Flowtoys - "The Meaning of Flow" (Richard Hartnell)

This was my entry into Flowtoys' "Meaning of Flow" contest. The prompt for entries: "What flow means to me." This video kicked off my 2011-2012 residency at Flowtoys, and gave me an outlet for some things that'd been swimming in my head since before I started contact juggling.

My website: http://www.gravitydefiance.net
My YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/VelveteenSaint

UPDATE: Got linked at Ministry of Manipulation! http://www.ministryofmanipulation.com/blog/richard-hartnell-the-meaning-of-flow/

UPDATE AGAIN: Got linked again at Insphyre! http://insphyre.com/flow-arts/

UPDATE YET AGAIN: Linked on Isopop! http://isopop.com/2010/12/13/the-meaning-of-flow-richard-hartnell-flow-toys/

UPDATE YET YET AGAIN: Linked by Nick W of Playpoi! http://playpoi.com/community/blogs/nick/meaning-of-flow-richard-hartnell

PS. AW CRAP! I forgot a music credit. Should read:

Eskmo - We Have Invisible Friends
Gramatik - Loungin'
The Cinematic Orchestra - Child Song
Blue Scholars - Opening Salvo

PPS. Another link I forgot: the New Old Time Chautauqua is at www.chautauqua.org. Service circus at its best - check 'em out!

The gorgeous font used in this video is "Fantastic Pete," which I found at http://www.dafont.com

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• flowtoys
• flowarts
• flow
• competition
• juggling
• contact juggling
• poi
• contact staff
• double staff
• fan
• fire
• spin
• baoding
• glowstick
• nunchuck
• meditation
• hoop
• hooping

[bugzbuks]

What a great flow of thought. I've always felt that a perfect poi session sent me just as deep as any meditation. I do however disagree with the idea that Maslow's pyramid can be turned upside down. We have to go through all the steps. I doubt you will be able to enter the zone if your starving or if you're depressed and self conscious. Still the analogy between the 2 concepts are very well presented.

Oh and congrats on the residency! :D

[VelveteenSaint]

@bugzbuks Thanks! I don't mean to imply that inverting Maslow's pyramid suddenly means you can survive on sick poi flows alone; one still has to start with physiological needs and advance upward. I disagreed with the notion that the human experience becomes more narrow and closes off at peak experiences - properly, I think our human experience broadens as we satisfy higher and higher needs, and look forward to discovering a new tier of consciousness as my creative urges become satisfied.

[jaguarmaryone]

Wow! Nice "attempt" to win toys. I hope you won!

[VelveteenSaint]

@jaguarmaryone I kind of did. They disqualified this video from winning the props so they could give me a residency instead :) :) :)

[smellmalilies]

Thought that was Eskmo ;)

No but really. You completely nailed it. I love this video and couldn't watch it enough times. Thank you for spreading the word. <3 Much love

[TheRuthyroo]

This is fantastic! Now off to look into Mr. Csikszentmihalyi man. Thank you!

[machineagemaya]

what starts as a hobby turns into a path to higher tiers of consciousness* <3

[Thunderfire0976]

@Freshmorningdew

I would Have totally agree. I have been to several regional burns in my area. I believe from my first burn on, I reach the top of the pyramid. Ever since then my life has been so much more complete on a physical and more so on the conscious level. Flow is a wonderful thing and all humans in actuality from the beginning of time has searched for the altered consciousness. Even in my flow art (Poi) has become more precise. I also believe that there is more levels of flow as well.

[jaguarmaryone]

Sweet! Spiral's there now too, no? Lucky her to get to share flowspace with a multi-baller!!