Externally, Tai Chi is gentle, flowing movement. Internally, Tai Chi fosters the development of mindfulness and the cultivation of a life force known as Qi. What is Qi? Qi is “bioenergy”, a subtle energy associated with biological organisms. Qi is in the food we eat and the air we breathe, and it is produced by all the cells in our body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qi is the energy that moves through the acupuncture meridians or channels. When Qi is strong and flowing smoothly throughout the whole body, we experience health. Illness occurs when there are blockages (i.e., stagnation) or a deficiency of Qi. To restore the proper levels and functioning of Qi in the body, Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends diet, herbs, acupuncture, qigong and Tai Chi.
Can we measure the Qi in Tai Chi? Scientists have attempted to measure bioenergy or Qi, with varying success, using many different types of meters and instruments. Most promising have been the studies using voltmeters and magnetometers to measure the electrical and magnetic fields surrounding energy healers and Qigong practitioners. In Japan, Seto and colleagues (1992; 1996) recorded extremely large magnetic fields adjacent to the heads, bodies and hands of Qigong practitioners during breathing meditations and during external Qi emission. Elmer Green and colleagues (1991) recorded surges in the electrostatic potential (“body-potential”) of healers during distant healing sessions at the Menninger Clinic in Kansas. In my laboratory in Terre Haute, Indiana, we have observed a distinct magnetic field waveform – a symmetrical chirp wave (0 ̶ 40Hz) – which appears with high frequency during energy healing sessions.
In June, 2006, my student Danny LaPlante and I examined the Qi in Tai Chi by recording magnetic field activity in several Tai Chi classrooms during Dr. Paul Lam’s 1-week workshop in West Terre Haute, Indiana. Most interestingly, we observed the ‘chirp wave’ (described above) in each of the classes we recorded, including the advanced Sun 73 form, the Sword form, and the Fan form (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Example of a magnetic field ‘chirp’ wave observed during a Tai Chi workshop for advanced students (73 sun style). The same wave is illustrated in upper and lower traces, with the upper trace recorded at fast speed and the lower trace, at slow speed. In both traces, note the magnetic field oscillations slowing and then reversing, forming a characteristic ‘chirp’ wave. Bar = 10 milliGauss.
What is the significance of the magnetic field ‘chirp’ waves which we observed in the Tai Chi classes? During a break in the Sword class, a student sat down next to one of our magnetometers: she then proceeded to give a big yawn and a big stretch, and a magnetic field wave appeared on our screen, like it had rolled off her body. At that moment, it seemed evident that these waves represent some sort of discharge. Green and colleagues hypothesize that energy healing involves an increase of charge in the healer’s body, followed by an emission of charge. In many respects, the human body functions as an electrical condenser – it accumulates charge generated by cell currents in the body. To remain healthy, we must periodically discharge some of that accumulated charge, and exercise is one way to do this. In the Tai Chi Fan class, Master Trainer Sheila Rae observed how the spiral movements of the Fan form facilitate, “the releasing of old stuff”. Tai Chi, in general, may be particularly good at helping us to discharge and release, leading to energetic balance and increased health.
In the advanced Sun 73 and sword classes, we observed some evidence suggesting magnetic field coherence. In other words, the magnetic field oscillated at one or a few frequencies very strongly, specifically, 13 and 78 Hz (Sun 73), and 39 and 49Hz (Sword). Tai chi students can sense when the group is synchronized and moving as one. This synchrony may be measurable with magnetic field recordings.
But are these waves “Qi”? Seto and colleagues speculate that, “Qi is not magnetic field but “deep force” behind our observable dimension rather than existing physical quantity such as magnetic field.” Like Seto, we suspect that there is more to the Qi in Tai Chi than a magnetic field wave. In future experiments, we will broaden our search for Qi by measuring other frequencies, testing our hypothesis that Qi is a complex mixture of light, sound waves and/or electromagnetic fields.
Correct me if i’m wrong, but acupuncture and all those stuff help with the flow of the chi, right? Great post by the way. Can you provide images so I can picture it better?
“acupuncture and all those stuff help with the flow of the chi, right?” That’s the theory. Not sure what sort of images you are looking for?
This is a very comprehensive article for a beginner to understand the notion of Qi. Can I re-post this on my blog? If not, it’s ok, I’ll email my readers to check it out.
Thanks
Yes, Evelyn, you may re-post the blog. If you could please reference where it came from, that would be good. Thank you. Incidentally, your blog, allmeditate.com, looks great!
Margaret Moga, PhD, Indiana University School of Medicine – Terre Haute
This is interesting, I didn’t know that anyone in the Terre Haute area was into this type of thing. I have training in Fa Kung healing myself. I also teach Qigong and Tai Chi at Yost Wing Chun Academy in Terre Haute. Thanks for posting this online.
I am a qigong therapist and I would love to learn more about measuring EQ or external Qi. if you would post on this matter more and share other resources that would be very helpful too. Thank you for the great post!
If Qi is life force, than qi is also awareness and able to bring order into chaotic systems.
