What makes flow arts sacred? Part 2: The Monad

Flow Arts Monad

 

What’s so special about a circle? Isn’t it just a circle? And don’t we frown upon people just “spinning in circles”? Not anymore! I have been reading the book, “A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe — The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science” by Michael S. Schneider. While reading, I am naturally relating it to Flow Arts. Today in part two, we are focusing on what is called “The Monad”, or more similar, a circle symbolizing unity. Let’s discover how even the most amateur of flow artists practicing basic rotations are still up to something sacred.

 

“Wholly One”

 

“The eye is the first circle, the horizon which it forms is the second: and throughout nature this primary figure is repeated without end.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

In the chapter titled “The Circle Draws Us”, we find that even as children, one our earliest and greatest discoveries is that “a line’s end can meet its beginning”. This joy is found relatively when the flow artist spins his or her prop for the first time! Today I will relate the flow arts Monad with a single poi orbit. The symbol is actually a circle with a dot in the center. This is like a hand holding the poi in the middle with the head orbiting in a circle around it. (Soon to be adding a poi tutorial on the Sacred Flow Art YouTube channel on this fundamental magic.) The symbol may also be recognized as the symbol for the sun in astrology.

 

 

Discovery

 

“The discovery and appreciation of the circle is our early glimpse into the wholeness, unity, and divine order of the universe. Some psychologists say that the discovery of the circle arrives as the child discovers the self and distinguishes himself from another.” Do you remember when you first spun your prop? The subtle but strong joy it enveloped in you even if you weren’t doing anything fancy? Can you see that that moment was sacred in your life, at least as it relates to your flow arts journey?

 

“Looking at a circle is like looking into a mirror. We create and respond irresistibly to circles, cylinders, and spheres because we recognizes ourselves in them.”

 

When moving our poi, hoop, rope dart, staff, fans, sword, levi wand, whatever the object may be, there we are. We are in the middle of our own universe, tracing the basics of our own existence. We can see as well as feel the basic patterns of the Monad in our activity of flowing. 

 

There’s so much more than this! Stay tuned for more of this series of What Makes Flow Arts “Sacred”!

 

Yours in flow,

Jesse Hart of Full Circle Phenomenal
A Sacred Flow Art Community Blogger

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