Quantum flirting and the art of getting lost
I’ve been trying not to do anything since I arrived. And that’s really difficult. Part of me is saying to myself “This is an art experiment you should be making lots of art” but the part of me I trust much more implicitly is saying “Do nothing and simply let stuff happen when it wants to happens.”
I tell anyone I meet (who is interested) about Arnie Mindell’s concept of Quantum Flirting. For me it is a fundamental creative practice that flips the way we think about having ideas. Rather than making an effort to go looking for inspiration and ideas, the practice of quantum flirting calls for the opposite - to totally let go of any intention or attachment to outcome so that we start to hear the quiet whispers of ideas calling for our attention. It often requires doing very little for much longer than feels comfortable but eventually, something always emerges.
Even though this is how I have worked for many years I have found it difficult to do this since I’ve arrived on Ocracoke. The pile of art materials on the table felt like it was harassing me saying “WHY AREN’T YOU USING US?? CALL YOURSELF AN ARTIST”. And even though nobody is expecting me to produce a daily/weekly/monthly quota of art I felt a self imposed pressure to perform or produce.
Feeling dejected (and still a bit jet lagged) I went for a long walk on Monday and realised that I needed to allow myself to get lost. To totally surrender to this weird experience and all the emotions it was stirring up in me. I realised that to get lost I needed to be alone. And this caused a conflict in me. I don’t particularly like being alone. I’ve loved hanging out with Jim and Laura and getting to know the island through them. I’ve been so appreciative of their company and their hospitality. And, at the same time, I needed to be alone to allow myself to get lost and fully let go of any attachments as to what this whole adventure is about.
The more I felt this, the more confused, sad and discombobulated I felt. So I just walked. For miles along a cold and empty windswept beach.
And then I heard a whisper. From the corner of my eye I spotted a tree that had been washed up by the tide. I wandered over to have a look at it and noticed how smooth and strong it was having been in the sea for some time. Then a bit further on I spotted a lovely bit of driftwood that looked like it would make a good sign post. And then a little further - a big blue piece of timber.
Immediately some ideas started to emerge and I started to feel more positive both physically and emotionally.
Early on Tuesday morning, with the sun shining and feeling full of energy and excitement I popped round to borrow Jim’s saw, stopped off at the island hardware shop to buy some tools and nails and cycled back to the beach on my strange but brilliant bike.
The video below shows what happened next.
