Morning Qi Gong

Nourishment in a Time of Depletion

Creating energy from Nothing: Qi Gong.

The abdomen is the residence of the Qi. Deep abdominal breathing is the basis of energy cultivation, which is called Qi Gong (energy work).

The depletion of Qi through stress and mental disturbances can initiate pathologies at a deep level.

Interrupting these pathologies and restoring the Qi to balance is an act of skill.

This is a daily practice for me, and I’m writing about it now because I’ve written about many topics already that cause distress and depletion of the Qi.

The unfolding disasters have Occupied my mind and my Substack for some time.

Everyone is being depleted in this way….and it goes on, for decades.

Now, I’m writing about the methods, techniques and disciplines I have practiced over these five decades of my life: To ward-off depression, and restore the normal, visceral connection to Nature.

This is something I plan to write about a lot more, now that the Internet is buzzing with awareness of The Problem.

To practice a Solution, as a remedial medicine.

Daily practice. Regulating the breath, the mind and finally the body.

In this way of viewing, the energetic level is the root of the problem, as it manifests within the individual.

We all absorbed some degree of toxic energy from the point of our unique weakness; that’s how it invades.

This is also how to identify the areas needing nourishment and reinforcement.

The Practice Is: Actively Remembering

Homeostasis is the feeling of being at home within the entirety of your Being.

The sense of belonging in one’s own body. Peace.

Drawn in through the breath, to nourish the lungs - where grief takes deep root. To intentionally exhale this grief in a meditative mind is to release just - a little - into the Earth beneath the feet.

Hold.

Yes. Hold at the bottom of that exhale.

…

wait…

…see now. No one had to tell you what to do.

You already knew.

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash

The Earth element below can absorb all grief…knows what to do with what confounds the human being.

The grief in the lungs and the exhale meditation is the visceral feeling of the Metal element. Earth giving birth to Metal.

The holding is the Metal exaggerating itself, which happens just before the birth of the next element in the cycle.

The spontaneous inhalation that needs no prompt: Water element.

So soft, fluid and natural.

Breath cultivation is a deep and ancient medicine.

The five qualities of the breath: calm, continuous, smooth and long.

Compassion for own suffering is inhaled; exhaled is compassion for others’.

Practice anywhere.