cheya

Hi RV That's what I call sitting by myself in the chat room over at another site — a friend called it "self-chat" — where energy just seems to continuously pour down from above my head. Didn't think it was possible when first told about it, but that is my experience, so I sit there awhile most every night to enjoy the effect.

@ lifeforce....I don't actually have to intend either upward or downward right now, well, other than paying attention. In the Light chat, the energy just flows down, if I am open, that just seems to be what it does. In that practice I am sitting in front of my computer, if that's relevant. If i get upset over something, heart closed down, I don't feel it, but that doesn't happen very often. And lately, just standing in a wash on the bottom of the big hill behind my house, even just watching the dogs casting about sniffing foxes, I hardly even have to pay attention, and I notice it, the energy kind of bubbling upwards. Doesn't feel like forcing. Changing back and forth does take a shift in focus, but forcing seems too strong a word for what's happening right now... When I watched the vid again in the evening, I didn't feel so much, but then watched again in the morning, and lots of energy effect again, not as much heart centered, more spread out, but still strong. Lifeforce, do you still watch it? @ shortstuff. Somehow not attracted to watching that vid at all!

Welcome to the Bums, hereiam! I'm so glad to see you made it! And looking forward to learning from you too!

Hey lifeforce (or anybody) Would love to hear you expand on the difference between the downward flow and the "upward thrust", both of which I am also noticing these days. I'm doing a meridian massage course that has us standing wuji every day, and focusing in different ways on the energy coming up from the earth, dantain, rooting, etc, and the energy flow is very strong. Another practice I do every night, sitting Chat Light as I call it, initiates a very strong downward flow. So, do you ever do both at the same time? Can you get them both going simultaneously? So far I can alternate, but stumble trying to get both flows going together. (OP, if you feel this is going off topic, let me know, we can open another thread. )

Just goes to show ya, everybody's different. Watching this vid TOTALLY lit up my heart. Wow!

Recently my laptop has come down with the same malady. Have to clear history to log out every 2nd or 3rd log out. Don't much care for that...

Kinda depends on who's hiring it, for what purpose, no?

I haven't been taking it recently, I just use a less expensive green superfood, not the same quality, but good enough for right now. Back then I did feel like I could feel a lift when I took the Pure Synergy. I take many more supplements now than I did then, so don't feel the green powder needs to be so exceptional.

Qicat is probably right, but many of us just don't go that root, and end up experimenting with different products. I liked this one: https://www.thesynergycompany.com/pure-synergy On the other hand, I'm extremely impressed with Dragon Herbs' products. What did you notice when you were using Tonic Alchemy?

Great! I've done a little of his stuff too, but nothing in person. I inherited his vids and the first big medical qigong book, and worked with it a fair bit some time back. Love to hear about your experiences!

Not from a dictionary, but cultivation is also what you do with a garden, taking care of the plants every day, supplying what they need, protecting them, removing weeds, and thus supporting the unfolding of their inherent nature. So... caring for (work) and attending to (focus) the growth and development of a plant, a skill, or even your own health.

Welcome qicat! I love your screen name... Which (whose) medical qigong are you studying?

Owl's other article, Crystal in Uranus, can be found here: http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/1712-crystal-in-uranus-illuminating-the-male-pelvis/ Not for everybody, but an excellent explanation and guided tour of the territory.

On the other hand, if each chapter gets its own thread, people can come back to the conversation later to comment on a previous chapter, without the confusion that would result from that if all chapters were discussed in a single thread... (Maybe this comment would be better in the other thread, feel free to relocate. )

I do kinda like Starr... but fine to be looking on my own...

Dawei's Red Pine Link has been deleted at the request of the copyright owner. Another link?

Aeran, this old post might interest you... "Im not sure but it could be astragalus.. The first time drinking it, RIGHT after my second gulp of the tea.. I had a large ball of mucus/blood drop onto my tongue, went to the bathroom quickly and spit it out. For months/years one side of my nose would very often be closed, since then it hasn't. It could very well be Astragalus, I would only take it under supervision/being diagnosed by a TCM doctor. Taking any during a fever or sickness can be very very dangerous."

Hey there! Welcome! Good to see you over here!

Karate and reflexology.... ouch? Welcome to the Bums!

Re neti pot. Any one from the shopping center will probably do... I like the ceramic glazed ones from the health food store (see Baraka online for image), but even a plastic drug store version will do the job for starters.

Don't know this will be any help, but it has been helpful to me in similar situations, when I feel that being direct is going to be too painful, or just won't work with that person. See if you can embed the message in a story about some unnamed other, a story that taught you something, and a story that you value. Don't be super specific. And don't try to cover all the feedback in one story. Some really good teachers have used this technique on me, so well that it took me a couple days to realize the story not only applied to me as well, but was probably directed at me in the first place! The best one was when the teacher told the story to my practice partner. As a mere bystander, I was all ears. Since the story wasn't directed me, I wasn't at all defensive... which I would have been for sure had I realized he was talking about me. Good luck!

Neti pot will not seem anywhere near as extreme after you've done it a few times. It's a great tool to have available if you ever get colds or sinus congestion, especially before bed so you can breathe without needing decongestants or antihistamines.

Hey, RV Legs and feet seemed to open first for me. Just now getting to the head... But maybe we're not talking about the same thing...

Those interested in this conversation might also appreciate snowmonki's extensive posts in this thread: http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/25088-taiji-polechong-mai/ Starting at post #7 and continuing. Very helpful in sorting this stuff out. Well, at least for me...

The "breathing from the heels" thing has fascinated me forever. Quoting from a previous thread, I wrote: In Chace and Shima's book on the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, in the short chapter on spiritual practice, Chace talks about "the Great Thoroughfare" apparently arising from yin qiao mai on the inside of the ankle. (Maybe it was just that the "Great Thoroughfare" was most easily accessible via the yin qiao...)� He speaks of it as a primitive path�or may-be just an alternative path�to spiritual development, a path that does not start with the microcosmic orbit. In the footnotes, Chace relates the Great Thoroughfare path from the heels to Chaung Tzu's quote about breathing from the heels. I wrote more about my experiences breathing from the heels at that thread, but the bit above was the most pertinent. http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/18710-tai-chi-ruler-activates-the-8-extraordinary-channels/