Image and Pilgrimage in Christian Culture 2

Sarah Robertson

On page 139 Turner goes into further detail about flow and communitas. He says that there is a difference between "normative communitas" and "spontaneous communitas" and that we should distinguish between them. Turner later goes to say that "flow is most often the effect of persons acting on a limited area of their environment, of a narrowing of consciousness provided by rules and procedures, but only if these are reinforced by motivation." Lets first start by defining flow. Flow is when you are subconsciously unaware of things. It is like you are in a trance, but you aren't day dreaming; you are thinking of nothing. Turner says that flow is an effect on hikers and pilgrims. He says that it is reinforced by motivation and that motivation is needed for penance; this will lead to endure suffering which will lead to salvation. I think this says that flow is an important part in finding our salvation. Most motivations are for health or strength and Turner says that whatever triggers these motivations leads pilgrims to an egoless state. This is when action and awareness are merge and one falls into flow. It says that this flow experience is enjoyable and that there is a joy to it. I think that in order to find flow you need to have a motivation for what you are doing. I have never experienced flow but I hope one day I get the ability to.