Random Flow Writing

In March 2009, I got into the habit of doing a short piece of "flow writing" every day for a while and some of these are set out in this blog where the exercise elicited something I think is worth sharing. Flow writing is often used to train people who want to learn to write effectively and creatively, to free the mind of its thoughts and limitations: it involves putting pen to paper (preferably not using a computer) and writing whatever comes into one's head without comment, though, judgement or even correction. At first it was sluggish and I find myself writing things like "I haven't a clue what to write at the moment...!" because the only rule is literally to write whatever comes forth. Anyway, though I have used this method many times before, so readers will be spared such dull material - some pieces never even made it to getting typed up and others that would not add anything to this blog.

The first in this series is somewhat descriptive but it shows how it can start, so I decided to include it anyway.

Random Flow Writing

Random scribbling on this page will, I hope, elicit something profoundly useful and meaningful to help me transcend my circumstances and the self-limiting beliefs that have me suffer more than I need. These words emerge freely and without thought as I put pen to paper with the intention to write in free flow. This process elicits more than when I try to produce “something of value” because it is unlimited, unlike my thinking.

This process of freeing the mind is a technique used by many who seek to rise above their own limitations to reach new heights of awareness and produce something truly revealing and helpful to mankind. It is a channel of consciousness that comes through when our thoughts end and we allow our mind to wander wherever it may go, like a stroll in a park or forest with no predetermined destination.

Expanding on this process for a minute, take the example of thinking in an organised fashion: it produces predictable results because it is limited to what it already knows, whereas this process is unlimited precisely because it is free and able to select consciousness at a random but high level. There is no need to go beyond what you know because what you know has no bearing on what you write. It will simply produce the best possible outcome for the thread of thought attached to. This process is easy and enjoyable as it elicits surprising things that stretch the mind’s traditional perceived boundaries into realms hitherto hidden from the mind.

Go back for a moment and look at what it is that has the mind limit itself in the first place: it is the belief that it is everything and merely seeks to know more to control its environment. This belief is an illusion and stifles its own development, for with freedom of thinking, the mind wanders blind on a journey within borders. It is not colourful or exciting in the way the free mind is, not able to roam and explore at will perceptions and restrictions hitherto thought real.

This process is therefore a very powerful one for findings oneself and one’s potential for fulfilment, for scholarly greatness as well as for practical uniqueness. It is the one method that has our true nature come forth.