Harmonize Qi

Qi is energy.

Our bodies, thoughts, and emotions are manifestations of energy.

From this point of view, we can see that treating anything other than the Qi is treating symptoms rather than the root cause. Sometimes symptoms are so severe that obviously treating the symptom first makes the most sense. However, to alleviate further occurrences and reduce chronic degeneration, we must balance the underlying Qi.

When our Qi is abundant and flowing, our manifestations are the same.

As practitioners, we move our attention from external to internal, from symptom to root cause, from physical manifestation to Qi. We do this to locate the deepest cause of our client’s distress. Alleviating the deeper causes will result in the clearing of varied manifestations of distress.

Let’s look at the Earth Element as an example.

The diagram below highlights some of the manifestations of Earth Qi. Our client could have digestive complaints along with trouble sleeping due to excessive worrying about not having enough money to provide for their family. These issues may seem unrelated. But by looking at the diagram, we see that Earth Qi relates to the stomach, to digestion, to satisfaction, and to the emotion of worry.

We take food into our stomach to digest it. Our first food was from our Mother. All of our food ultimately comes from the earth – our mother, soil, plants, and animals. If we do not have enough food, we worry. If we do not have shelter and comfort, we worry. When we know that we have plenty, when we trust that the earth will provide, then we enjoy our food and resources, and happily share with others. We feel satisfied and content.

By harmonizing the flow of Qi between the Five Elements, we can enjoy the positive attributes of all of the elements. We place our attention on the elements rather than the individual, infinite manifestations of the elemental energy. In this way, our attention is focused, our energy is conserved, and our task as practitioners much simpler.

By using the meridians and acupoints, we are able to directly affect the Qi. When the Qi is harmonized the manifestations are also harmonious – this idea is the gift of Chinese Medicine.

A simple and profound insight.

Recognize that when you are happy and content your day seems to flow much better. Challenges are approached as interesting puzzles to resolve, rather than as frustrating obstacles. The stop light becomes a chance to breathe and rest, rather than another delay for your next appointment.
It is easier to harmonize the underlying Qi than it is to tackle each of the infinite manifestations arising from it. In practice, it can be as simple as focusing five minutes of your attention on your breath in the morning before opening your calender of events for your day. It is easier to harmonize Earth Qi via the stomach and spleen meridians and acupoints, than it is to get psychotherapy for anxiety and insomnia, financial consulting for money issues, and a variety of medical approaches to resolve digestive complaints.

By placing our attention on harmonizing Qi, we directly affect the root cause, which alleviates symptoms and prevents imbalance.