According to standard definitions; Qi In traditional Chinese culture, or Gi in Korean culture, or Ki in Japanese culture, and Prana in East Indian culture, is a "life force", or "cosmic energy” permeating the Universe on all levels. Qi, Gi, Ki, or Prana could then be considered a force contained within everything and interrelating with everything.

Qi can also blend with different elements of nature and take on different qualities, and consequently have different effects upon our body and spirit. We might consider this blending of Qi to be the intrinsic Qi combined with electromagnetic energy of the entire earth and also the cosmic energy field of the air, the wind, lighting, the sun, the moon, and the celestial bodies and the firmament. Here we have what Taoists call Earth Qi and Heaven Qi.

Di Qi or Earth Qi and Tien Qi or Heaven Qi

In Qigong practice we primarily work with Di Qi or Earth Qi and Tien Qi or Heaven Qi. These qualities of Qi may correspond with specific scientific fields within elements of nature and matter, however Earth Qi and Heaven Qi are not considered entirely synonymous with any scientific definition of matter or energy. This being said, Qi has been determined to be measurable and to contain properties of matter and energy that carry information. From this we might assume that Earth Qi and Heaven Qi contain different qualities of matter and energy and information. From this we may understand why Earth and Heaven Qi have different effects on the body and mind.

• Earth Qi is Qi drawn upward and gathered from the earth, water, trees and plants, mountains, etc.
• Earth Qi (Di Qi) is blended with what we’ll term the “Earth Elements” making it a very Yin force.
• Earth Qi (Di Qi) is typically drawn into our body from the earth upward through the feet & legs and up through the body to the top of our head, although there are many variations to this. (It may also be gathered with our hands and arms).
• Earth Qi nourishes the Yin Channels and is gathered upward.
• Heaven Qi (Tien Qi) is Qi drawn downward from celestial bodies, the sun, the moon, the stars, space, the wind or air, and even lighting.
• Heaven Qi (Tien Qi) is typically Qi drawn into our body from top of head, our forehead, our palms, down through our arms and trunk down to the bottom of the feet, although there are many variations to this.
• Heaven Qi (Tien Qi) is blended with what we’ll term the “Heaven Elements” making it a very Yang force.
• Heaven Qi nourishes the Yang Channels and is gathered downward

This combination of this Yin and this Yang forces and Qi blended together makes up the Human Being. In fact everything in the universe may be considered a unique combination of Yin and Yang forces with infinite variations of Yin and Yang combinations along with Qi interwoven into these opposite forces.

So in this tradition, finding the balance of “Heaven” and “Earth” in our life and within our body, mind, and spirit, is the key to health and spiritual growth. As the saying goes, “moderation is the key”, in the same way we are seeking to balance the Earth Qi and the Heaven Qi within us where we do not have too much or too little of one extreme or another. Qigong and Tai Chi are specifically oriented to bringing this balance of the Yin and Yang force within our body and being.

Gathering & Drawing Qi

Since Qi is considered our very life force, Qi by nature is sustaining us and everything. A person is born with a fixed innate amount of Qi (Jing Qi) within themselves, which diminishes with age, and Jing Qi itself cannot be increased. The more we preserve our Jing (inborn Qi), the longer and healthier we can live. In addition to our Jing Qi, we can also draw in Qi from food and oxygen as well. Also we naturally draw in Qi to some extent unconsciously from the energy fields of the Heaven and Earth just through our existence in general. Earth Qi and Heaven Qi are thus automatically gathered from our thoughts, words, deeds, breath, diet, and from our physical movements. So everything we do in existence correlates with the Earth Qi and Heaven Qi which is drawn in and blended within ourselves to make up who we are.

Qi can also be consciously enhanced within our being through learning to intentionally draw in and gather Qi. Normally we are not trained to realize that we have the capability to gather and draw this force of Qi into our body and even into our consciousness. In varying degrees, most of us unknowingly gather and draw Qi through oxygen, exercise, food, etc. However, if we train ourselves to learn our innate human capacity; to consciously draw and gather Qi, we can greatly increase our health and well being through this practice, termed as Qigong in the Chinese tradition.

