What is Qi ("Chi") Anyway?

You know, Yin & Yang, Light and Dark ... Qi (pronounced "Chi").  "May the Force be with you"???

Well, there are likely many answers to this question, but how about coming up with an answer that might actually stand up to the scrutiny of logic and reason???  Does such an answer even exist? .... Well, my brilliant, Mensa-minded, husband and I were having such a discussion just the other night at the end of a long hard day and week.  A glass of wine always seems to get our intellectual juices flowing and allows us to mesh on a common plane, for Ken is all intellect and therefore assumes I am all free-flowing spirit.  I actually, like to think I'm a pretty good balance between the two, myself, but to each his own opinion, right.  So anyway, we're sitting on the comfortable worn leather sofa, in soft the soft lighting of the living room.  As we're sipping wine my husband suddenly asks me "So what exactly is "Chi" anyway?"  My short answer:  "Qi is THE Spirit energy that drives the functions of body to 'move' into action.  It's the link between the spiritual and the physical."  Now, you have to understand,  my husband is the quintessential "Doubting Thomas" (from the Bible, the Apostle who needed to place his fingers into Jesus's five wounds before he was able to allow himself to to believe that Jesus had actually arisen from the dead).  To my husband's (Ken) way of thinking, if he can't see it, touch it, quantify or calculate something he cannot accept it as truth.  [His world is literally black and white, which is kind of funny because he's married to me:  the 'definition' of grey.]  To this end, Ken is on an insatiable search for input in an ongoing quest for knowledge  [Funny story I'll have share about this later, at the end of this post].

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Well somewhat predictably in response to my given explanation as to "what Qi is," Ken scrunches up his nose and shakes his head in disbelief.  He doesn't quite buy into things pertaining to the unexplainable, the Spirit Realm.  "So do plants and animals have "Chi", then?" Ken wonders aloud.

My reply "Absolutely.  Why wouldn't they?"

"Because, they're not human."

I have to laugh.  We could spin off onto a tangent conversation here about "what is a soul" and "what are the criteria for having a soul," but I want to keep the conversation on focus.  So I mention scientific experiments where scientist have weighed human bodies just before death and then immediately after the medical pronouncement of death.  What these scientists have found is that the body consistently loses 21 grams (these are the original experiments, but there have been more recent experiments as well).  Moreover, these researchers have attributed this 21 grams of weight difference (loss) to the "mass of the soul" which leaves the body after death.  "So perhaps the soul is the vessel which houses the Qi?"  I offer.  "When Qi leaves the body, the body becomes inanimate, what we would think of as non-living or dead."

Image Source:  Wikipedia via the link given above

Nope, Ken's not buying it.  He explains that Einstein's famous equation E = MC ^2 was actually initially written and published as  M = E / C^2, that is to say that Mass is comprised of Energy over the Speed of Light squared or in laymen's terms  it means "Energy actually has Mass."  Does that blow your mind?  Do you find it hard to wrap your mind around such a concept?  Well, check this out ... Scientists have actually done experiments where they have attempted to measure the "weight" (mass ... weight= mass x gravity) of two clocks to a high degree of atomic precision.  The first clock has power.  It is moving and actively keeping time.  The second clock has no power; it isn't moving or keeping time.  What the scientists in this instance found is that the clock with power --where clocks are comprised of the identical components, save for one clock having a charged battery and the second clock having a dead/non-functioning battery-- actually weighed more, significantly more, than the clock with the dead battery.  So Ken tries to reason, "it's a power thing, not a spirit thing" as if to imply that this alone (power vs. non-power) accounts for the difference in weight between a living body and the same later deceased body.

