| Ten Phases of Qi The qigong forms practiced in Lori’s classes can be categorized into the ten phases of cultivating and mastering qi, as outlined by Dr. Roger Jahnke, OMD, in his book, The Healing Promise of Qi. Many people spend years or lifetimes ignoring and depleting their qi supply, like neglecting an empty, fallow garden. To grow a healthy garden involves clearing, planting, tending, harvesting, and storing. Your qigong practice can help with clearing away old habits and blockages, planting and growing the seed of qi within us, harvesting and moving the qi throughout the body, and storing qi for times when we most need it. Jahnke’s ten phases of qi are organized into three sections: Earth, HeartMind, and Heaven. Earth – Medicine for the Body Phase 1 – Discover Qi: Simply becoming aware that qi exists. Observing qi in the self by bringing awareness within and discovering subtle sensations, such as warmth, tingling, flow, expansion, vibration, magnetism, bliss, energy levels, attitudes, and emotions. Observing qi in others by noticing how others make you feel or how you feel when entering a building or room. Observing qi in nature by acknowledging the cycles and instincts of animal and plant life. Phase 2 – Gather Qi: Soaking in the qi with very little effort by opening the posture, the breath, and the mind. Qi can be gathered from food, air, nature, the cosmos, the breath, acupressure points, even the skin. Phase 3 – Circulate Qi: Qi can be distributed through the body in two ways – passively or actively. Passive circulation, through meditation, is an allowing rather than a doing. The qi flows like water in its natural state, if not blocked or constricted. Meditation allows the qi to flow on its own, if we step out of the way. Active circulation, through qigong, uses intention and movement to distribute the qi around the body and energy field. HeartMind – Medicine for the Mind and Emotions Phase 4 – Purify Qi: The qi is cleansed when stale qi is released through the energy centers and channels, acu-points, breath, and skin. Qi can also be cleansed through herbs, acupuncture, massage, or by gathering fresh qi to displace the old. Qi can be purified through a dynamic focus, using movement, breathing, and sound. Or qi can be purified through a quiescent focus, using mind focus, meditation, mental mantras, or the release of blocked emotions. Phase 5 – Direct Qi: If qi is in a balanced state, there is little need for direction of qi. However, in a state of imbalance, the mind can be used to re-balance the qi through will. Also, qi can be directed through the breath, massage, touch, acupressure, Reiki, movement, magnets, herbs, etc. Qi can also be directed toward others for healing. Phase 6 – Conserve Qi: By its nature, qi automatically collects and circulates. However, daily life and every activity and bodily function uses qi. So throughout each day, a mental intention should be used to conserve qi, by avoiding bad habits, overindulgences, excess, and stress. Emotions such as fear, worry, anger, guilt, and grief can deplete qi. Constant attention to balancing yin and yang will help to conserve qi. Heaven – Medicine for the Spirit Phase 7 – Store Qi: Qi is stored in the central channel, the twelve organ meridians, the eight extraordinary channels, the organs themselves, the three dantians, the bone marrow, and the nervous system. Phase 7 moves into the advanced stages of qigong, requiring personal discovery through practice. Once the Earth and HeartMind phases are mastered, there is less to ‘do,’ and more to ‘allow.’ Storing qi is more about intention than action, and allowing qi to find deep yin storage, as in the marrow. Phase 8 – Transform Qi: At this stage, we are now a vessel of highly refined qi ready for internal alchemy. The local self is healed and conscious awareness expands. This phase cannot be ‘done,’ but can only unfold by ‘being.’ Internal alchemy involves the heating and firing of qi, refining it into a potent essence to become a Golden Elixir. The practitioner moves toward an enlightened self. Phase 9 – Dissolve in Qi: To dissolve in qi is to open to your ultimate nature, merging with Dao. At this stage, the practitioner sustains direct connection with Spirit at every moment. Phase 10 – Transmit Qi: Beyond healing and awakening of the self, transmitting qi to heal others with compassion is the next step. At this stage, the practitioner projects qi naturally as it radiates from the self. Qi can also be intentionally directed by maintaining a relaxed focus on healing others. The practitioner can be a channel through which the qi flows and can also organize others’ qi by their own harmony. Qi can be directly applied through the hands or across great distances. Healing comes when those receiving the qi are ready to heal themselves through intention and lifestyle adjustments. Read Qigong and Daoist Philosophy Read Lori's essay on Zuowang Meditation Return to Qigong page |
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| Phases of Qi |