The Real Speaking E-Letter is an occasional article by Gail Larsen with insights and information to support your power as a speaker and communicator.

If you would like to receive E-Letters via email, click here.

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may reprint any of these articles in your own print or electronic newsletter. Please include the following attribution:

Reprinted from "Real Speaking” a free e-letter by Gail Larsen featuring insights and ideas to enhance your public speaking and communications. Subscribe at http://www.realspeaking.net.

Thank you!

To view one of the articles below, please click on the one you want to view and it will appear to the left of the list.  Enjoy!

Holy Fool's Day Coming Right Up!

I’ve taken it upon myself to rename April Fool’s Day. This festive holiday suggests we play tricks on others with a jovial spirit and once we’ve duped them to yell with delight, “April Fools!”

Comparative mythologist Joseph Campbell talked about the archetype of another kind of fool: the Holy Fool. The Fool is the most dangerous person on earth, Campbell explained, the most threatening to all hierarchical institutions. He has no concern for naysayers, and no one has power over him (or her). She is not limited, not stoppable, nor controllable. She knows what she has to do and is doing it, no matter what.

I think of the Holy Fool as similar to the Court Jester, the only person in the Royal Court who dares to make fun of the King without consequence. Or the Koshari of the Hopi and Pueblo peoples of the Southwest, who in the midst of sacred ceremonies makes us laugh at ourselves by mimicking our behavior so we can see ourselves in a new way.. This “sacred clown” creates lessons at the expense of another’s seriousness, recognizing that laughter is a great shape shifter of old habits and patterns. I often wonder if the striped ceremonial dress of the Koshari isn’t designed to remind us that getting out of our self-imposed jails isn’t a really good idea.

So here’s a suggestion. How about on April 1 we engage in a dialogue with our inner Holy Fool and ask what she most wants to express, convention be damned. Ask where you are being duped day in and day out and not shining the light of your truth. Let’s stop concealing our greatest passions and be willing to say what we love and what we know without editing and rehearsing ourselves into oblivion. Let’s declare April 1 Holy Fools’ Day and engage the passionate part of us that has something important to say - and just say it!

Rumi said (and I paraphrase):

I used to be like you.
Calm, rational, controlled.
Now I am seized by passion.
Watch out!
No one’s safe!!!

Our world is changing, one voice at a time, and yours is needed. To inspire yourself, visit http://www.fouryearsgo.org/ , view some of the possibilities we can individually and collectively influence, and add your voice.

I’d love to hear what happens when you connect with your Holy Fool and say what is yours to say. Speaking your truth, especially when convention is expected, opens not only the door to your liberation but also to the world we want to dream into being. You might just find you want to be a Holy Fool every day!