Awakening and Flow States: Loch Kelly's Guide to Waking With

Emily Johnson · 2026-09-15

### What Comes After the First Glimpse? You've had a glimpse—that moment when everything felt open, still, and strangely perfect. But what happens next? In this episode, host Michael Taft sits down with meditation teacher Loch Kelly to explore exactly that. They talk about the difference between "waking up" and "waking with," and how flow states fit into the picture. ### Waking Up vs. Waking With Most of us are familiar with the idea of waking up—recognizing the openness, the stillness, the absence of a separate self. It's a profound shift. But Loch points out that there's another dimension: waking with. In waking with, appearances aren't separate from awake awareness; they're inseparable. It's what's sometimes called "one taste." Think of it like this: waking up is realizing the sky is clear; waking with is realizing the clouds are made of sky too. ### Flow States and the One Taste So where do flow states come in? You know those moments when you're so absorbed in what you're doing that time disappears? That's flow. Loch and Michael discuss how flow states can be a doorway to recognizing one taste. When you're in flow, there's no separate self—just the activity happening effortlessly. It's a taste of what's always available. > "The glimpse is just the beginning. The real invitation is to live from that openness, even in the messiness of daily life." — Loch Kelly ### Practical Takeaways - **Start small**: Notice moments of openness in your day—a deep breath, a pause between thoughts. - **Inquire gently**: Ask yourself, "What's here when there's no problem to solve?" - **Embrace flow**: When you're absorbed in something, let it be a reminder of your true nature. - **Don't chase**: The goal isn't to stay in flow forever; it's to recognize what's already here. ### Why This Matters for Mindful Living For those of us in the mindfulness field, this conversation is a goldmine. It moves beyond basic mindfulness and into the deeper waters of awakening. It reminds us that the goal isn't just to feel calm—it's to wake up to who we really are. And that waking up isn't a one-time event; it's a continuous unfolding. So, if you've ever wondered what comes after that first glimpse, this episode is for you. It's a gentle, clear, and often humorous exploration of the pathless path. And it might just change how you see your practice. *This post is based on an episode of the Deconstructing Yourself podcast.*