The mature Joker
In the royal court, the Joker or Jester was always consulted and trusted for his ability to bring a ‘real life in the moment’ reflection without covering up for personal gain. Although the responses were often covered in playfulness and humour, there was always assumed to be the ‘cold hard truth’ that no one else would tell the King.
Even if the tricks and jokes may result in unpleasant results, the intention of the awakened Joker is to use the tricks to point out shadowy sides and hidden agendas.
With a core desire to live in the moment, the Joker is able to bring lightness and joy to the lives of others. This is a result of the ability to laugh at himself, the ridiculousness of life and hypocrisy in an acceptable way.
The talent of the Joker is to reveal these things to us. It is not only the joys that the Joker can joke about, we can also be led to tears as the tricks and games often poke deeply into the hidden wounds that we cover.
The immature Joker
The Truth hurts! When not using clear judgment, the negative side of the Joker’s approach can seem hurtful. The stories told can cross lines of etiquette and social standards and can lead to being cast out or sent away. The Joker also is an easy escape or deflection from emotions and deeper layers of consciousness. When placed in situations where depth and sensitivity are called forth, the Joker can easily slide away with a quick one-liner and avoid healing on the more profound layers.
The Joker in modern daily life
My teacher Aadil talks about a simple formula for living. Keep Joy > Effort!
Pay close attention to your relationship with effort and be sure that everything you do has some joy in it. If there is no joy, why are you doing it?Even difficult work, when done for the RIGHT REASONS, has joy. If you catch yourself caught up in the effort without joy, make a shift somehow. Remember not to take yourself too seriously! Also, take note of these body, mind and soul tips:
BODY
- Make a conscious effort to make at least three people smile every day.
Bring joy & fun into mundane tasks these weeks.
MIND
- At least three times a week, reflect silently to yourself if the part of you that pokes fun at other people’s weaknesses or vulnerabilities is done with hurtful intention.
SOUL
- Sit in stillness for at least 3 minutes, 3 times a week and smile… literally… with your lips turned upwards (make it a sweet one so it has some reality to it… not overly exaggerated but from the inside).
The Joker on the mat
Have fun with Arm Balances and discover practices that bring you joy with a sense of playfulness!
The Joker
The Joker. Also known as the clown, trickster, comedian, jester or the fool, is an archetype that is at peace with the paradoxes of the world. He uses humor to illuminate hypocrisy, and also level the playing field between those of power and those without. ... A moot life is a Jester's worst nightmare. Let's explore how to be more playful, humorous, insightful and honest.
