Preconceived ideas and intentions usually come from the ego which should be more suppressed than usual in other day-world activities. 128 The central darkness, alone perceiving, Inner dawn, lacking direction. I often think about St. John of the Cross' works, Ascent of Mt. Carmel and Dark Night of the Soul . It is terrible because the subject feels absolutely alone and even forsaken by God Himself. In this state, there can be no distractions or objects which occupy the mind.
Nothing is particularly pleasurable.
St. John says that this state is the perfect one for which fullness of God may enter. I actually have the audacity to equate improvising with other mystical experiences. The improvising artist often perceives a higher force flowing through him or her. Another fellow Lacertid, David Anderson, would say that improvising was like being in front of an open window. The goodness flows through the window freely until the artist tries to stand up and be identified as the source of the goodness.