This Blog outlines what happened during the second of three Creative Clarity workshops that I presented as part of The Clown Congress in Bristol in October 2023.

I’m still buzzing and recovering from the Clown Congress 2023 where 50+ clowns spent three incredible days at Bristol University; talking, listening, workshopping, eating, singing, playing, dreaming, planning and scheming; exploring the theme of identity in clowning. 

I was invited to deliver Creative Clarity sessions at the end of each of the days, offering participants opportunities to “process the day’s learning through play and reflection, accessing [their] inner wisdom, through movement, meditation, embodiment, writing, artwork and structured dialogue.” (my programme description).

This blog charts what happened during my first Creative Clarity session, which I have retrospectively titled, “Playing With Not Knowing.’ The blog includes a Not Knowing Meditation / Sensory Exploration which you can do wherever you are, and a poem from Bee Golding capturing some of the participants’ insights from the session.

The Clearness Committee is a central component of my new Creative Clarity weekend workshop. This blog is to introduce you to the delights of the Clearness Committee and to explain how the Clearness training will integrate into the weekend.

Creative Clarity is a new weekend workshop, born out of everything I’ve experienced during my sabbatical. Creative Clarity aims to help people to access the wisdom contained within their bodies, emotions and thoughts through stepping into a series of flexible, creative containers. There will be invitations for movement, meditation, play, creative reflection and structured supportive dialogue.

Participants will have opportunities galore to rumble with whatever themes feel pertinent to them, plus the group workshop doubles up as a rich training ground for people who want to develop their skills around holding space for others.

It’s now four months since I left the Barn Retreat Centre in Devon. After a year of being immersed in meditation retreat land, I had no idea where I wanted to live or what I wanted to do when I left, so I made a commitment to stay with the not knowing until it became clear.

This blog charts the last four months of my adventures into the unknown, exploring what I’ve been doing and why I’ve been doing it, examining the responses I’ve been receiving from other people, through the lens of The Fool and investigating the responses of my inner parts, using techniques gained from my recent Internal Family Systems (IFS) training. I’ve included an IFS exercise to help you quieten your inner parts if that feels helpful to you.

For a limited period, you can book a series of one-one-one, hour-long Creative Clarity, Supervision or Creative Consultancy sessions, online with Holly Stoppit.

Holly's one-to-one sessions are open to anyone who wants to explore themselves, their work, their creativity, or their path.

There’s nothing like a bit of rejection for helping us get clear about what we really want! Here is a story about how I recently received a rejection and a rundown of the OW to WOW process I put myself though (I should totally trade mark that!), which has helped me get clear about what I really want. 

I'm delighted to announce my involvement in the Clown Congress 2023!

Now in its second year, Clown Congress is a gathering of clowns and clown enthusiasts from all different backgrounds, including professional performers, clown academics, clown teachers, clown students, clown doctors, clown activists and clown therapists. 

From Saturday 28 - Monday 30 October 2023, the gathered gaggle of clowns will be exploring the theme of Clowns and Identity: exploring difference in clowning, through a series of workshops, focussed discussions, Open Space and informal get togethers.

I am emerging from a month of deep reflection and contemplation in the sweltering heat of my dad and stepmum’s attic in eastern France. Clarity has come about what I will be offering from October 2023...

As a clowning, fooling and improvisation teacher, my work is helping people to get comfortable with hanging out in the unknown. But learning to rest in the unknown as a lifestyle choice is Next Level Stuff! This blog charts my journey with the unknown, through the past year, from terror to excitement. It’s really a guide for me as I continue to move out into the world without A Plan, but hopefully it’s useful for you too, dear reader. 

In this blog we’ll be exploring:

• How do you behave when you enter into the unknown?
• If you listen to the voice behind your behaviour, what does it say?
• What emotions do you feel when you enter the unknown? 
• How can you sit with those feelings?
• How do thoughts block access to the unknown?
• How can you work with those thoughts?
• How might setting an intention be a guide into the unknown?
• How do you set an intention?

It’s peppered with advice from wise teachers and exercises that you can do if you want to play with embracing the unknown too.