06-08-20
Mumbai
I came across this word today morning, since then it refuses to leave my immediate processing faculties. So here is an attempt to put the processing faculties to rest with respect to Faneur or more appropriately the art of flaneur. While I have been practicing the same but never ever came across the word for it.
Flaneur joins my other favorite from French, Amour.
The word originated in 19th century France to describe the well-to-do French gentlemen who would stroll city streets (Feminist rightly claim that this was not exclusive to males, see the links at end of post). Modern concept of flaneur has developed into an art of living within a space without participating in it. IE one is part of scene but not participating in it. By no means is it aimless.
Imagine yourself standing in front of church gate station (or any of your cities local commute terminals) exit gate at 9 in the morning and observing the organized chaos happening all around you. One would not contribute to this chaos but observe it with detachment seeking solitude that comes with observing rather than participating in the chaos unfolding all around.
Flaneuring is getting out and not participate instinctively in everything around you. Be passive and let the moment take over. This helps one tune in to things which in normal course would get passed, over looked or plain missed. So, start existing in space as opposed to interacting with it.
Once a person can do it, the curiosity of finding newer things, discovering what others are missing brings a sense of calm and a common sense knowledge of things hidden in plain sight.
At leisure not forced to keep reacting the mind calms down to spark creativity, mindful mentality and over all sense of wellbeing.
Enough and more examples can be found in history of people who would walk and discover new things. Remember they did not set out to discover those things.
By the way an Aghor (see my earlier post on Aghor https://mumbaichetan.blogspot.com/2020/05/lock-down-aghora-portal-to-new-world.html) is also a fine practitioner of this art, walking and discovering the myriad things that lie undiscovered in this world.
I leave you with my favorite quote by Marcel Proust. His works are a fine study of art of Flaneuring. Do find time and read his works you will discover things.
“The only true voyage of discovery, the only fountain of Eternal Youth, would be not to visit strange lands but to possess other eyes, to behold the universe through the eyes of another, of a hundred others, to behold the hundred universes that each of them beholds, that each of them is”
So next time you step out consider the fine art of Being a Flâneur or Flâneuse
Here are few links to get more on this topic
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jul/29/female-flaneur-women-reclaim-streets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur
http://www.danagoldstein.com/whats_a_flneuse
IWI never knew such a word exists until I read this .. It's so true that at some point or other we all have passed through this phase.
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