What Is "The Flow"?

Photo by Marianne

Hoopers talk about the flow a lot. It can mean a million different things but generally is understood in two ways. 
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1. An inner creative state that sweeps you away, you're "in the zone", 
2. OR, (quoting Khan) an overall style of someone's hooping when the transitions are smooth/unexpected.
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Khan started a discussion on hooping.org about the flow and I weighed in with my thoughts on the matter too, regarding the understanding #1. This is my post:.

I like what Heather said about flow being "in the zone" with or without hoop. The trick is you don't even think about it at the time though. As far as I understand, as soon as you intellectualize any emotion you're experiencing, you lose it that instant because it just moved to the past. You can only experience what's happening now. Because that's the only thing that exists, right now, or ever, the present. If you think "I'm feeling great!" That's how you felt 2 seconds ago and it's different now. Now you're actually experiencing 'focusing on what's going on in your mind' and 'reminiscing how good you felt'. Where did the great feeling go? To the past. In the flow you're like surfing, riding the wave, not looking back and just riding the moment, on the brink of the future, cozy that way. (hmm was all that way ethereal...at least it's logical)

I've met many hoopers who wonder about the flow, and a few don't even like it being discussed or emphasized. Anyhow I'll talk about flow a bit more because maybe it helps to hear many different hoopers' take on it and furthermore because I was so in it last night I can't stop talking about it sorry.

I just raved 9 hours straight (and I'm straight edge) so there has to be some powerful organic element that keeps you dancing although your whole body hurts and your head is falling asleep. With the risk of sounding like a bunch of cliches I'll say that it's the Bliss of FLOW! Unexpected movements that spring from you as you're sensitive and in sync with the music or the moment. Even if the movements are awkward, insane, embarrassing, unfeminine, unmasculine, ugly or out of tempo, it's the flow that then ties it all together, and makes it STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL to witness! I think most everyone will think so and can't even help it? It may not look conventionally pretty or something out of a music video or a "conventional" hoop video but when you see someone in the flow, it's their absorption, surrender, passion and sincerity that makes you smile, wow, or tear up. You can see that some kind of an offering is taking place here. There's a sacredness to it when you're expressing something from your heart.

And your absorption results in a healthy indifference in what other people think of you. If someone comments on something you do while in the flow -- it's easy to let it go or take it in, as you wish, because when you're flowing it's coming from an honest place inside of you that you know for sure no one has no control over anyway. Then you can take criticism with gratitude and point more toes or move arms more dynamically. Or you can say ok thanks whatever.

What do you think? Have you experienced flow? What is it?
I remember washing dishes one time and being in the flow about it :) 
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PS. Yesterday I told you I was going fairyspotting and indeed, I spotted some last night, even brought some home, and interviewed one today about treasures that she makes. I'll put the video up tomorrow!

Shhh It's A Secret!

Yesterday I set up a little kirtan spot at the Temple University in Philly and chanted for a couple of hours.
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Maybe about a year ago we met Julie here on campus. Now Philip bumped into her again and she came and rocked out with her mridanga drum. She's one blissful girl I tell ya.

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People came over to pick up magazines, books and to ask questions. At one point I ran out of philosophy and when someone asked, "What's happening, what are you guys doing?" I was like, I dunno, we're just singing these blissful songs, that's what's happening. 
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The pic above was taken by Maggie who hung out with us for a while. Her name inspired immediate nasal imitations of Bob Dylan's Maggie's Farm from me and Julie (that song is really cool BTW, talks about being fed up with and leaving the corrupt rat race society situation, as far as I understand). Here's Maggie and Philip:
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And now are you ready for the secret??? I put together a little video.

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I arrived in Finland today -- more about that later!

Make a Poem with Poem Machine!

There's this website, runokone.com (runokone is 'poem machine' in Finnish) and they have an option to create a poem in English here. Please go do so! And post your creation in the comments here, I would love to read it! You just fill in some words and the poem is constructed for you. It's a lot of fun.

I made another one too:

This Is Love

"This is love. And if God accepts your offerings, then what more do you want? He becomes your most intimate friend. If you make God your intimate friend, then there is nothing wanted. You'll be fulfilled. You'll find that I have got everything.

And if we become convinced that Krishna is my protector, then how much happy and peaceful we will be. Offer something. Just be in love with Him. Then just see how much peaceful you feel. 

How much tranquility you feel and how you are protected by Krishna, how you avoid insufficiency, how you become pure, and how you make progress in spiritual life." 

words from Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

I was just at a laundromat and talked with a guy about places worth visiting here in Oregon. He told me he took once part in a meditation circle of 10 000 people, all chanting om, and the experience "nearly knocked him down". I can imagine! 

As we were talking, another guy came up to me with a CD called Bhakti which means devotion in Sanskrit (and is also my name ahem). He said he plays guitar and made a recording of songs about Krishna, heard me talk about Krishna, and so wanted to give me a copy of his album. Sweet! 

He had brought his guitar to the laundromat so he played and we both sang Hare Krishna and other mantras until 1am. Other nightly laundry-washers seemed pleasantly surprised by our unexpected concert. :)