Our cells in our body has electrical charge because of the natrium and potassium (as also calcium) which forms electrical differential between their surrounding and the inside of the cell.
This electricity flows in a chaotic manner in all directions. Our life force (qi) change the flow of this electricity in a manner that if flows ordered in meridians and “nadis”. This is simply done by changing the “probability” where it flows. In quantum mechanics it is said that this would not break the law of energy conservation. Indeed the energy is already there, but where it flows depends on the Qi. So Qi is not energy but probability and potential.
I disagree. I have felt Qi – it is palpable, hence, detectable. Not just probability and potential. Likewise, consciousness. Many now say that “consciousness is information”. Yes, it contains information, but it too is an energy.
Chi is now recognized and documented as a unique source of energy. It has documented properties that are unique and different from all other sources of energy. check out a paper i published in the universal journal of psychology, march 2014; brain trauma and the energy paradigm. The paper was well received by the academic community
Qi is some type of electromagnetic energy. If we can figure out the wavelength, we might be able to measure it. It would be interesting if there were cameras that could see it, the way infrared cameras see heat signatures. Qi users are able to focus their energy, as if they were channeling all of it into one area, or generating a ton. This usually ends up in their palms but I’ve felt it where it covers the entire body.
I have always wondered about Kirlian photography. Some type of electrical energy is presented and or created to somehow “see” or record the aura of a subject(ususally a leaf is the demo photo with a written article). Also, if you remember 8th grade science, we had a static generator and you could feel the static charge, especially if you did not hold on tightly to the wires. My 1st question, could Kirlian photography be used to qigong’s energy field around some practitioner, secondly could simple static discharge be used to amplify ones energy field maybe allowing increased healing ability, and is the practitioner’s aura involved or invoked? Just wondering…
There are actually devices to measure charge buildup in human body, which, I think, would be better to use than Kirlian photography. I suspect that there are meditations which are effective in raising one’s ‘charge’.
A question I have, as it’s regarded as a deep force, could the flux given off be similiar to that given off by the flow of electricity and vice versa? Not saying it is electricity, but a comparative analogy? As so may be something not identified. Or maybe identified by some, but no physical equivalent known. Otherwise it might be what creates a ghost when someone passed away prematurely. Nobody has found out what a ghost is yet.
Your comment triggered thoughts of phantom DNA or “ghost DNA imprint”. The deep force associated with DNA seems able to imprint local space.
http://www.soulsofdistortion.nl/dna2a.html
https://item-bioenergy.com/infocenter/consciousintentiononDNA.pdf (Discussed at end of this paper)
https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/can-our-dna-electromagnetically-teleport-itself-one-researcher-thinks-so
Great news! Best wishes.
I have a physical problem resulting from ill advised use of Qigong. I practiced Qigong for years, on my own, and built up substantial energy in my Dan Tien. One day I focused the energy downward at the end of my session and it resulted in a catastrophic failure. Later I broke my back and that triggered intense energy surges too strong to withstand. After a month I found that if I take opiates they block the energy surges. The intense radiating power surges up my back, penis, anus, lasting 10 to 15 seconds and recurring every 10 to 40 seconds. I have to curl up in a ball and squeeze all my muscles to expend the energy each time. By 4 a.m. I am exhausted and finally fall asleep. I hate taking pain medicine. Any suggestions?
Sounds like a kundalini awakening, which can take many different forms. Check out the websites on kundalini awakening, some offer one-on-one sessions. Other suggestion is to work with an energy healer, to help balance your energy field. Sounds like you opened an energy gate, which needs to be closed or healed, for now anyway. Another suggestion, find an experienced Qigong master to help you, even at a distance. Don’t try to solve this alone.
Thanks for the input. I’ve scoured the internet and unfortunately I live in an eastern medicine desert (Arkansas) where practitioners are nonexistent and people who even know what chi or ki is are very rare. Most of the well meaning people who advertise themselves as Qigong Masters on the net have a three or four week certificate and don’t really have the breadth of understanding to help me. I’ll keep searching for a qualified healer to close this energy gate breach. Until then I am left blocking the energy surges with pain medication. Thank you all.
Dan, i’m in Pa. it is 2019 now. lets try a remote session. contact me through website. we’ll see what happens
I have recently video taped myself putting Qi into an object and I have recorded yellow orbs of light that touch the object I am sending my Qi to. This is not visable to the naked eye and only thru the camera. There is a second white typed energy that I captured today that isn’t circular but like a wispy white cloud. Everything I am around moves to magnetic north or moves towards me instead of the poles. I have caused severe damage at a chapel putting cracks in the foundation and I wasn’t trying to. I don’t know what to do as this is way more power than any man should have. I’m in Houston btw. Any connections here that can document & measure my Qi? Thank you.
Sounds fascinating (albeit a challenge to get around with those levels emitting).
May I ask what techniques you used to develop the Qi accumulation to remain latently high?
