Chi, The Boundless Life-Energy You Can Tap

The word has its roots in the ancient Chinese culture and philosophy. Chi refers to the natural energy that pervades the entire universe. It is the life force of all living beings as well. It has metaphysical connotations. It is at once supernatural and paranormal.

There are quite a few terms or expressions that represent chi in various countries or regions. In India, for instance, it is ‘prana’ (breath) and ‘therapeutic touch’ and in Japan it is ki, ‘the life force energy’. Reiki, a Japanese healing technique, uses the ‘spiritually guided life force energy’ for curing illnesses.

Some of the earliest recorded philosophies in China mention the ‘metaphysical energy’ that flows through and sustains all beings under the sun. An Austrian immigrant to the United States, Dr. Wilhelm Reich, propounded the theory that what he termed as ‘orgone energy’ is the cause of everything in the entire universe. According to him, orgone energy is the same as ‘bio-energy’ or ‘life energy’ that fills all living beings.

While some ancient Chinese philosophies describe chi to be a separate force unconnected with matter, some others debate whether chi arises from matter or it is the other way round. There is yet another philosophy supported by Buddhists and Taoists that matter after all is an illusion. Without using the word chi, several philosophers in India go a little further in stating that a primordial force or energy creates, sustains and destroys all matter, in regular cycles. All matter is an illusion of the reality that is the primordial energy.

One of the principal concepts pertaining to chi (or qi) is that of harmony, be it in the state of the universe or in the life of an individual. Earthquakes, tornadoes, typhoons, tsunamis, cyclones or the other natural calamities that occur on land or at sea from time to time result from the disturbance in the chi - harmony. The same chi also engineers cosmic troubles in the astrosphere.

Your mental or physical health is also in direct relation to this harmony. When there is imbalance or disharmony, your health suffers. You have to draw on the energy resource of chi to restore the lost equilibrium in order to get back the lost health. Your mind or body will then return to its normal state of good health. Traditional Chinese medicine uses various therapeutic techniques like acupuncture, herbal medicines, special diets, martial arts and so on, for correcting the imbalances in the circulation or flow of chi through its channels. Thereby, it restores the health of the patients. Reiki practitioners say that, when the life force energy is low, illness occurs and their healing techniques raise the energy level for the illness to disappear. They use the ‘therapeutic touch’ to heal their patients.

According to Feng Shui, the flow chi in the spaces that you and your belongings occupy influences your health, wealth, energy levels and many other things of your life, and even your luck. This traditional Chinese art gives clear instructions regarding where and how your things should be placed in your house, what color suits or brings luck to you etc, as their proper arrangement will regulate the flow of chi to your benefit.

Who knows, you may turn out to be a strong advocate of chi and its declared benefits, once you try Feng Shui or Reiki or some traditional Chinese therapeutic technique like acupuncture. Belief is the key.