Day of the Fool

The Fool, by Beatriz Inglessis

Happy April Fool's Day!

How wonderful is it that our culture has a day to celebrate fools and jokes? Because aren't we all "fools" in some way or another? Isn't the joke always on us? We go through life, thinking we're somehow different from all the other crazy people out there, but we're not any different! 

In the tarot world, the major cards of the deck tell the story of the Fool's journey towards wisdom and understanding. Unlike some hero born for greatness, the Fool starts out with very little besides hope and a smile on his face.

Often there is a small dog following behind the Fool, nipping at his heels or pulling at his pants. I like to think of the dog as the trickster, or the un-integrated parts of ourselves that like to make jokes at our expense. 

Today, honor the Fool by noticing how many times the joke's on you, and then laugh and enjoy the journey. 

Dancing Storm Spirit

Floating Corset, by Frances Pellegrini
via Biddington's

"Praised be this wild, good, free spirit of the storm, which dances upon swamps and afflictions, as upon meadows! . . . Lift up your hearts, you good dancers, high! Higher! And do not forget the goodness of laughter! This crown of laughter, this rose garland crown: to you my brothers do I throw this crown! Laughing have I consecrated; you higher men, learn, I pray you - to laugh!" 

  —Friederich Nietzsche in Thus Spake Zarathustra, "The Higher Man," #20 

This quotation is partially the inspiration for "the Dancing Alchemist," both the name and the focus of the blog. There's something almost Taoist about the storm spirit's affirmation of all conditions, and there's something magically alchemical about laughter being able to transform the one who laughs, through affirmation, to embrace all circumstances. Isn't that part of the Great Work, to take joy in life as it is given?

Everyone Serves a Porpoise

Everyone Serves a Porpoise, by Berkeley Illustration
via Yes and Yes

Think of this at your next meeting and smile.

Playful Songs

Western Meadowlark, by Adam Grimm

Did you know that some cultures consider the meadowlark to be capable of human speech? 

Arapaho mothers would feed their children meadowlark meat or eggs for four days and say certain prayers to give their children the gift of eloquence.

But meadowlarks are also thought to say mocking or dirty things! The bird that creates great orators is itself a joker. 

May our speech by playful, wise, and fearless.

Temple of Learning

painted and embroidered allegorical picture, by Maria Crowninshield
via Salem in History

If there's one thing I believe in, it's learning and community. I think learning from each other is one of the most powerful acts of love and affirmation there is. I see images like this, and think about Mary Wollstonecraft arguing for equality around the same time, and I feel so grateful for all the opportunities I have to learn, and to learn from other women. 

Some things I've learned lately from teachers of mine:

• laugh—it shakes up any bitterness that may be starting to set in
• go slower than you think is necessary, and time will open up
• invite others to tea—it is one of the best conversation potions out there

Our Friend, Death

Madonna of the Sacred Bones, by Laurie Lipton
via Phantasmaphile

"My parents were atheists. We had no ceremony, no goodbyes, no "closure". My father instructed the hospital to cremate my mother and dispose of her ashes. She was gone, disappeared, zapped out of existence. I was left with Nothing... literally and metaphysically. Friends & family treated my mother's death like an embarrassment. They awkwardly murmured Hallmark platitudes before slinking uneasily away. Death is as forbidden a topic in modern society as sex was in Victorian England. 

When I visited Mexico in order to see The Day Of The Dead festival some years later, I couldn't help feeling envious of their approach to mortality. Families gathered on graves and picnicked, whole villages turned up with food for households in mourning. Death was treated as normal, even silly. Candied skulls grinned in their hundreds and skeletons danced in a fair-ground atmosphere. I decided to rebel against my heritage and create drawings inspired by the mood and atmosphere of the Mexicans. I decided to get in-touch with my bare bones. My culture runs from death, screaming. We worship youth, beauty and the illusion that we have all the time in the world. We frantically face-lift and botox, and throw pills, creams and money at death. We fool ourselves into thinking that death only happens to other people & only losers die. Skulls always look like they're laughing. Maybe the joke is on us?"

    —Laurie Lipton

Amen. Let's take the opportunity today to see death in a new way.

Happy Halloween!

The Bragging Wall

I spotted this wall of awards and honors over at Color Me Katie. 

Katie with her "I got caught being good award"
both pictures via Color Me Katie

Isn't it a fantastic idea?

It reminds me of a running joke I have with my mother-in-law. You know how some people have their email signatures set to display all of their titles and credentials? We like to sign off our emails with things like "mother of the year," "expert book reader," and "elliptical president." You've got to take pride in your accomplishments, right?

What awards would you give yourself?

Old News, Funny News

I'm always the last to hear about everything, so this is probably super old news by now. But in case you've missed it: 

Yeah, I did that.

Columbus Day celebration

He's a feminist

How to rock a v-neck

Go ahead, laugh until you snort and have a good weekend.

Admiring: Ladies Who Love to Dance

I visited my Nanna at her retirement community last week so that I could hear some of the classic tunes of her generation as played by the local piano sensation. (I totally recommend bonding with family through song. There's nothing like seeing your grandmother get teary eyed at "I'll Being Seeing You" to give you a picture into her world.)

One of the best parts of the afternoon was seeing one of Nanna's friends dancing to the tunes. She'd dance in line as she waited for her cocktail shrimp. She'd dance in her chair. And then when a gent asked her to dance, she got up and moved her feet with such quickness you'd think she was a young woman. She even did the Charleston bees-knees step. She was a star. It didn't hurt that she was wearing glasses like Bono, either.

This is who I want to be when I get older—someone who'll take any opportunity to enjoy life that's given to her.

Billy Wells and Janet Richter doing the Charleston, Life Magazine, 1952
via Letters for George

Happy Funtimes with Animals

Have I been a little too introspective lately? In the past couple of days, I've noticed myself looking for things that will tickle my funny bone.

Just an Ordinary Fellow, by Marc Johns

Here are some little delights I've discovered, with some special animals thrown in:

• The lamb who thought he was a dog
• How to cook a non-tasty meal
• "Wait, What?" moments
• How to write a rom com
• The New Girl
• Useful dog tricks

Make 'Em Laugh

Have you ever been around a person that just laughs all the time? The kind of person that is able to radiate joy and love even in difficult situations?

When I'm around people like that, I feel so energized and so encouraged, and the effects of sharing in laughter last for days and days, too.

So, here's a little gift of laughter for you. It's such a classic that even glee has redone it.

Do you have a favorite joke? A sure-fire way to get a smile on your face?