"Ah, my Doubting Thomas."  I laugh.  "You have just made my point for me.  What exactly do you suppose is the primal source of energy for driving the functions within the living body?  The difference between being alive and not?"  He doesn't answer, so I answer for him  "The difference is Qi, Cosmic Energy, Universal Energy, the Original Source Energy or whatever you want to call it.  Qi is the link between the spiritual and the physical, "the cosmic battery source" if you will.  "Qi is what allows our spirit to manifest itself into the realm of the physical by way of an actively functioning physical body."  Well, Ken's still not buying it, but I can tell by the look upon his face that I've planted a seed, or rather a thorn, in that brilliant mind of his.  Time will tell, if this seed begins to germinate... So, what say you?  How would you attempt to explain "What Qi is?" and do you happen to believe in the concept of souls?  Do you believe that plants and animals have a soul? Do they have Qi?  Is Qi that which connects us all?

~-------~

A funny side story on the insatiable quest for knowledge ....

Cougars, Wolves and Sleuths of Bears: Oh My?!

Similar to "Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!" From the iconic "Wizard of OZ" movie.  Well I have been driving a lot, like really a lot lately.  My device for portable music isn't working at the moment, so I find myself stuck with listening the radio for the time being.  I have discovered music with commercials really annoys me when I'm stuck sitting in traffic for some reason --not entirely sure why? As such, I have been listening to a lot of talk radio.  The entire gambit of talk radio, even sports talk radio.  Sports talk radio is actually pretty interesting once you get to know the stories and struggles behind the teams, players and competing strategies.  Anyway, this past Tuesday I was listening to a show broadcasting across the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the "Lars Larson Show." Lars and his guests on this particular show happened to be talking on the subject of a recent cougar attack on a woman, in Oregon, a few days back.  Unfortunately, I believe the woman lost her life in this attack --missed the intro part of the show.  The host also referenced another attack that occured near Tacoma, WA over the summer, where one biker lost his life and the other was seriously injured.  So that makes two fatalities by cougars, in the same proximal region, over the course of a few weeks.  That seems pretty statistically significant to me?  The radio host, Lars Larson, noted that wildlife management used to regularly control --actively limit-- the populations for apex predators, particularly cougars, but for whatever reason, the powers-that-be have decided these past few years "that we don't need to do this anymore."  Apparently, there hasn't been much scientific reason or study behind this policy change either, aside from citing statistics which had previously seemed to support the fact "that incidents of cougar attacks on humans are very rare."  The problem is that while such attacks may be statistically rare, in general --think, however, the recent string of attacks up here in PNW deviates from the statistical norm--  they usually wind up being fatal to the human part of the equation.  So the question becomes:  Is the death of an occasional human being an acceptable consequence of a do-nothing apex predator population control policy?  Or to my way of thinking, the question should be:  What exactly IS the upside of such a do-nothing policy?  I don't personally see any upside of such a policy, but then I have the opposite problem of most bureaucrats:  I actually tend to think, often times too much.  Moreover, I despise bureaucracy for the most part.  That bureaucracy is a necessary evil is not a notion I would readily subscribe to, but I digress.

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Anyway, while you're pondering the latter questions, you should also know the same brilliant bureaucrats behind abolishing population control measures for cougars have been working to repopulate the Grey Wolf population up here in the PNW.  That's not an entirely 'bad' thing.  The problem is that these bureaucrats have decided to go even further with respect to increasing apex predator populations in the PNW.  You see these same geniuses have also sent out feelers for having Grizzly bears imported into the Pacific Northwest as well.  Maybe the plan of these bureaucrats is to up the tourism ante by playing to outdoor adventure seeking adrenaline junkies:  "Come to the Pacific Northwest where we're taking hiking, camping and rock climbing to a whole new level!"?  Maybe the increase in apex predator population is meant to help curtail the human population?  The longterm ramifications of this kind of 'thinking' reminds me a bit of the new Netflix Original television series I have been watching in an effort to unwind in my free-time, "Zoo."  I have to wonder what are ramifications of having multiple unchecked apex predator populations up here in the PNW?  Will cougars attack other cougars as territories begin to infringe upon one another?  Similarly will apex predators attack one another cross species when hunting territories overlap? Which predators will dominate in such encounters? Morever, will the incidence of apex predators attacking humans likely increase given the unregulated increase of these predators?

