Spiritual Masters and the Clown

Spiritual Masters and the Clown

Many spiritual masters have one thing in common: a great sense of humour. Some of them (Christ included) have been dubbed Holy Fools. Indeed, it has been the role of Sacred Clowns in different traditions to shake up the status quo whenever things got too dogmatic or serious.

Join us for a week in the company of Rumi, Rabia, Hafiz, the Buddha, Uzume, Jesus and more to take our spiritual questing a little more lightly, to laugh at ourselves in the many mirrors of what it is to be human. Click here for a conversation with Vivian Gladwell and Ashley Ramsden concerning this course.

Vivian and Ashley began teaching the skills of their different crafts ( clowning and storytelling) back in the eighties; together they will bring you over 70 years of their experience,  mistakes, momentary epiphanies and mutual madness.

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The cost of this course is £520 – a small number of places are available for bursaries from Emerson, please email the registrar. If you are ready to apply please click here or the booking link.

To book meals and accommodation please contact our bookings team.

Zoom Insight Sessions

Are you curious about clowning?  Would you like an opportunity to meet the course leaders and learn more?  We are offering online ‘insight’ sessions which will give you the chance to do just that.  To register, select a date and time from the options below:
Monday 13th January 2025 at 7pm GMT / 8pm CET
Saturday 18th January 2025 at 2pm GMT / 3pm CET

Event Details:
9 Mar 2025 - 15 Mar 2025
Sunday - Saturday
19:30 Start
12:30 End 

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Bring Your Stories to Life 1 of 4
new
12 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025    
06:15 - 12:45
4 weekends of in-depth exploration of the magical and transformative art of telling personal true-life stories. Weekend One: Fri 12th Sept – Sun 14th Sept 2025...
Craft of the Storyteller 1 of 4
new
19 Sep 2025 - 21 Sep 2025    
18:15 - 12:45
4 weekends of in-depth exploration of storytelling, voice, movement, connection, improvisation, authenticity and presence: with Roi Gal-Or Weekend One - Folktales: Fri 19th - Sun 21st...
Anthroposophic Medicine 2025 Module 1
new
4 Oct 2025 - 12 Oct 2025    
00:00
This entry is for students on the Anthroposophic Medicine course to book accommodation and meals only. If you are interested in the course please visit...
Events on 12 Sep 2025
Bring Your Stories to Life 1 of 4
12 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 13 Sep 2025
Bring Your Stories to Life 1 of 4
12 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 14 Sep 2025
Bring Your Stories to Life 1 of 4
12 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 19 Sep 2025
Craft of the Storyteller 1 of 4
19 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 20 Sep 2025
Craft of the Storyteller 1 of 4
19 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 21 Sep 2025
Craft of the Storyteller 1 of 4
19 Sep 25
Forest Row
Events on 4 Oct 2025
Events on 5 Oct 2025
Detailed Timings:

This course runs 9 - 14 March 2025, timings as follows: Sunday - 19:30 - 21:00 Monday - Wednesday - 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:30 - 18:00 Thursday - 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:30 - 16:00 / 19:30 - 21:00 Friday - 9:00 - 12:30

Venue:

Emerson College
Emerson College, Hartfield Road

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