7Qi Essentials: Qi 1 - The Body

What is your body?

• A living body being is magical! For 200,000 - 300,000 years Homo Sapiens (humans) have existed. Count a generation as about 25 years and we have already had 10,000 generations. So 10,000 generations knew how to “make” children. And still science, which comparatively of course is still quite young cannot 'build' an independent living body.
• So it takes more than substances and DNA to create a living body. Life energy! A living sperm cell and egg cell fuse, and from a new living being. But how exactly life energy and 'substances' and DNA fuse and lead to a unique new being with its own talents and personality remains a mystery.
• No body (nobody) is the same! What exactly causes DNA expression in infinite variation is unknown. Although the DNA code is becoming more and more clear.
• We do know the 'parts' (physiology), and have known for many centuries that our behavior (nutrition/movement/emotions/thoughts) influences our body development. We now know that some parts of your DNA are active and others are not, and that behavior, thoughts and trauma cause specific changes/abnormalities in your nervous system (neuroplasticity). You can influence this proces (DNA: epigenetics, and nervous system: neuro-plasticity) with behavior and meditation!
• Science describes a body in material form. As a material “bag” of bones, muscles, nervous system, organs, blood, oxygen and other substances. You can study its functioning. Useful because then you can influence it. But that doesn't make it a living being with its own unique appearance! 7Qi therefore looks at the body in a broader sense.
• Allopathic medical science is actually reactive. Symptoms in your body are influenced, modified or suppressed. But your body consists of an enormous number of interrelated processes. The true cause of illness may lie elsewhere. A holistic approach looks at coherence and possible causes.
• You are not your body but you have a body. It is constantly changing! Those who look in the mirror see an ever-changing body over the years. But even daily, yes every second things change in your body. Tissues and substances are replaced. Skin, hear, and even parts of organs. Change is the only constant!
• It changes because of external conditions (environment, temperature, oxygen, etc.) but also because of you! Your own behavior. Which in turn depends on other energy forms within yourself.
• Vedic Texts (Hindu texts from present-day India) from 3,000 years ago described the relationship between body and other chakras (energy centers) as an interrelated system. This roughly corresponds to the 7Qi system (Qi is energy) in which the Chakra system is connected with current scientific understanding. The body is the “carrier” of these energy centers. Or perhaps the body forms itself within these energy centers.
• All your Qi : body parts, emotions, convictions, feelings, mind, soulvoice and spirit/inspiration are connected to your body. They (shape) your body and they emanate from it. Disturbances in your Qi cause bodily effects resulting in deformation, disease or even death.

Examples of Qi Coherence/influence:

• Negative experiences and beliefs: Sad experiences can lead to negative thoughts that take hold as limiting beliefs in the subconscious mind, which can cause harmful behavior patterns such as overeating and trigger a destructive cycle that harms the body.
• Ego protection: The ego may unconsciously create protective mechanisms, such as holding on to weight to prevent further pain or abuse. But being overweight has physical risks.
• Physical performance and pitfalls: In sports, people often strive for peak performance, but ego-driven beliefs (e.g., the pressure to win) can cause injuries and mental blocks.
• Disturbed balance in the body: harmful bacteria, viruses but also negative emotions or beliefs can cause physical imbalance which e.g. disturbs the cell replacement process and defense mechanisms, causing diseases.
• Healing through positive influences: Positive thoughts, inspiration, dietary changes, adequate sleep and herbal remedies can contribute to healing, although medical supervision remains essential.
  Mental focus and disease: Focusing on healing rather than finality (of life) can positively influence recovery and disease progression and even length of life.
• Mental focus and disease: Focusing on healing rather than finality (of life) can have a positive impact on recovery and disease progression and even length of life.
• Impact of beliefs on health: Shame, guilt, anger and victimization disrupt the body; there is little scientific research on these links but the connection is there!
• Placebo effect and belief systems: More research on the placebo effect and the power of reprogramming belief systems could provide valuable insights and health care savings. A shaman once told me, “It is strange that in your Western world there is not more research on placebo effects. A placebo, the reprogramming of belief systems can be so powerful! And it can bring huge savings in your health care costs in the West!”. Then adding calmly: but here we work with spiritual (inspiration) forces....
• Personally, I think he is right! We research drugs and placebos to look for scientific evidence that a drug works as intended. But perhaps it would be wise to do more research on placebo as such. I would invite “modern” medicine to not just focus on debunking as quackery, but to do more scientific research on the body/mind connections! If it works it works!

What are "symbolic" meanings of your body?

Why would you want to know a symbolic meaning? Your subconscious mind often works with images and symbols. A kind of summary of a combination of things, feelings you had with them, or ideas and beliefs you have with them. This "combined" storage makes your brain efficient, but, unpacking of deep stored information can be challenging. Symbols can be 'triggers' for this unpacking. Once a symbol comes to the surface or appears in your consciousness (e.g. during therapy sessions), it can help to clear up confusion, create clarity or bring desires or fears into focus. Or to bring concrete life goals into focus.

I list some commonly used symbolic meanings of Qi1-Body:

Embodiment (matter expression).