Ways Of Qi Accumulation

a. We are born with a fixed amount of Qi called Jing, which diminishes as we age.

b. We also can draw Qi through food

c. We also can draw Qi through oxygen

d. We also can draw Qi from “Heaven” & “Earth” according to the Taoist understanding of “Heaven” & “Earth” forces.

e. Since Qi can be transmitted by another, we can also receive Qi from another.

As we learn to consciously draw in Qi, we can develop the capacity to draw specific types of Qi into the specific Yin or Yang channels and also draw Qi into specific energy gates within the body. Further, with Qigong practice, not only can we learn to draw Qi from external forces and direct Qi within ourselves, we can also learn to; sense Qi, expand our Qi field, alter our consciousness with Qi, and to consciously transmit Qi to others.

The normal person is given enough original Qi or Jing to live 120 years. Often more Qi is expended and not enough Qi is drawn in during the course of the day, leaving a deficit, thus withdrawing Qi from our original Jing. Every action, word, and thought requires Qi, over expenditure of Qi leads to a loss of Qi. The goal is to thus to increase our Qi and to remove stagnant Qi. Since we cannot increase our Jing Qi, It is good to know that we can infinitely increase Qi though gathering and storing Qi in the Xia (Shah) Dan Tien, located in the lower abdomen below the navel and toward the spine. Through the Xia Dan Tien, an infinite amount of Qi can stored, and that can be used and circulated throughout the body at will.

Basic Technique For Drawing In Qi

To gather and store Qi into the Xia Dan Tien (lower abdomen), breathe in to the chest, consciously drawing in Qi, and then breath out and move the Qi down to Xia Dan Tien. This directs Qi into your body with breath, and then also draws Qi from the food in the intestines as the Qi is directed downward to the abdomen. This practices draws the Qi down to the Xia Dan Tien (lower abdomen), where it can be stored as energy into our bio-battery. This technique is called; Qi Chen Xia Dan Tien , which translates as drawing the Qi down to the lower abdomen.

Note: The Xia Dan Tien (lower abdomen) is the one area within the body that can store an infinite amount of Qi and the one place in the body where guiding an abundance of Qi will not cause an imbalance in Yin or Yang.

Guiding Qi With The Mind

Standard to Qigong practice, it is taught that the mind guides the Qi. Where our intent is placed, Qi actually goes there. So if we desire to walk across the room, we may think that our mind sends the impulse to our nerves and muscles, however in Taoist tradition, first the Qi travels to initiate the movement. With this concept, if we decide to start walking, the Qi body makes the movement with the intent of the mind, then the blood, nerves, muscles, skeletal system, etc. moves so that we begin walking. Normally we wouldn’t consider that Qi leads the movement. However, if we are of the opinion that the mind leads the Qi first, and then an action in the body occurs afterwards, then we may realize that the intent of the mind also can guide the Qi within us. So if all action in the body occurs first in the mind, second from the movement of the guided Qi, and third in the physical body, then we may conclude that we also can affect and transform ourselves through directing Qi within our body through the intent of the mind.

When practicing Qigong, we have to catch the feeling of Qi and be able to move the Qi in our own unique approach. To be successful, we cannot be in pursuit of the Qi or push to perceive the Qi, and we cannot simply imagine the Qi force and movement within us either. It is our mind that must do the hard work of learning to actually sense, not imagine the flow of Qi and also concentrate Qi at a given point. Mastery of Qigong or Tai Chi practice thus requires the movement and directing of Qi, not simply the physical movements themselves. Its been said that If you don’t move the Qi , you might as well go to disco, you will get better benefit.

Bio-Electric Currents Of Qi

Qi within the human body may be likened to electricity. Like an electrical system, the body has wires or meridians that carry currents of Qi. These channels within the body are the major Yin and Yang meridians that also contain thousands if not millions of attached tributary meridians running throughout the body. The Yin & Yang meridians may be likened to positive and negative electrical currents that have the flow of currents moving in opposite directions. The Dan Tien’s may be likened to bio-electric batteries in our body. In optimal health, a healthy flow of Qi travels unblocked through these meridians and the key energy gates along these meridians. These meridians within the body work like electrical conductors allowing the flow of Qi along the direction of the channel. These energy gates, corresponding to acupuncture points must remain open so that there is no blockage in this bio-electrical current of Qi flow. Even an excess of Qi can be damaging if that flow is blocked along a meridian causing an imbalance. In the case of Qi blockages or weakened flow of Qi, Qigong practice or Tai Chi practice, acupuncture, and variety of other types of practices can be used to clear such blockages and to also increase the flow of Qi through the body’s meridians.

