Written by Ronya Banks –
As I have been describing, “Mastering Flow” is an evolving resultant of my contemplative inner journey and practices. My most recent limited, mind-view understanding of “Flow” is that it is a working system of creative energy source that, when connected to, illuminates and facilitates a natural unfolding of my own unique destiny. My experience while accessing this “Flow” zone and process is so amorphous that any words used to describe it, do not seem adequate. But I will be attempting to point to “it”.
During a discussion about this “Flow” with a friend today, he asked me specifically “what is this “Flow” to you?” I honestly told him “I don’t know.” That’s the truth. I don’t know, and as soon as I try to conceptualize it in any way, my experience is that I am no longer connected to what I am calling the “Flow.”
This “Flow” source is not limited to my experience. Each being has access to this creative force. Fellow contemplative teachers and many other friends with deep spiritual practices I have spoken to about “Flow” nod their heads in understanding and say they have also spent time experimenting with this elusive, yet dynamic “whatever it is.”
It intuitively feels that my consciously choosing to stay in the “I don’t know” mindset is what has allowed this “Flow” to arise in the first place. Here comes a concept: It would seem that “Flow” somehow exists in a space or energy field beyond self and its constituent mental constructs, and yet it is still accessible to us, somehow.
As a precursor to accessing the “Flow” I will be asking you to suspend any preconceived beliefs about manifesting and instead allow yourself to live in the mystery of really “Not Knowing.” Not knowing how it all works; how synchronicity and opportunities arise. Not knowing, not knowing, and not knowing. This space of “Not Knowing” is more open, flexible, and less limiting, and residing in this greater spaciousness creates room for your own unique purpose or destiny to naturally unfold.
Every time your mind wants to try to analyze, categorize, or figure it out, kindly tell it: “I don’t know, and I don’t need to know, and it’s in this place of not knowing that life and creativity emerge”.
I will be repeatedly attempting to convey my understandings in terms of words and concepts. Remember, they are only my theories based on the mental processing and interpretations of experiences I had that have already passed. There is a gaping chasm between these words and my prior inner experience.
The “Flow” is something that can only be touched through internal contact. It is also always changing and flowing. Your own contact with this “Flow” will bring much more understanding than my words can. Then, good luck trying to conceptualize and verbally describe your experience!
I will continue exploring additional descriptions of the “Flow” for you. Until then, please feel free to send me your inner understanding of this “Flow”energy/experience.
Ronya Banks is the founder of and lead Mindfulness Meditation teacher at the Asheville Insight Meditation Community in Asheville (ashevillemeditation.com). As a veteran of nearly 30 years of intensive daily meditation practice, Ronya has been exploring the seen and unseen worlds to the point that these distinctions have fallen away and melded into one unifying realm – a realm she calls the “Flow.”
Ms. Banks leads mindfulness trainings for individuals and groups, including businesses (see mindfulnessremedy.com for more information). She also offers her services to the world as a spiritual guide, business consultant, and energy healer.
