The Jester and the Healer

In the history of healing, it has not been an uncommon parallel that connects the healer to the priest(ess) or the healer with the artist or midwife.  Lately, it appears to me there is a direct relationship between the Healer role and the Jester of old.

The tarot depiction of the Fool (jester) includes a person juggling unconcernedly or otherwise distracted, sometimes found in the act of unknowingly walking off the edge of a cliff, precipice or other high place.  The jester is symbolic of common sense and of honesty and is a character used for insight and advice on the part of the monarch. Jesters would have had to have a bevy of “tricks” at their disposal, be able to turn on a dime, change-up the pattern of delivery and be extremely keen on sensing the receptivity to her offerings. Also, the jester would probably enter the court’s arena with a modicum of uncertainty of what would be asked or needed of him from the always new population of others and have a knack for turning upside down general expectation at often great personal risk. The jester’s strategic use of subtle (and not so subtle) humor would be part of their offering and a use of highly developed wiles imperative.  In all of this, the Healer is really no different.

We have our ideas of who we are and what we have to offer, even who is our target market.  But when it comes right down to it, it is always surprising as to what is needed, what is being asked for.  And in that light, often new skills or unknown skills are born.  The healer, like the jester is someone who has a child’s point of view.  They are open, receptive, often having an unlikely approach and is somewhat separate from the dysfunction, illness or pain that is present.  It is this very lack of attachment that makes a healing possible.  Like a child who has no expectations of being of direct help, the healing comes in being able to have a direct perception. And that often, is enough.