CELEBRATING NOT KNOWING: A Joyful Retreat for Accessing Grounding, Lightness, and Wisdom in Our Chaotic World
Though I play at the edges of knowing, truly I know our part is not knowing, but looking, and touching, and loving
Mary Oliver
Living is a form of not being sure, not knowing what next or how. The moment you know how, you begin to die a little. The artist never entirely knows. We guess. We may be wrong, but we take leap after leap in the dark.
Agnes de Mille
This retreat is a rare opportunity to engage with three internationally recognized facilitators—Arawana Hayashi, Vivian Gladwell, and Penny Williamson—each bringing a distinct yet complementary approach to accessing insight and resilience through embodied practice, deep listening, and clowning improvisation.
Dates: February 18th to 22nd, 2026
Times:
Wed 18th to Sat 21st – 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sun 22nd – 9:00 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Emerson College, Forest Row, UK
In a world that often demands certainty, how can we embrace the unknown with openness, curiosity, and playfulness? How can we hold space for deep inquiry, creative exploration, and embodied wisdom?
“Celebrating Not Knowing” is a five-day immersive retreat that invites participants to explore personal, social, and systemic transformation through three unique but interconnected modalities: Social Presencing Theater (SPT), Clowning, and Courage & Renewal Practices.
We invite participants to consider how these practices might contribute to:
The role of embodied awareness in leadership and community-building.
How playfulness and improvisation can open new pathways for social innovation.
The impact of deep listening and generous open questioning on discerning inner-wisdom, both individually as well as collectively.
You may also like the following events from Nose to Nose - Clowning Workshops:
- This Saturday, 20th September, 09:30 am, A ONE DAY TASTER IN NOSE TO NOSE CLOWNING, EAST GRINSTEAD, UK in Turners Hill
- Next month, 4th October, 09:30 am, COURAGE TO BE - AN INTRODUCTION DAY TO CLOWNING in Hastings
- Next month, 5th October, 08:30 am, A ONE DAY FOLLOW-UP WORKSHOP, HASTINGS, UK in Hastings
Also check out other
Arts events in Hartfield,
Theatre events in Hartfield.