What is Chi?
Let us begin with the first step, learning what chi (or qi, ki in Japanese, prana in Sanskrit, and known as ether or orgone in the West, and scientifically identified as .0- energy -that reads as point-zero-negative energy- by quantum physics) is, and why it is so important. First of all, as mentioned in the brackets, it has many names. What it equates to, is life force in living things, and from the standpoint of physics, it is what binds everything together. Without it, nothing would exist. Molecules would lose their bonds, subatomic particles would fly off into oblivion, there would be nothing to hold any form of matter or energy in any cohesive mass, much less an orderly one. Chi is also magnetic, by its very nature. Therefore, by the use of magnetism, one can increase the amounts of chi that can be cultivated hundreds of times over, and make its effects on the body that much stronger, increasing the health and vitality of the body, and greatly strengthening the etheric body, which can allow one to perform seemingly impossible feats of strength, endurance, and metaphysical feats as well. Chi is what "powers" magick, and psionic abilities such as telekinesis, precognition, ESP, etc. Chi, like the speed of light, is a "constant" in the universe. There are simply places, and people, who have the ability to gather it in greater concentrations, such as Sedona, Arizona, or the ley lines that criss cross the globe, Stonehenge, or a hundred other places we could mention. Anyone can do chi kung, and achieve better health, increased physical and mental constitution, and other abilities, which all benefit from chi kung practice. All you have to do is take the first step on the path.
The Three Bodies
We, as humans, posess three distinct bodies, one within the other. The first, most obvious body, is the Physical body. The flesh, bone, blood, organs, all this makes up the Physical body. It is the vessel within which the other two bodys dwell. Think of the Physical body as our way of being able to easily interact with this plane of existnce. it has all the tools available to gather information and communicate with others on this plane of existence. Our second body, is the Etheric body, or Astral body as some prefer to call it. This is the body that is made entirely of chi. This body can be strengthened, obviously, by chi kung exercises. Think of this body as the power and control for the Physical body, for without it, the Physical body is so much decaying matter. It is in a sense, the strings that allow the puppeteer to move the puppet. Without the Etheric body, the Physical body does not move. Finally, we have the Spiritual body, or the "Seat of the Soul" itself. Some consider this part as an inseparable part of the etheric body, which, while one is alive, is true. The Spiritual body is what makes you, you. It is your intelligence, your thoughts, your dreams, your experiences, past and present. Some say that this part of you has access to the "Akashic Records", the record that is believed to exist on a higher plane of existence where all your past life information is kept with all others who reincarnate. The Spiritual body is also sometimes considered to be the "higher self", while in some senses what is true, it would be more appropriate to say that the Spiritual body has the resources of higher knowledge available due to its more direct link to the Divine. The Spiritual body uses the faculties of the brain to gather information and communicate for the most part with this plane of existence. Like a radio or television, the Spiritual body can only gather as much information, or communicate as well as the brain will allow it to do. This can be seen in those who have Downs Syndrome or who suffer from Autisim, and those who have degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers or Parkinsons. Their spirits desperately cry out to be heard, or to hear, see, touch and feel, and often lash out in pure frustration. When all is working together harmoniuosly however, existence in this plane of existence is truly a wonder to behold. These bodies can be separated, with careful practice, for different purposes which will be expounded on in the section on metaphysics.
Breathing Properly
Proper breathing is key in chi kung. One may do chi kung sitting or standing, as there are both kinds, as well as still, or static chi kung, and moving, or flowing chi kung. In order to breathe properly, one must keep the mouth closed, the teeth lightly but comfortably clenched together, and the tongue touching the roof of the mouth as in figure two (2). In figure one (1), you will notice a blue "ball" or circle, which represents the hara, dan tien, or "center". This is a place within your body where your primary "ready source" of chi is stored, and circulates from. There are other places chi is stored in the body as well, and other "circuits" that chi flows through, and we will go into those in detail at another time. For now, breathe through the nose, slowly and evenly, drawing the energy into your dan tien with each breath. Let the belly expand outward, filling the lungs from the bottom to the top like a glass of water. Let the chest expand last. Place the hands on the abdomen while doing this to feel it expand first, the upper arms should only move out at the end of the breath, when the lungs are completely full. Exhale in the same fashion, the belly contracting softly first, then the chest, until the lungs are at least 3/4 empty, and hold the exhalation for a few seconds before inhaling again. Envision this ball starting off as a small point, as big as a pea. With each breath it gets bigger, and more dense, until it is the size of a baseball, or maybe a softball. This may take quite some time, as each breath compacts the chi into a denser, and denser sphere. Work on this exercise for a few weeks until you can "feel" the sphere there all the time, it may feel warm, or tingly, or like”hardness" in the center of your abdomen. Give it time, and don't be discouraged if you don't feel anything right away, some people are more sensitive to chi than others, but sensitivity can be "attuned". Chi kung does this for us.
