolery. The fool is the symbol of real hope. They turn tragedy into comedy. they embrace chaos and liberation to confront challenges with courage and humour. It is a celebration. There is always light to illuminate the path forward. The Fool is an alchemy of positivity transcending suffering. Comedy acknowledges the shadows. The Fool is a mirror reflecting society’s absurdities.
The Fool is to re-member truth can be found in our deepest joy. It can arise from our greatest stress. This is where we join. It is to reconnect humanity a word deeply misunderstood. It is to find that points of unity. Note: the fool below is a female. This is the symbol of the feminine. The interplay of language is the poetry of insight. It has a dual use. We are on the Fool’s Journey.
This video is an interesting analysis of the Fool and presents another way of seeing and step off the cliff before they look or living foolish lives. Knowledge of ignorance is awareness.
Susan Carew (Holmes) was invited to Russia with Patch Adams. It was there she was given a peace symbol. On her return to Melbourne she walked into a market and saw a Jester’s Hat and felt inspired to buy it. She clowned in hospitals and on the streets. She was inspired by Dr Helen Caldicott to study Peace Studies at La Trobe University. This course along with many humanities subjects are no longer available, as if of no value. When our humanity is of the highest value. Whilst at university she wrote an essay on laughter, comedy, clowns and fools in the creation of peace. The paper was titled:
Paper: How Effective is Laughter and Comedy in Creating an Atmosphere of Positive Peace?
Click on link: Susan_Carew_Peace_and_Humour_Essay_How_E
Patch Adams in his talk on TedX in the Netherlands quotes Desiderius Erasmus, author of In Praise of Folly. Watch his introduction.
“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.”
“He who allows oppression shares the crime.”
“The summit of happiness is reached when a person is ready to be what he is.”
“The chief element of happiness is this: to want to be what you are.”
“War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it.”
“The most disadvantageous peace is better than the most just war.”
“Before you sleep, read something that is exquisite, and worth remembering.”
“The main hope of a nation lies in the proper education of its youth”
“Just as nothing is more foolish than misplaced wisdom, so too, nothing is more imprudent than perverse prudence. And surely it is perverse not to adapt yourself to the prevailing circumstances, to refuse ‘to do as the Romans do,’ to ignore the party-goer’s maxium ‘take a drink or take your leave,’ to insist that the play should not be a play. True prudence, on the other hand, recognizes human limitations and does not strive to leap beyond them; it is willing to run with the herd, to overlook faults tolerantly or to share them in a friendly spirit. But, they say, that is exactly what we mean by folly. (I will hardly deny it — as long as they will reciprocate by admitting that this is exactly what is means to perform the play of life.)”
“Folly … both makes friends and keeps them.”
Folly explains that she is the source of friendship. She asks how any friendship could last if it weren’t for people’s willingness to turn a blind eye to occasional grievances. This form of blindness is a type of ignorance that is related to Folly. Fools are forgetful and thus are largely incapable of holding grudges. According to Folly, these characteristics make fools lovable and easy companions.
Acting the Clown
April Fools
April Fools is all over the world. Does the clown come out of chaos? Native American clowns are tricky and moderators in the community and can see what is out of balance they will act this out to reveal the truth and shadow play (Carl Jung) to return to balance. They are very honest and don’t suffer fools even though they are (ha ha). This is a sacred space as laughter heals.
Everyone is a clown, most don’t know it. We give you permission to be a clown. Reclaim your inner fool.