In the first lecture on the Fool we covered: John Keats’s Negative Capability, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Circles,” Don Quixote, Dostoevsky’s Prince Muishkin, Wordsworth’s “The Idiot Boy,” Genesis, St. Paul, the Srimad Bhagavatam, and more.

From the application for artists towards the end:

“As you begin your creative journey, remember that the world the fool traverses is an internal, spiritual landscape, the world of the imagination. Your art is a reflection of your own inner world, and there are parts of this world that your awareness has yet to uncover because your fool is locked away in an asylum because you don’t understand her. You must allow her to go free; let her live her life, no matter whether the rest of your consciousness understands or likes her. Follow her to the deepest sources of inspiration and creativity.

In its initial development, your art must be nurtured with kindness, compassion, and patience. Notice I didn’t say understanding. You don’t ever have to understand the art in its initial stages. It is a process that requires attention, care, and dedication and one that can bring great joy and fulfillment. For when you approach your art with an open heart and mind, when you allow yourself to be fully present in the creative process, you will find that it brings you into harmony with your deepest self. And it’s in that sense that the fool represents both a point of departure and a way of creative life.”