Sensing Qi for the First Time

The first thing we have to talk about is the ocean of Qi (or Chi) that we are all surrounded and permeated by. Yeah, I know, scientists have been trying to prove and/or disprove the existence of things like Qi for thousands of years. Qi is experiential, it's not something that a we are going to capture, measure and document like a photon or electron. We are experiential beings, just as much as we are tangible. And anyone that has felt a creepy sensation in a strange dark room on a full moon over looking a graveyard can tell ya, there's more out there than meets the eye.

So for the purposes of 'experiencing' lets imagine that we are surrounded by an energy. now this energy is like fog, if you move your hand through it quickly, you'll disturb it. If you move your hand through it slowly, you might just be able to sense it as your fingers and hands pass through it. Try it;

Exercise #1 Relax your hands and arms, allow your fingers, wrists and elbows to fully relax, holding your arms out in front of your chest. Take a big deep breath in and exhale with a big sigh. Allowing your shoulders to completely, yet naturally sink and relax. Be very still, and focus. Now on and exhale genitally, slowly, with relaxed smooth motion, move one arm from one side of your body to the other. (think/move in slow motion, like a tai-chi master)

Now here's the trick. Our culture has us convinced that if it's not scientifically provable, then it's not real. So we have abandon one of our most powerful senses. Our sense of awareness. It can at times be very akin to a sense of imagination. If you were relaxed and yet focused at the same time, when you moved your arm, what sensation did you perceive?

Exercise #2 Relax your fingers, hands and arms as before, hold them chest height out in front of your body. This time clap your hands together very hard five times. Then rub your hands together to make them very hot. Again, clap your hands together very hard five times. Take a big deep breath in and exhale with a big sigh. Allowing your shoulders to completely, yet naturally sink and relax. Again, Relax your hands and arms, allow your fingers, wrists and elbows to fully relax, holding your arms out in front of your chest. Take a big deep yet slow breath in, as you do your hands push away from each other slow expanding the gap between them. Think with your mind that the space between your hands is filling with this energy that we are talking about (Qi). Move slowly and relaxed. Move, breath and think is extra slow motion. If you move fast you will disrupt the 'fog'. On an inhale press on the energy, pushing it and condensing it. Remember to move and breath slowly. Do not allow your hands to touch anything, this will negate the experience. Continue the breathing in and out, expanding the energy and compressing the energy in between your hands. Later, as you practice, pressing the energy together you may notice that the energy almost seems solid. Continue to practice this as often as you desire, proving to yourself that there is something there, or not.

What's important to walk away with is the experience of pressing on something that isn't there... We'll is is, what I should say is that until now we didn't know it was there. The mind plays a huge roll here. In more ways than one. We con certainly convince ourselves of whatever we want. However, when we let go of any preconceptions and notions of what "is" and just experience, we walk away with experiential wisdom, not just intellectual knowledge.

Qi is all around us, and it is within us. Remember the description of the "Force" by Obi-Wan Kenobi as an energy field created by all living things, that surrounds and penetrates living beings and binds the galaxy together. (hate to use sci-fi movies as references, but hey, Gorge Lucas actually got his idea's from somewhere... and it wasn't a cracker jack box). Well, this description isn't far from how the Chinese masters of old described Qi.

Qi is the energy that complements all form. Wherever there is form, there is Qi. Where ever there is Qi form will follow. We are both form and Qi!

Here's where it gets really fun. Qi follows consciousness! Qi is far more mobile and fluid like than form (matter) is. It's patterns, direction, velocities are all subject to the very smallest currents. energies so inconceivably small as those of thought, can influence and direct Qi. The modern day Koren masters teach "Mind Controls Energy" (MCE).

Do exercise#2 again and this time focus (a relaxed focus) on the Qi that is in between your hands. Really condense the Qi with your mind.