Footloose
French clown, Didier Danthois |
The art of the Court Jester is alive and well.
French clown, Didier Danthois performs in UK hospitals and old people’s homes
as an uplifting antidote to the chaos and disillusion of modern life. For him
deflating delusion and puncturing pomposity with humour has a spiritual
dimension. He says: “This work is not about acting. This art is about stopping in
order to experience the here and now. It touches people. And we are able to
share some of the values we have forgotten, such as silence, stillness and
expressing true feelings.” Danthois follows in the tradition of the whirling
dervishes and North American shamans who for centuries used humour, music and dance
to teach people how to enjoy life. |
The Joker.
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The jester - or Joker, found in every pack or cards - is what psychologists
call an archetype: a universal symbol we can all relate to and which often
appears in dreams. Such clowns are found in every culture from pre-history through
the courts of the Chinese, Egyptian, Russian and our own Tudor monarchs. In
modern times, Hollywood has kept the tradition alive with Charlie Chaplin, and
the Marx Brothers. More information: www.sacred-clown-as-healer.co.uk
Traditional Russian jester |
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A new evolution
The next step in evolution will be towards a better, unselfish world.
Philosopher and scientist Dr Ervin Laszlo believes in a transforming force in human
consciousness, which will filter out our egos and tune us in to our intuition
and caring for others. Laszlo says:
“The evolution of each individual
consciousness paves the way towards the evolution of our shared collective
consciousness. This evolution more than anything else can and must change this world.” |
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Superfood
Number 5: Blueberries
The tiny blueberry may hold the key to curing Alzheimer’s disease. In recent
scientific tests, a daily cup of the berries improved participants’
performance by six per cent. A powerful anti-oxidant, the succulent fruit can be
effective against many other dysfunctions of ageing. Native North Americans long
recognised their health-giving properties. And the first female herbalist St
Hildegard of Bingen wrote in the 12th century that they helped with menstruation.
Packed with minerals and vitamins and full of fibre, they inhibit the build up
of cholesterol and can be effective in improving vision.
Mark Winter
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