The heyoka and how to be a sacred clown

Question those in positions of power while also getting laughs.

The heyoka is a kind of sacred clown in the culture of the Sioux.

The heyoka is a contrarian, jester, and satirist, who speaks, moves and reacts in an opposite fashion to the people around them. Only those having visions of the thunder beings of the west, the Wakíŋyaŋ, and who are recognized as such by the community, can take on the ceremonial role of the heyoka.

Lol at this: “Only those having visions of the thunder beings of the west can take on the ceremonial role of the heyoka.”

Imagining this scenario now:
“Hey guys, I’ve got a great joke!”
“Do you have visions of the thunder beings of the west?”
“Um, no.”
“Well then we DO NOT want to hear your joke.”

But love this notion overall. Here are some lessons a comedian can take from the ways of the heyoka:

• Speak, move and react in an opposite fashion to the people around you.

• Be backwards-forwards, upside-down, or contrary in nature.

  For example, if food is scarce, a heyókȟa may sit around and complain about how full he is; during a baking hot heat wave, a heyókȟa might shiver with cold and put on gloves and cover himself with a thick blanket. Similarly, when it is freezing he might wander around naked, complaining that it is too hot.

• Present important questions by fooling around. Ask difficult questions, and say things others are too afraid to say.

• Use extreme behaviors to mirror others and force them to examine their own doubts, fears, hatreds, and weaknesses.

• Discuss shameful events in your life.

• Provoke laughter in distressing situations of despair and provoke fear and chaos when people feel complacent and overly secure.

• Keep people from taking themselves too seriously or believing they are more powerful than they are.

• Violate cultural taboos freely and critique established customs in order to help define the accepted boundaries, rules, and societal guidelines for ethical behavior.

• You are one of the few in our society who can ask "Why?" about sensitive topics; use satire to question those in positions of power and authority.

More on Heyoka (from Tom DiNardo) here. Some of the lessons to glean from his piece:

• Do not resort to judgment or condemnation, but instead approach each situation with an open mind.

• Do not take-on, or absorb, pain, but instead allow it to pass through you. Laugh at yourself and help others to take themselves less seriously.

• Say exactly what needs to be heard, what is most needed at that time.

• Watching you should be unforgettable yet comfortable.

• Respond to tragic circumstances with humor.

• Stand apart from the crowd.

• Honesty is paramount. Be intense, but not brutally harsh.

• Be spontaneous.

• Withdraw from society from time to time in order to recharge.

• Be a true contrarian.

  People find it very difficult to make decisions that go against the wishes of “their tribe” or mainstream society, but this not so for Heyoka who do not have challenges with this perceived social custom. Heyoka are confident in their decisions, even though their decisions often differ greatly from what ‘most people’ would do or say in a similar, challenging, situations. Heyoka are not social rebels by nature, but instead they are true Contrarians, divinely inspired independent thinkers, and spiritual beings (think free spirits). 

Heyoka medicine man by Ikce Wicasa.