Chi or Qi?

What I love most about language is its living eternal nature, transcending the strongest boundaries of time-space, even unto overcoming death. What’s most frustrating about language is that, for the most part, it is time-bound by words for expression. Words are, by their intrinsic nature, timely, limiting, rigid, manmade constructs clumsily attempting to express the ineffably eternal. Chi is one of these words. In this space, I now invite you to soften your heart and open your mind to explore the possibility of communication beyond words.

To Chinese Daoists/Taoists, qi is the bioelectromagnetic energy, the vital force that is part of all living beings. Chi’s been translated as “air”, and figuratively as “material energy,” “life force,” and “energy flow.” Qi is the central underlying principle in traditional Chinese medicine and martial arts.

This primordial life-giving force is known as prana in ancient Hindu philosophy, including yoga, the practice I’m most familiar with. Although prana’s not the “breath” itself, it rides on the breath in and out of the body. An ancient memory ringing in our souls, many attest prana originates in the atman; the spiritual life principle of the universe, especially when beheld as inherent in our true self. Prana means “breathing forth,” from the Sanskrit an, meaning “movement” and “to breathe,” and pra, meaning “forth.”

Chi, qi, prana… call it what you want... I call it spirit. Spirit is the fire of truth burning within you. The force animating all living beings, it permeates reality on all levels. The energy motivating you to grow and thrive in the face of challenge beyond fear, this is spirit - Flowing in currents in and around the body through channels known as chakras and nadis. Prana is your life force energy. What are you investing your prana in?
 

Om Namah Shivaya,

Ze

Practice + #BreatheFire