What makes flow arts sacred? Part 3 & 4 – The Dyad & Duality

Dyad

Now we have a prop in each hand, or perhaps two in one! Whether you work with poi, double hoop, double staffs, fans, or otherwise, let’s get in what makes two sacred.

Reading from the book, “A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe”, the first focus of the Dyad, “twoness”, is separation. “The principle of the Dyad is polarity. Polar tension occurs in all natural and human affairs as any opposing relationship, contrast, difference.” As a flow arts performer and teacher, my primary challenge is enabling the one to be comfortable with the two. In flow arts, dual props or not, we show people how to become ambidextrous. No “good hand” and “bad hand”, only a hand that has been focused more upon, and an inverse reflection. People often are a bit afraid of their non-dominant hand. I find that this is a primary reason why many people choose single staff, or single hoop to start. People are often intimidated by using both hands.

“The Dyad is the basis of every creative process. It shows up as rhythmic oscillation between opposite poles.” I find that all of our poor states of being all stem from not realizing that “it takes two to tango”. Even if you use a single prop, there is still the other hand that inevitably needs to do something! We can never truly neglect the two-ness as our one body has two symmetrical halves. Perhaps flow arts becomes so meditative through the practice of balancing out our left and right sides! Is it healthy to “pick sides” and only give our undivided attention to one? I say, only if we realize that’s it’s always and inevitably actually two as one!

“On the other hand, another twoness indicator, “tw-,” implies joining, as in two, twin.. twine (two twisted threads), and twilight (a blend of day and night.” So we see, twoness, instead of implying a more obvious separation, can also indicate joining together. The better we get at understanding the Dyad, the more we can grow and more successful we can become! Master both sides of the body! Combine flow arts with dancing! Practice partner poi with a friend! Where else can you see the Dyad in flow arts?

“Everything that originated from the tree of knowledge carries in it duality.” -Zohar (mystical Jewish text)

Duality

In the beginning of this blog series we discussed the sacredness of oneness; singularity, and the circle in sacred geometry. Now we are moving beyond.

Duality on a Daily

All things have their polar opposites. Where do you see opposing forces in the universe? Here are some examples: right/left, high/low, in/out, day/night, light/dark, awake/asleep, and so on…

In the practice of flow arts, we see duality in the right and left sides of the body, as Jesse mentioned before. It can also quite often be perceived as a “good” and “bad” side, based on how we associate mentally with each given side. We also see duality in the process of learning flow arts tricks. Much of the process is in the physical muscle memory. However, the majority of trick mastery happens in the mind; in our non-physical, mental memory. This is how, by consistently practicing harmonizing the mind/body/spirit, you can become a better flow artist. This is how yoga, qigong, and meditation enhance your learning curve.

Sacred Geometry – The Dyad / Vesica Pisces 

A few months ago, we wrote a detailed guide [hyperlink to drawing sacred geometry blog] on drawing the seed of life. This process is the beginning to all sacred geometry forms. It starts with one circle, then two, three, and so on. When looking at the two circles, you can see how both midpoints intersect at a point along the other circle’s perimeter. This form is also known as the Vesica Pisces.

In flow arts, we can create this form. See our hula hooping tutorial on this trick. In the story of creation as it relates to sacred geometry, the second circle symbolizes that there is another/more than one. When consciousness creates, it inevitably creates again. It creates time as it relates to space. It implies that there is one point… and then another, creating the concept of linear time, and the 2D plane. Now that the foundation has been built, what could be next? More?

Yours in reflection,

Catherine Rutan-Hart & Jesse Hart of Full Circle Phenomenal
Sacred Flow Art Blog Team

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