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Now I am pro-nature at heart.  I absolutely love nature, the untamed wild, being outdoors, hiking, etc.  I also believe in the sanctity of all LIFE.  That being said, sometimes we need to take steps in order to avoid dangerous interactions between human beings and untamed nature (e.g., cougars encountering humans along hiking trails).  If the population of cougars is kept within reasonable limits, I would agree that such encounters should be "rare"; however, the fact that we are no longer actively maintaining cougar populations concerns me.  Witness the cougar attacks up here, in PNW, within a matter of mere weeks of one another.  Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts should be able to enjoy nature with a reasonable amount of certainty that they can be safe from animal attack while engaging in their various activities.  An ever-increasing and unchecked cougar population would seem to run counter to this objective of relative safety, right?

To my way of thinking, these bureaucrats should tread carefully with regards to introducing additional apex predators/not managing existing numbers for a number of reasons, a key reason being an issue near and dear to the hearts of liberal policy makers:  gun ownership.  If we keep heading down this do-nothing road for apex predator population control bureaucrats may wind up having to revisit dreaded gun ownership policies, because moving forward citizens will likely need a gun in order to safely venture out into the PNW wilderness where an ever increasing, unchecked apex predator population waits lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce.  What say you??? ... In any event, if you're living up in the Pacific Northwest consider yourself forewarned.  Forewarned is forearmed, be it armed with knowledge or otherwise (e.g., a gun, stick, whistle, horn, bells).  On this note, let me conclude with this parting thought:  Where exactly do you think you stand on the "food chain" and why?

[Btw, a group of bears traveling together is referred to as a "sleuth."  Obtained that piece of knowledge from the tv show "Zoo." This show addresses my concluding question above. It's a pretty cool show, thought provoking and action-packed.  They have three full seasons available to watch on demand.  If want to see a new apocalyptic take on the future that awaits us, have a look.  You might enjoy this show, as long the ideas behind the show remain within the realm of fiction, right?]

9/18/18 Talk radio on drive home today ... Apparently a New Mexico man out walking his dog along a trail was attacked by a bear.  The man is a hunter and happened to be caring his gun with him (a Glock 11).  According to the man, the bear "put his ears down and charged."  Fortunately, the man was able to position himself so that the bear took a hold of legs and not his head or arms.  This enabled him to reach for his gun and he shot the bear which wound up saving his life.  According to the host, the "moral of this story" is that "a Glock 11 will do the trick when it comes to taking down a bear."  Just FYI and you should also know, according to the host, this bear did not die.  The bear was wounded to the extent that he ceased his attack on the man who subsequently was able to survive, after Rangers found the man with unconscious bear's jaws still clamped around his leg.

Universe can be a pretty f****** cruel teacher at times???

One of the worst things about being sexually violated is that on some level it never completely leaves you.  It's always waiting there to rear its ugly head, when you least expect it, even years and sometimes decades later.  It isn't enough that they took something from you back then --a little piece of you that you'll never fully recover-- it affects the choices you feel comfortable making from that day forward in ways you couldn't even begin to imagine at the outset of your healing process. I guess, the question then becomes --at some point-- they took something from you back then, at the outset of your struggle, so are you going to allow their actions to continue to have power over you in the here and now, and evermore moving forward?

Here I thought I was done with my healing for the most part.  I mean I finished my degree, embarked upon a career path, managed to allow a man into my life, even married and was able to have three beautiful children.  So when I look back, I have to think I've come so incredibly far, right?  Then all of a sudden you find yourself face to face with an obstacle you hadn't even expected and the next thing you know your entire future depends upon your ability to rise above yet another challenge, and at a time of extreme stress which never bodes well for emotional/psychological outcomes.  The universe can be a pretty f******* cruel teacher at times, I think ... Least that's how I feel sitting here now with a bottle of wine. Good news is I'm completely exhausted.  Haven't slept more than 3.5 hours in 4 days.  Maybe my head and heart will clear after I crash?  Maybe I will find the courage to stay on the path yet again??????  Maybe I've come as far along the path as I'm meant to come .......