Small Heavenly Cycle
Now, having generated a nice, strong ball of chi, and still doing the preliminary exercise of breathing for a few minutes at least, we will begin what is called the "Small Heavenly Cycle". This takes the chi on a course that it should naturally be going through at least once a day by itself, but when done consciously, it will greatly strengthen this "main meridian" and make it capable of channeling much more energy when needed. This can be done sitting or standing, I prefer sitting, as it can be quite a powerful experience, and if one is standing it is possible to lose your balance if you're not used to it, or if it affects you more strongly than other people.To do this, sit or stand in a comfortable position, with the feet about shoulder width apart. First, we will establish our "root". This is done by sending chi down into the earth, like the roots of a tree, through the "Bubbling Spring" point of the foot, shown in illustration six (6). Let the roots spread wide and deep, pulling in the chi from the earth. By this method, not only do get chi from the air (heaven) but from the ground as well (earth). This is important to us, as we are both creatures that are earthbound, but spiritual at the same time. Without air to breathe we die, and without the ground to dwell upon (farm, hunt, gather water, etc.) we die. Now, having established a strong root, and already having the sphere of heavenly energy developed within us, it is time to circulate the energy. Starting by inhaling slowly let the chi descend to the base of the genitals, also known as the perineum. This is the muscle you use to squeeze or stop the flow of urine or fecese, and is also involved in the contractions of orgasm in men and women alike. Let the chi continue through the perineum to the base of the spine, the coccyx, and up the spine to the base of the skull, finally to the crown of the head. When the lungs are full, and the chi has reached this point, begin to exhale, gently squeezing the perineum muscle, and bring the chi back down the front of the body, over the forehead, down to the tip of the nose, past the upper lip to the tip of the tongue where it rests against the point in the roof of the mouth, down the front of the throat, the chest, the belly, and finally back into the dan tien. Do this cycle at least 9 times at first, twice a day, working up to 81 times twice a day if possible, in "jumps" of 9 repetitions. Again, it may take a few weeks to achieve this, but persevere, and you will reap the benefits. You will also notice I direct a lot of visualizations in this text. This is due to the fact that the chi follows the mind's directions. The chi will go where you want it to go when you want it to go there. For now though, only practice what I have written, as tossing chi about the body randomly can have very ill effects indeed, as one may affect a meridian that is quite vital to your health, or cause a blockage unintentionally in the body’s meridians (energy pathways).This also flows through the seven primary chakras, which lie in the circuit of the chi flow, seen in figure seven (7) from the front view. By doing the Small Heavenly Cycle regularly, it not only aligns them naturally, but it energizes them as well.
The Grand Heavenly Cycle
Next, we will progress to the Grand Heavenly Cycle, illustrated in figures 3 through 4, and detailed in part with figures 5 and 6. Again, this can be done sitting or standing. Begin with a few cycles of the Small Heavenly Cycle, while establishing your root. Now, noting the green and red channels illustrated in the figures, starting from the Bubbling Well Point in figure 6, (green indicates a yang channel-Positive, masculine, warmth, light energy- Red indicates the yin channel- negative, feminine, darkness, cold) bring energy up the insides of the legs to the dan tien, mixing with and strengthening the energy already collected there, and bringing it up the spine to a spot between the upper shoulder blades, where it splits and goes out to the shoulder joints. It passes through the shoulder joints, down the insides of the arms, to the centers of the palms, the Dragon and Tiger cavities, left and right palms respectively. Exhale, bringing the energy over the tips of the middle fingers, back up the outsides of the arms to the shoulders, around the backs of the shoulders to the place just above where the inhalation split the energy to the palms, where it rejoins and goes up and over the head, just as in the Small Cycle, back down the front of the body to the dan tien again, mixing once more to remove the stagnant energy from your body, as poison is drawn from a wound, continuing through the hips to the outsides of the legs, down the legs, to the outside edges of the feet along the arch. Continue this cycle as you have practiced the first one, breathing deeply and naturally, for at least 9 repetitions at first. Watch in your minds eye, as the chi flows through the meridians, cleansing blockages as it goes, until the blockages are all flushed out of your system through the exit points on the feet. With each breath, you also bring in more chi, inhaling and exhaling, tightening the perineum each time you exhale just as before, which not only pushes the chi through the meridians like a pump, but it also draws more chi in at the same time. In this manner, one will always have an ample, unlimited supply of chi. With each step you take, as you have learned to root, your body will root slightly, establishing that contact with the ground each time. Of course, standing still will cause you to root more deeply, but that is only necessary when you do your chi kung or meditate. As this is a bit more complex in the flow of the chi, allow a couple weeks to learn the flow and begin to feel it before you start increasing the number of repetitions, as it will also help to clear the channels thoroughly before increasing the repetitions. As always, persevere, and the rewards you will reap will be great.