First, a body symbolizes something “concrete. Matter or form. But something can also be associated with behavior. E.g. He embodies the idea of a rock in the surf. Or a black bird from the right means bad luck. Or a wall means being locked out or enclosed.

Intimacy

An obvious symbolic meaning is intimacy. Touching or being touched. Warmth or reassurance from a hand on your shoulder. This is different from lust/sex (a negative connotation. That doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy sex of course! Conscious enjoyment can also be a meaning).

Perception and limits

Your body is the boundary between you and your environment. A symbolic meaning of a body for you may also be that you want to limit, or indicate more clearly boundaries.
It can also be a limiting perception of something you cannot actually see. A “ghost” as a visible frightening energy, a color or colored object or substance (metal/wood) as an expression of a feeling.

Safety & Health

Safety can also be symbolically associated with body. Outside your system there is chaos, uncontrollability, or sometimes even danger. Withdrawn into your body, you can feel safe. You know that, you feel that. So seeing or experiencing your body can evoke feelings of safety or security or, for example, health (feeling good).

Home & Finance

Your body is your home. Your enclosure. Your temple or vehicle. So symbolically your body can be related to e.g. how or where you want to live, whether you need less or more (indoor) space, or just being outside. Contact or seclusion.
Money is energy. What matters is what you do with it. Your body is also symbolically a representation of (financial) security. Whether you can provide for yourself. Or whether you are dependent on others. Or, conversely, how much attention you give to a healthy body.

Family/generational support

A final symbolic meaning may be family. You are literally descended from your parental family. Your parents conceived you, but you also feel physically related to your siblings. Or even to other members of your family system.
More spiritually, it can also mean generational support. Support from deceased family members. In your own family tree, but perhaps also from your soul-mates. Your soul-mates.

Any meaning is possible!

The above are common symbolic interpretations of (your or someone else's) body. But it is of course possible that you have very different associations. By definition, that is never “wrong” and just your personal “truth. The point is that Qi-1 Body (physical and energetic) can have meanings for you that can help you.

Working on your body

Maybe you “don't feel good about yourself,” or even sick and suffering from physical complaints. Or maybe you want to grow old in good health for as long as possible. A body is something of many 'balances' (which can be disturbed). Therefore it is important to take good care of your body and to take complaints or illness seriously, and in the latter case to consciously work on healing.

The essence of 7Qi is that all 7Qi interact! So you can work on your body itself but also on your other 6Qi. e.g. even through inspiration (creative therapy) or cognitive therapy or through movement or massage with simultaneous emotional release (crying, shouting etc.) you can promote physical recovery.

Realize that stress is disease and cause of death no. 1! (and many related behaviors unhealthy behaviors such as addiction, “over”-working etc.).

Medical science, influenced by insurers, politics and the profit motive of pharmaceutical companies, focuses more on disease control than on actual healing. And employers could work towards more sustainable working relationships through stress management.

But ultimately you are responsible for your life choices. They can and will affect your health! How much responsibility do you take on your shoulders? Can you set boundaries (or why not?). Do you take suppressive medications or do you actually work on your health?

Maintenance

This 'checklist' can be meaningful for keeping your body healthy

• Healthy diet or ayurvedic/tuned diet.
  Limit or eliminate processed foods, alcohol, soda, sweet drinks, sugars/sugary snacks).
• Supplements (preferably on therapist's prescription): e.g., in winter: vitamin D/zinc and/or multivitamins.
• Detox and fasting (e.g. intermittent fasting / 3-day abstinence [consult your doctor!] / other detox programs
• Diets (independent or supervised e.g. Keto diet, Mediterranean diet, Vegan or vegetarian diet, Low-FODMAP diet). A nutritionist or organizations can help you. Beware of often moderate nutrition advice on social media!
• Drink enough water!
• Get enough sleep! (8-9h a day) and
• Minimize or eliminate smoking or narcotic/addictive substances
• Reduce (work) stress! (stress is disease cause number 1 !)
• Say goodbye to toxic relationships
• Build in me-time: being (able to be) alone and seeking relaxation (reading, walking, being in flow with a hobby)
• Reduce screen time! (phone/binge-watching/hanging in front of your television)
• Relaxation with friends or meaningful activities (volunteering): compassionate-togetherness
• Body Massage (weekly)
• Meditation (silence, guided or with sound: singing bowls, chakra frequencies or bin-aural beats)
• Yoga and mantra/singing
• Sports (not obsessive!)
• Keeping a journal/diary
• Relaxation (!) together with family or friends (very healthy!)

Therapy

• General practitioner / medication consultation
• Medical specialist / hospital consultation
• Orthomolecular consultation
• Body/mind therapy
• Heart coherence exercises
• Psychotherapy
• Life-coaching
• Physical therapy
• Guided Yoga / Retreat
• Light therapy (red light therapy - mitochondrial function)
• Ice bath (Wim Hof) therapy
• Breathwork / therapy
• Shamanic consultation
• Gemstone / essential oil treatment
• Trauma massage
• (Ectatic) dancing and singing
• Creative therapy (painting, music)
• Reiki treatment
• Sound therapy
• Theta healing