9/8/2018  After a few days contemplation, and some much needed sleep. My head and heart have cleared. I've decided, I'm not crazy for speaking up. For setting boundaries and declaring that my body is sacred. No one has a right to touch me, regardless of the circumstances, without my express consent. Maybe, I've been put here in this place and time and situation to speak up for others. To be a voice for those who don't have the experience or courage to speak up themselves? After consulting with a friend of mine in a similar profession, I've decided to write a professionally objective letter and then follow the chain of command. That way I have written proof of my objections should the need for subsequent legal action arise, which I sincerely hope it won't. But always be prepared, right? ... On another matter, speaking about "the Universe" got me to thinking a bit more about what I Believe.  These days people seem to be proponents of a God-centered perspective or a universe-centered perspective, as if the two are mutually exclusive?  Well, that's my experience/take anyway.  But upon finishing the above bottle of wine it occurred to me that God, or "The Creator" --which is my naming preference-- is actually THE enlightened consciousness that provides order amidst the all-encompassing chaos that IS the universe.  The Super Ego to the Id & Ego, if you will?  Think I'm onto something here????

9/21/2018  Well, I wound up having to remove myself from this particular situation.  I din't want to give in and leave, because initially I had thought that my perpetrators get to win again even all these years later.  Now, having chosen to step away from the situation --to leave-- I see now that I was meant to pursue an alternate path.  Moreover leaving this bad situation wasn't giving up, instead it was having the courage and faith to step BLINDLY into the unknown in order to be presented with an alternate path. I also think that the primary individual I had issues with was a perpetrator (S.B.) himself.  He kept finding ways to touch me and I could literally feel his negative energy and mal-intent emanating from him even in the absence of outright assault.  It was downright overwhelming and I shouldn't have to deal with that.  I tried to go through the chain of command to get help, but none was readily forthcoming.  So I'm not going to feel bad about myself for not being able to stick it out.  Life is too short to settle and "stick it out."  Sometimes, the bigger/better person is the one who finds the courage to walk away from a bad situation and not the one who tries to find a way to stick it out.

9/26/2018 We have a huge Graffiti whiteboard in our office where everyone has scribbled --still scribbles-- their favorite quotes. Some quotes are self-composed, while others are famously familiar.  Little dabs of colored artwork/doodles dot the huge board as well.  In sum, this board is a major source of daily inspiration for me, especially as my three beautiful daughters have each shared a little piece of themselves here with me.  As I am sitting here with tears in my eyes, utterly overwhelmed by emotion and grief I look up and I see these words scribbled in the top right hand corner of the board.  The words are written in the loopy cursive of my youngest daughter, in a bright nature-colored green.  The words read "Rage, Rage against the dying of the light, do not go quietly into that good night."  And suddenly, I realize that "quietly" pretty much sums up my existence here to date.  Quiet allows me to remain in the shadows, in silhouette where I cannot be seen, where I cannot be hurt. And it occurs to me that if I want things to change I have to be loud.  I have to fight, before surrendering ultimately to that long good night.  And just when I thought I no longer possessed the strength or will to move forward any longer, the storm clouds suddenly cleared and the way was before me.

In looking back over the events that have transpired this past month it occurs to me that most people merely pay lip service to a notion of attempting to understand and truly work with abuse survivors in any given environment (i.e., work or school).  They check the "I have listened" box --the "willingness" box-- and then they summarily dismiss all further needs of the abuse survivor, falling woefully short of offering any meaningful assistance.  I suppose this predictable response is due in large part to a general inability of most normal people to comprehend the triggers and the level of anxiety certain situations present to abuse survivors. After all, it's just easier to deal with "normal" people anyway, right? But when an abuse survivor does somehow manage to find an individual who not only genuinely listens, but someone who is further willing to take things a step further by actually putting words into meaningful action, it so genuinely empowering to people like me, people who are survivors of abuse, people who sometimes feel they are limited in the choices they can make towards the end leading a meaningful life and fulfilling their dreams.  God Bless these few, rare and genuine souls.  You truly help to make this world a better place!