Because the meridians or channels within the body significantly impact every part of the body, learning to circulate and guide Qi through these meridians becomes highly significant. Qi meridians are rivers of Qi flowing along acupuncture points. Most acupuncture meridian lines relate to a particular organ. There are significant supplementary meridians in addition to the 20 basic meridians in the body.

• Twelve of the body meridians are related to internal organs and their function.
• Eight meridians are known as the Extraordinary Meridians-not related to a particular organ. They also are known as the psychic channels.
• There are numerous “Collateral” channels linking Qi to every cell and part of the body.
• The most important channel is the Ren channel running up the front of body and the Du channel running down the back.
• The Du channel feeds and nourishes the Yang organs and acupuncture channels and the Ren channel feeds and nourishes the Yin organs.
• Circulating Qi in these two channels are the first important goals in Qigong and Tai Chi known as the “Small Heaven” circulation.
• In the “Small Heaven” circulation, Qi is guided through the Du channel in reverse from the perineum to the top of the head and downward through the Ren channel back to to the perineum (Hui Yin).
• This reverse circulation ( “Small Heaven” circulation) of these two channels brings health, removes trauma from being born, and also removes blockages in general.

Key Energy Gates Of Small Circulation

The “Hu Yin”- perineum, “Wei Lu”-tailbone, “Ming Men”,- lower back, “Da Jui”- base of neck, “Yue Zhen”- base of brain, “Bai Hui”-crown chakra, “Shang Dan Tien” or upper Dan Tien located at the forehead, “Zhong Dan Tien” or middle Dan Tien located at the heart, and the lower Dan Tien or “Xia Dan Tien”, are key energy gates along these two channels.

Typically, Qi is to first be stored in lower (Xia) Dan Tien in order to move Qi through these channels. Enough Qi force is needed to breakthrough blocks along these channels and to circulate the Small Heaven.

Circulating the Qi down the Ren channel is called; Qi Chen Xia Dan Tien. This consists of drawing the Qi down from the Ren channel beginning at the lower lip down to the abdomen. We train ourselves to move this Qi downward and store Qi in Dan Tien (abdomen). Ren channel blockages are usually at the solar plexus or stomach. Breaking this blockage is key to health and awakening.

Finding The Sensation Of Qi

You must find the feeling of the Qi and then use the Qi to open the pathways. Qi can manifest as pain, itch, heat, distention, numbness, tingling, swelling, and many other forms. Learning to sense it is the first step. Use of imagination of Qi is a hindrance in discovering Qi. We must sense the Qi sensation. Sensing the Qi is an essential stage in cultivating and circulating it.

Scientific Studies Of Qi

Even though some may still consider Qi to be fictional or even a mysterious force, scientifically speaking, Qi has been successfully documented and measured. The Beijing University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and other scientific research organizations in China have research that concluded that the latent potential that every human being carries is far more than most of us are aware of. And in light of this scientific research, Qi might be considered a natural untapped capacity of every human being from not only a Taoist or spiritualist perspective.

According to a study in China conducted by Dr. Yan Xin's research:

A. Qi emitted from a person who has mastered Qi transmission can influence or change the molecular structure and also change the DNA and RNA on the participants.

B. This can occur even if the participants are 3 ¾ to 1243 miles away.

C. Qi can also effect the half life of radioactive isotopes.

A number of experts and highly accomplished professors in China who recognized these scientific Qigong experiments made their preliminary observations and reports on scientific Qigong experiments and determined the following conclusions about Qi:

1. Qi can be observed, measured and quantified with precise instruments.

2. Qi has the properties of matter.

3. Qi has the properties of energy.

4. Qi conveys comprehensive information content, or has the characteristics of information

So from these scientific standpoints alone, Qi can be considered to be REAL. Qi actually carries information based on the intent directed from the mind. An actual force can be transmitted that can affect our DNA or RNA!

In our life a powerful force has been available to us that exists, and although most of us have not been trained to develop awareness of drawing in Qi, it might be considered a natural human ability that we all can acquire!