The Flow

Csikszentmihalyi.  Say it again Csikszentmihalyi.  His name is Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (me-hail-lee  cheek-sets-me-high-ee).

Mr. C has done research on artists and how they get into a “flow.” Look here.  To date, I haven’t read the book.  I’m waiting until grad school.  But I definitely know about the Flow.  I’m not the only creative person who knows of the Flow.

It’s a trancelike state I get into while I’m doing art.  It’s transcendent.   I’m only concerned with making the art become what it wants to become.  Yes, what “it” wants.  I’m just an instrument, and the art is coming through me. 

I played in orchestras, and I’ve experienced the Flow then.  We’re all playing in unison, and the music flows through us.  We’ve gotten past the point of playing the right notes - we’ve all reached the point of the Flow.  Whenever I see musicians bobbing and weaving with their instruments, I know their in that ecstatic moment with the Flow.

The Flow makes you forget everything else.  Objects that are not the music nor the art tend to gray out and fade into the background.  Noises fade out, breathing become more labored, eyes become laser focused.  The Flow grips you and compels you, directs you, guides you, pushes you, berates you.  I’ve haven’t summoned the Flow, but working tends to attract it.  As Picasso said, “Inspiration [Flow] exists, but it must find us working.”  Long live the Flow.

(reposted from previous blog)