Melancholic jester. Oil on black wood.
The idea of lonely jesters has always haunted me. In DMT psychedelic trips, people often visualize them as affectionate beings. McKenna often described the machine elves/jesters as cartoonish, theatrical beings who use exaggerated gestures to express affection and absurdity.
He said they would “jump into your chest” with overwhelming love, or shower you with gifts and affection while laughing. I once had a dream where a smiling jester stretched out his hand and said “I love you this much” childishly. The notion of jesters as “lonely” archetypes came to me after observing people who use sarcasm to hide their sadness, or who develop a highly intelligent sense of humor as a result of enduring many hardships.
There is often a link between the entertainment industry and a deep longing for connection; hence, the lonely jester lives on as an eternal archetype within the minds and hearts of artists, entertainers, and all those who strive to bring joy to the world around them.
