Background & Philosophy  ~  Meet Dawn  ~  Meet the Simple Fool

Dawn Stratton

Dawn Stratton brings 20 years experience in esoteric study and hermetic practice to her work as a clown and teacher. She has a bachelors degree in social work and a masters in education. She has experience as a social worker and counselor and has spent the last ten years teaching in a Waldorf school. Currently she is simply a fool! But on the side she works as a court jester and performer, offers clowning workshops and continues to work with children and teachers in the classroom.

My Story
How I Found the Simple Fool

By Dawn Stratton, Founder and Teacher

I have spent my life exploring the question, “What does it mean to be fully human, to be a fully healthy human being in the world? And, what do spirit and matter have to do with being human?”

In pursuing this question, my personal journey has led me to years of esoteric wisdom studies and work as a Waldorf teacher. It recently guided me to the light and laughter I experience now as part of my work as a Simple Fool. Along the way, through the depths of the earth and the heights of the heavens, I discovered meaning and health within the heart. And in the human heart, where heaven and earth meet, lives the pure and playful wisdom of the fool.

I began this work after experiencing an excruciating psychological and spiritual death, where I entered the great void of the unknown and was left completely humbled and empty. It was in this time, out of a deep love for humanity, that I began to ask how I could best be of service in the world. I wanted to work as a healer and a teacher but I had to ask, “Who am I to do this work?” The answer came from within my heart.

Who are you?
Who am I?

“I am a fool.” Life emerged as the great teacher and the wisdom of the self as the great healer. I was compassionately and intimately guided to my Self and was filled with wonder and gratitude to discover the light, joy and love of poetry and play. I found myself performing as a mime and began looking for new ways to help others discover the healing wisdom within their own life experiences.

One day I found myself looking at a brochure for the Nose to Nose clown training. There were a few key words that pierced me right through the middle and I knew I had found my life’s work. Inner listening, presence, authenticity, relationship and transformation were a few of those words.

Nose to Nose is where I met Vivian Gladwell. I am indebted to him for providing a theoretical and practical framework for teaching and a beautiful example of human striving. He is a true teacher. Other influences include Playback theater and Psychodrama, but mostly my performing and teaching is inspired by my muse, who I call The Simple Fool.

Now I am simply a fool. I work as a modern day court jester and I offer clowning workshops and workshop for teachers. I love guiding people through the process. It is a deeply touching experience and I have found that the work penetrates to the very heart of a person, where he fool lives and where one learns to better understand herself as a human being.

“The simple fool, with a slow mind and a deep heart, smiles because it is enough.” – Dawn