The Art of Consciousness
In the Flow Creative was inspired by my late grandmothers mantra “live in the flow”. While following where mine was taking me, which at the time was backpacking through Costa Rica, I had planned a hike through Cahuita National Park when suddenly an offer for a boat tour to a healthy reef became too tempting to refuse. It was on that lovely dive where I met a whitetip shark, David, and his daughter. After getting to know the two better we found the topic of conscious flow. Him and his daughter had researched and written a paper on athletes being in the “Flow state” when they performed. Although I personally can relate to that it wasn’t until David and I began to discuss further in detail how that flow runs through all aspects of life.
David Perroud is an author who wrote 5 novels about the topic of consciousness the 6th most recent one having been released in early January about intuition. This wasn’t his original plan as he previously ran a multinational company for 23 years. It had a lot of perks but he knew it wasn’t his passion; which was the study of consciousness. This sparking his inner creativity. He talked to scientists, philosophers, religious people, or anyone who had an understanding (or knowledge) of the concept. Realizing people had had extraordinary experiences. Reaching a different level of consciousness at in near death circumstances. He began interviewing a lot of these people so that they could share their story of what had happened to them. Remembering “I was cross checking that with everything that I had learned so I could have a better understanding of consciousness, and that’s when the idea to start writing a book became”.
Those he had met with also had encouraged him to write and so he began. Writing a few chapters but thought they were not enough since they felt boring to him. Further explaining, “I was doing a big summary of everything that I learned so I had thought that writing was not for me and I went back to managing my own companies while researching consciousness for my own, personal purposes. A bit later, about three or four years I had gone to a spiritual retreat by Eckhardt Tolle which during that retreat I had a strong intuition, that I should not have stopped writing. The only problem was that I had done it wrong I needed to tell stories of consciousness in a non-serious way. In an authentic way. Then when I wrote the first chapter of my first novel, things were very different. Suddenly I was in a sort of creative flow. I had images of my novel coming in my mind and the only thing I had to do was describe it. Which was a hell of a different experience because I was not here. I was in sort of a creative flow all of the time”. “I ended up writing five books like this.. In the French speaking countries alone, I have touched about 50,000 people with my stories.”
Curious by the complete change in action described I ask, “Could you talk about the connection between consciousness and creativity in a bit more depth? You mentioned that it came to you in visuals and you were able to translate that into words..”
“Well, what I understood very quickly was that after my 25 years or more of studying consciousness is what had just happened to me.” He had entered an alternate state of consciousness! Explaining that you don’t have to have the knowledge or experience to enter this alternate state. Many people sometimes do it and don’t realize it. He goes on to say, “I have interviewed a lot of people in sports who said to me that sometimes when they practice they enter a zone where the perception of time is not the same perception of trajectory for the ball and everything is different and much more accurate they seem to have much more time for their moves and everything, and become much better. So I knew that when I started having images about my stories, I was in that alternate state of consciousness”.
Continuing on he says, “ There’s the level with all experience that we use on the day-to- day basis, but there is also a wider field of consciousness to which we are able to tap in and connect to. This area of consciousness is harder to tap into because the local consciousness that comes from the brain is much louder and if it talks at that rhythm of about 30 thousand thoughts a day then there is no space for anything else. It is only when you make space from your thoughts that suddenly you enter this state of consciousness.” “In reality, it’s just tapping into something different. Now I know how to do it when I want. It contains so much more than information. It is very intelligent. Very wise. That is why if you are a sportsman or sportswoman when you enter the zone, you are going to get information to practice your sport. When I enter that zone and get my images I enter this fluid of consciousness to be a better writer”.
Hoping to fully grasp the concept I say, “How does exploring your creativity affect your consciousness? Does it practicing awareness effect you back?”
Confirming how the practicing consciousness mentally, physically, creatively, aids us all but especially for him because it was fundamental to his creations. David shares “At the spiritual retreat Eckhardt Tolle brings people’s awareness to the present moment and how to live in that. So to access this wider field of consciousness you have to be present on breathing correctly, spacing your thoughts, and that has a lot of benefits not just on the creative side but because you end up being much more grounded.” “You end up doing things just one by one. We are a society that is often multitasking and that takes a big toll on being grounded and present. Relearn how to be very present in everything you do. All of this makes the quality of what you do and who you are, better.”
Understanding I ask, “For those who aren’t able to tap into it as easily? How would you suggest they get in the flow?”
Answering, he says, “Getting in the flow is doing something with passion. So finding that passion which isn’t always easy. When I was writing an essay which is a more serious book I was not in the flow. I was passionate but the way in which I was writing was not passionate. It is only when I had the intuition to use the stories then I was able to do a novel. Sometimes finding something that makes us passionate is not easy and that’s where being lead by intuition ion is very important. In order to be lead by that intuition you have got to be in a state where you receive these intuition and with those average 30,000 you may receive an intuition and you don’t realize because of those thoughts.”
I respond, “Would you say that you put yourself in a conscious state in order to find creativity?” “The flow comes almost automatically when you are aligned to what you’re supposed to.” In his most recent book there are techniques to help you to space out your thoughts, be more grounded, present, and use those techniques to receive your intuition that will lead you to your passion and find the conscious flow where you will be creative.
Lastly, “What would you like to see in the future when it comes to people tapping into the flow?”
“We are exhausting the resources as well as we have many other problems. I know that solutions exist but in order to find it we all have to access this wider field of consciousness. Just to get the information it will give us for a solution. For example a solution to resolve the energy problem and other things like this. Their is a societal challenge we could meet if collectively we can all raise our level of consciousness.”
Our creative mind is always working. It shows in the outfit you pick out in the morning, the random spice you added to you decided to add to your dish, or a solution to a problem at work. Being able to explore in someone’s creative side and share what someone is passionate about are experiences that we don’t want anyone to miss. Thank you to David Perroud for taking the time to interview and sharing his Art of Consciousness. Grateful to have met you and learn your perspective! Wishing you and your family conscious flow, translated books, and more travels! For French speakers check out his books that are available online now. https://www.davidperroud.me/mes-livres
Look out for more in our Creative Collective where you can see all the upcoming Creative Art Series. This is where we showcase not just the art but the artist and the creative process behind the final result. New article posted biweekly, thanks!
By Elena Eckhardt with David Perroud
In the Flow Creative
