Chi Energy Overview
by Karen L. Scheel
As the standard of living increases the interest in health is also rising
and consequently Chi (pronounced: chee) is increasing as well. To understand
Chi we must look back to the very beginnings of Oriental Medicine, to
Taoism (pronounced: dow-ism). Taoism means The Way and is the
most influential root of Oriental Medicine. The ancient medicine people
or Taoist's main focus was to observe the ways of the natural laws governing
the universe as a method to understand the unseen inner world of our
physical body.
One of the philosophical foundations upon which their medical theories
was built recognized that everything in the universe is composed of
two complementary yet opposing energetic forces known as Yin (female)
and Yang (male). Yin the female principle is associated with water and
represents the earth. Yang the male principle is associated with fire
and represents heaven. It is believed that the two primary forces Yin
and Yang (female and male) unite the water energy of earth with the
fire energy of heaven, and is responsible for all of creation. Together
this energetic life force of Yin and Yang is known as Chi, which means
Energy. Einstein's famous equation concludes that energy forms matter
and when matter disperses it coverts back to energy; every particle
of existence is made of energy (Chi) and explains all movement, changes,
and phenomena in our universe.
These ancient people believed that the same natural laws of Yin and Yang governing the universe had to influence human beings. We were not considered a separate entity; we were viewed as a miniature universe subjected to the very same universal laws. If Chi was the creating force of all visible components then they believed it had to be a factor behind our existence as well. Therefore, from Yin and Yang came the Five Elements of the universe. These Five Elements - Water, Wood, Fire, Earth, and Metal give birth to all things in creation, including human beings.
The human body as a miniature universe houses 12 energetic channels or pathways wherein Chi flows. These channels are known as meridians and control both our gross and subtle anatomy. Our gross anatomy is the physical form that we can see, and our subtle anatomy is our energy body, which most cannot see. This subtle energetic body represents the whole of which we are -- our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. Unlike the veins that our blood flows through, meridian pathways also travel throughout the entire body, but rather than fluid they deal more with energy and states of consciousness. Each meridian is associated with one of the Five Elements and connects to either a Yin or Yang organ of the physical body, and links our states of consciousness.
It is said that Chi applies to the human body in 2 ways; inherit Chi and acquired Chi. Inherit Chi is the energy we receive from our parents at the time of conception. Acquired Chi is the energy accumulated by the quality of life we choose to lead, the food and air ingested. It is believed that the major cause of all disease stems from a blockage of Chi circulation. Individuals become ill when either they cannot absorb enough Chi or the circulation in their body has become blocked.
Human beings cannot sustain a high quality of life by food and breathing alone. It is important to have a strong flow of Chi energy, as the most nutritious food would be of no use if our inner constitution were weak. In order to absorb and integrate the external universal energy we must learn to integrate and strengthen the fundamental life force within. Chi healing is an ongoing process of cultivating and strengthening the Yin (female) and Yang (male) of our being. Good health is learning to live and be in balance with the all aspects of our internal world - the body, mind, emotions, and spirit so that we may be in balance and good relationship with all aspects of our external world.
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©1998-2008 Karen L. Scheel