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

Emily Johnson · 2026-09-15

### Beyond the First Glimpse You've had a moment. Maybe it came during meditation, a walk in the woods, or even while washing dishes. Everything felt open. Still. There was no separate "you" struggling against the world. It was just... awareness, doing its thing. Then it faded. And you're left wondering: what now? That's exactly the question meditation teacher Loch Kelly explores in a recent conversation with host Michael Taft. They dig into what happens after that first glimpse of awakening—and why it's not the finish line. ### Waking Up vs. Waking With Kelly draws a clear distinction between two phases: - **Waking up** — recognizing openness, stillness, and the absence of a separate self. It's the initial shift, the moment you see through the illusion of being a isolated ego. - **Waking with** — living from that recognition. Here, appearances aren't separate from awake awareness. They're inseparable. This is what's sometimes called "one taste." Think of it like this: waking up is noticing the ocean. Waking with is realizing every wave *is* the ocean—not something apart from it. ### Flow States as a Bridge The conversation also touches on flow states—those moments when you're so absorbed in an activity that time dissolves and self-consciousness drops away. Athletes call it "being in the zone." Musicians know it as "the groove." Kelly and Taft suggest that flow states can be a kind of gateway. They're not the same as awakening, but they offer a taste of what it's like to function without the usual mental chatter. You get a glimpse of effortless action. > "Flow is not the destination, but it can point you in the right direction." ### Why This Matters for Everyday Life If you're a mindfulness professional—or just someone trying to live more awake—this distinction matters. It's easy to chase peak experiences and then feel lost when they pass. But waking with isn't about chasing anything. It's about recognizing that awareness is already here, already whole. The practical takeaway? Stop waiting for the next big glimpse. Start noticing the ordinary moments. The breath. The sound of traffic. The feel of your feet on the floor. That's where one taste lives. ### A Simple Practice to Try Want to explore this yourself? Try this: - Pause for 10 seconds. - Notice what's aware of your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. - Ask: "Is this awareness separate from what it's aware of?" - Rest in whatever answer arises—or doesn't. No need to force anything. Just see what's already true. ### The Takeaway Awakening isn't a one-time event. It's a continuing recognition. And flow states? They're not the goal, but they can remind you of what's possible when you stop struggling. As Kelly and Taft make clear, the real invitation is to wake *with* your life—not just up from it.