What Comes After the First Glimpse? Loch Kelly on Awakening and Flow

Amanda Wilson · 2026-09-15

Ever had a moment where everything just clicked? Maybe you felt a sudden sense of peace, like you'd stumbled upon something bigger than yourself. That's what meditation teacher Loch Kelly calls the "first glimpse." But what happens next? That's the real question. In a recent conversation with host Michael Taft, Loch Kelly dives into the territory beyond that initial awakening. They explore the difference between "waking up" and "waking with," and how flow states fit into the picture. It's a rich discussion that might just change how you think about your own practice. ### Waking Up vs. Waking With When you first wake up—spiritually speaking—you recognize a sense of openness, stillness, and the absence of a separate self. It's like stepping out of a noisy room into a quiet meadow. But according to Kelly, that's only half the story. "Waking with" is the next step. It's about seeing that everything arising in your experience—thoughts, emotions, sensations—is inseparable from that awake awareness. It's what some traditions call "one taste." In other words, you don't just wake up *from* the dream; you wake up *to* it, realizing that the dream itself is made of the same stuff as your awakening. ### Flow States: A Doorway to Presence Flow states—those moments when you're so absorbed in what you're doing that time seems to vanish—are a natural entry point to this way of being. Whether you're playing an instrument, running, or even washing dishes, flow can give you a taste of effortlessness and unity. But Kelly points out that flow isn't the end goal. It's more like a gateway. The real shift happens when you can bring that same quality of awareness to everyday life—even the messy, boring, or painful parts. ### Why This Matters for Your Practice If you've been meditating for a while, you might have hit a plateau. You've had glimpses, but they don't stick. You might wonder, "Is this it?" Kelly's teachings suggest that there's a more integrated way to live, where the peace you find on the cushion doesn't evaporate when you stand up. > "The goal isn't to stay in a flow state forever," Kelly says. "It's to recognize that the flow is already here, even when it doesn't feel like it." That's a powerful reframe. Instead of chasing peak experiences, you start to notice the awareness that's present in every moment—whether you're in the zone or stuck in traffic. ### How to Explore This Yourself Curious about moving from waking up to waking with? Here are a few simple ways to experiment: - **Notice the gap:** Between thoughts, there's a space. See if you can rest there for a second longer. - **Include everything:** Instead of pushing away distractions, invite them in. Can you feel the same awareness behind the noise? - **Try a flow activity:** Do something you love and pay attention to how it feels. Then, see if you can bring that same quality to a mundane task. It's not about adding anything new. It's about recognizing what's already here. So, if you've had a glimpse and you're wondering what's next, take heart. The journey doesn't end with waking up. It deepens into waking with—and that's where the real adventure begins.