The Community of Fools Project 2010
‘When one person is fully present the whole world shifts.’
To be a fool is a radical and simple surrendering to life, just as it is. One deepens trust, sensitivity, compassion, authenticity and a profound awakeness to the unfolding of creation moment by moment
The Community of Fools Project is a special on-going fool group of up to 18 people who will meet for 4 workshops and receive creative support for a 9 month period in 2010.
Fool workshops teach how
- that so called ‘failure’ is a doorway to compassion and original ideas
- that your own body is a superb teacher
- that astonishing creativity and beauty are in everyone
- to find clarity and balance
- ·to laugh very, very often
- to notice new possibilities presenting themselves continually
- to break free of past limitations
- to be friends with the present moment
Teaching methods in Fool workshops
The work is created organically in the present with continuous feedback of the group using the following:
- exercises and games from improvised theatre
- various forms of creative writing and drawing
- movement and improvised dance
- yoga- based warm up exercises
- vocal and breath exercises and improvisation
- non-visualization forms of meditation
- stillness- just being, quiet walking outdoors
- pair, small group discussion
- self-inquiry from Zen and The Work of Byron Katie
- poetry, story, film, video
Between workshops
The time you give to these elements will depend on individual circumstances and personal aims.
Fortnightly exercises* sent by email/mail. An extension of the workshops. Sometimes everyone will be invited to the same exercises and sometimes these will be tailor made for you. You will give as much time as you wish to it. Maybe one week it’s an hour and then another week it’s longer. The aim is to support you to get the most out of the Project within your circumstances.
Fortnightly check in. You will have a partner from the group with whom you simply check in by phone. There will be clear ideas on how you can make the best of these calls.
Private phone sessions with Angela You will have up to 3 private phone sessions during the project in which you have the opportunity to learn the process of self inquiry known as The Work of Byron Katie and gradually release old patterns of thinking AND you can use the time to explore where you are with any aspect of the Community of Fools Project including specific exercises or challenges that you would like help with.
*more information will be posted here during January
Angela Knowles
discovered improvised theatre 35 years ago. She trained in movement, voice, clown and storytelling. As a storyteller, she leads educational, healing and reconciliation projects in many countries and has taught adults clown and fool for 20 years.
In 2003, she found ‘The Work’ of Byron Katie’, a profound method to dissolve negative patterns of thinking. She is now a facilitator in training in this process.
She has many years experience of living in communities whose emphasis is personal and spiritual development.
Angela writes,
‘Fool workshops release fabulous creativity, friendliness and joy because a very supportive community is quickly generated. People are safe to stretch into previously unknown landscapes of emotion and experience in their own hearts and in relation to the outer world. For the first time a group will work together over 9 months to build on the special possibilities of a workshop environment while they are back in normal life. The specific outcomes of the project are unknown, in the spirit of all previous fool workshops. I am certain however that there will be even more creativity, spontaneity, generosity and friendship and I anticipate that the group will be supportive and a lot of fun. It will help people to live more freely and bring more positive energy to their work, family and friends but to also be a joyful, calm presence despite these times of transition and challenge.’
Dates, times & venues
February Friday 26- Sunday 28th, Columcille Centre, Edinburgh
June Friday 11-Sunday 13th, Columcille Centre, Edinburgh
September Wednesday 15-Sunday 19th (residential) Monkton Wyld Court, Dorset
November Friday 12-Sunday 14th, Columcille Centre, Edinburgh
Weekends begin at 6pm Friday and end at 4pm Sunday.
Who can be part of the Community of Fools Project?
Anyone with good mobility whether they have worked previously with the Fool workshop or not. You are welcome.
Booking
The cost of the project is £850. Some bursary help on application.
10 % EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT if full payment is received by January 20th.
Alternatively you can pay a non-refundable deposit of
£100 (by January 20th) & 3 installments of £250
(February 20st, April 1st & June 1st)
This price includes:
11 days tuition
4 nights full board accommodation
4 hours of private sessions by phone and the calls themselves
9 months input via email and web site
Weekend Drinks & snacks in all breaks
This price does not include:
Accommodation & meals in Edinburgh. To defray costs we intend to help everyone living outside Edinburgh to stay with someone who lives in the city. We will also share the organization and cost of meals, particularly the Saturday evening. Please contact Natasha Hood, the administrator, early so we can do what we can to arrange this.
To book a place please contact the Project Administrator Natasha Hood
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel +44 (0) 131 228 1538
+44 07825 603 998(mobile)
You can read more about The Work of Byron Katie, fool workshops including comments from previous participants and contact Angela Knowles directly at this website.
‘Out beyond ideas
of wrongdoing and right doing,
there is a field.
I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about ideas, language,
even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make any sense.’
Rumi