Fascinating, thank you. I’ve been looking to see if anyone can describe how one generates qi through qigong or taijiquan. In reading your work and the comments I see a gathering of qi and a focusing of qi, but no reference to actually increasing the amount of qi one has. Am I simply off base that, perhaps we simply have a certain amount of qi and is unchanging in quantity, but can be made stronger by organization? I am a “beginner with experience” in taijiquan, probably about 3000 hours into it, and find myself just beginning to consciously notice a few things that I once would have regarded as esoteric; now they simply seem like the next step in practice. Many thanks for a very stimulating report and conversation and healing wishes to those writers who are suffering.
Hello Dan,
Your experience is very touching and I truly hope you will recover fully and soon.
I am in a similar yet much less severe situation, I have been practicing internal martial arts for many years and have been recently experiencing symptoms due to my unguided and unsupervised exploring and expansion chi.
In my late teens, I was diagnosed with a eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa. A “degenerative” retinal condition which leads to blindness. Growing up and throughout my life, in different situations such as under strenous effort, dramatic changes in the lighting of the environment and also after exhaustion. I would sometimes get white lights flashing lights inside my field of vision. After some research I learned that this is a common symptoms affected by condition. The video below shows this phenonon as experienced by RP carriers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZRsPOUZUF8
The only thing is I didin’t see in the comments was mention of these lights their connection with Chi.
I stumbbled onto this half by accident, with my experience in martial arts and other breathing techniques(as well as cold therapy). These lights seems to represent the chi flow inside my own body. The will more or be similar in shape and size and will form into a “Liquid Light” texture which forms into a half moon shape and travels in a circular motion around my field of vision. Ive experienced both clockwise and anti-clockwise motion of the white wave as i like to call it. The lenght for which this is visible will vary depending on many factors: Accumulated sexual energy, food intake and overall body acidity and breath control.
I’ve gone on a huge tangeant and basically my issue is this:
I have also found guidance to be difficult to find, there is a alot of misinformation out there. Not to mention false gurus and charlatans looking to take advantage of ppl. I’ve been experiencing symptoms as a result of expanding my Chi potential such: Bursts of uncontrolable sexual aroural, weird lucid dreaming, intense emotional responses that are hard to identify(ei I’m feeling something strongly but i can’t name the feeling) as well as unsolicited and unwanted knowledge about other peoples states of mind and emotions.
Basically, I am lost in all this and can’t make out what is true and what is fantasy.
I plan to continue my journey inward and my self exploration of Chi with an attitude of trusting my own body and trusting nature.
Although I would like to do this safely if possible and i’m looking to share with someone who will be able to make light of all this and perhaps help me along. I would also like to touch base and connect with others having similar experiences.
any help/ guidance would help
thanks! much love
Frank
I would recommend doing an online course at: theartofmeditation.org — burgs is the teacher he is living nibbana and his guided meditations are in my opinion invaluable. See if this resonates with you:
https://theartofmeditation.org/meditation-podcast/burgs-archive/
A short follow-up. I stopped taking pain medication for 18 hours and the energy surges returned, like clockwork. I did this as prelude to an appointment with a acupuncturist. The acupuncture had zero effect on the energy surges. There has been no reduction of the energy surges with the passage of time. At this point I don’t think I will be able to stop the surges. All I seem to be able to do is block its effect with pain medication. The flood of what appears to be Kundalini energy I feel could probably be a wonderful strength if properly managed but when it is allowed to run rampant as it is in my body it is very destructive. My research showed that going back thousands of years people who have experienced what I am going through ended up either going bat guano crazy or taking their own life. Thank goodness for pain medication. Namaste
Hi
As far as I know, you need the assistance of a qi healer to help release/rectify the ‘wild’ qi which is what we call ‘running fire’ in our Cosmic Qigong practice here in Singapore. If you haven’t found a solution to your pain, do consider getting proper help asap.
Margaret, your research inspired thoughts of experimenting with night vision scopes or “glasses” to view energy fields around persons intending or “performing” various healing methods. They are rentable. The other is dark field microscopy, where a blood sample via simple finger prick is collected then viewed live. A chosen healing method directed at the sample &/or even at the sample’s source to view if changes occur.
Regards.
bv
Yes, I have thought of infrared photography during healing sessions. I would need video. Some work of this sort has been done in parapsychology with séances.
Raw, naturally grown tropical fruit that is consumed as soon as possible after harvest contains the most coherent light – ie Biophotons – and therefore increases Qi in the consumer. Peace.
This is Dan from August 26, 2017. I found out that my problems were from Myelin (sheath coating over nerves) being knocked off during the rough spinal surgery (Vertebroplasty) which exposed the raw nerves. I went through a lot including over five years on opioids (seven pills a day). Finally my primary care physician resigned (thank goodness) and the first doctor then assigned said, “You need to be on Gabapentin.” Well that immediately resolved the spinal energy surges problem. They were actually seizures caused by the spinal nerves being exposed. If only my earlier doctor had been more of a diagnostician instead of a opioid pusher. I am now getting off the opioids, painfully. Thanks for all your input and support. Namaste