Hi,
Question 1: Is there something to this? I would say no.
If you are aware of your start as you start, do as directed and start with the left. If not, no biggy, don't give it another thought.
Question 2: Bringing your focus 'back' to the lower dan tien as you finish exercises or meditations, is the practice(an ending to any meditation or active exercise). More often than not, you visualize the energy spinning in the lower dan tien, compress that and make and energy pill, tucking that away deep behind the navel. The way you mention of one breath there, and then a non thinking moment is related to this practice. It is a closure to your session. Variations of this practice are in many systems of qigong practice. Some systems do the ending movement found in the moving of yin and yang, as you hold the hands facing the lower dan tien, as a position to close in, or variations of that. It is a period on the sentence, or a 'centering' and focus to then move from again, in the case of the later in the moving of yin and yang. There is an underlying focus, on the lower dan tien in level I active. Coming to that focus within the exercise set, reinforces the work you doing in that dan tien, or center. The hand gesture can be an expression that helps you focus there, or move the energy there. All this said, in general, you can't ever go wrong finishing your sessions in the lower dan tien, compressing that spinning ball and storing it. The briefer version of bringing your breath and focus there, then thinking of nothing, if in the material(I don't recall that in particular), do it. Most times, one closes or finishes the otherway. Spending the time thinking of nothing is very valuable. It is a unique sensation in a guided practice. I always have felt emptiness there. It is done at the end of Rainbow meditation in level 4 too, for three or four minutes or so.(?) As you leave your previous activity, active or meditative, you were engaged in moving energy. Like running laps or something, and then you stop. The energy sensation, in my experience , is unique. Post movement. A feeling of energywork done, then just a great period of nothing,,,,letting everything go, but unique in its placement relative to your energywork done, perhaps due to the contrast. Almost like flipping a switch to instant emptiness.
Second part: Yes, I would always close at the lower dan tien, either as you mention, but more so, I would suggest the focus-spinning-compression-energy pill. You can, if you like, do the emptiness part too, if you like. Again, the bottom line is, bring your focus, to the lower dan tien as you finish,,,what ever. The most common closure being the energy pill routine. Whether you hold your hands there or not, as I mentioned earlier(post moving of yin and yang, left hand inside for men, right for women deal) is an option, but not really practiced in SFQ sessions. It is an aid perhaps, or training wheels that help you focus feeling there with a gesture. Moving the energy there with your mind is sufficient, and more the practice.
Question 3: If you look at the Harmony of the Universe, you don't have the ball, until you start another cycle of this movement. You finish, with that stretch, then come back to 'forming' a ball again. So, you do with the energy ball, as you did during the stretch! Where is it then? :-) (wisdom humor..) seriously,,,,when you finish harmony of the universe, you come to a beginning point of starting another movement. Instead of forming the ball again, to start another cycle of Harmony of the Universe, your hands come back to that same position, but don't make the ball. Rather, they simply come down out of that stretch, and smoothly transition, into the handmove of lifting energy up, palms up, as you transition into seven steps. Making a smooth transition with continuous flow of energy, is better than stopping and starting.
Question 4: Harvesting of qi, is a deal in itself. It is good to do, in and of itself, or parts of it, in and of themselves. Like massaging your ears. Follow the good better best measure of practice. The whole deal is 'best'. If you do a shorter version, I would say bare minimum , within harvesting, washing your face, and doing the whole head deal, combing, patting, ear massage. Then for the last move, do the cupping of the kidneys, and hold your hands there. This would be an acceptable shorter version, and just like spinning that lower dan tien ball of energy and making an energy pill, you see this shorter version, used after some of the meditations. Again, they are common closure movements in SFQ. I would always strive for 'best' if you can, and do the whole deal. If you are a beginner, but interested in a more in depth practice, cupping the body, as done in Harvesting qi, is very good, but you can skip that part and go right to the kidneys if you are short on time. The trunk twisting is like the ear massage,,,,good to do anytime. Again, you can just do the head part and kidneys, but it is 'better' to add these others. How long does adding those extra movements take? three minutes?? five? Seems like a short time requirement to do 'best'.
love,
gallen
