Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Beginner Questions

Hello,

I first want to thank the list for the patience that they have shown regarding the numerous questions that I have and will have as I get more involved with the SFQ program. This type of help is really appreciated.

Maybe you guys/girls can help me clear some things up. When doing the Seven Steps is one step considered the left and right leg? So will my concentration be on dan tien for one step with the left and one with the right?

Another question that I had was in regards to the feeling of emptiness. How can you visualize energy columns, colors, focus on energy coming in and out of the body, keep thoughts from wondering, and at the same time still remain in the emptiness? Isn't emptiness not thinking of anything?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

Randy

Hi Randy,
One step per level, one step being either the right "or" the left, not two steps with each level. As it is an odd number, seven, your steps alternate, as you begin a second sequence.
"Emptiness" is a place or state of experience, not a vacuum.
Just follow the exercises and visualizations.
Your state of being will quiet as you continue to practice. Focus can become more natural, less of a thought process, or effort.

Not sure, this is covered in the materials or the forum.

Why is it important that we start this exercise with the left foot first? Does that have to do with "yin and Yang"?

Gallen,

Thanks for clearing that up. I was doing it wrong until now.

I'll follow your advice and focus more on the visualizations and the chi itself. SFQ turns me into a heater when I do it so it is easier to put my attention on the chi sensations. Feeling the chi also also helps the visualization.

Randy

Bluebird-
Does it actually say it is "important" to start with your left foot first? Or, just to start with your left first...
Yin/yang has to do with opposites, and balance. Right/left, up/down,in/out, expand/compress,etc.. The exercise starts on the left for one series,then starts on the right for the second series. There is balance in that larger cycle of 14 steps. You could consider "that" balance over the total time doing the exercise. I don't find it is that critical to keep track of. It is best to move slowly, relax, and immerse yourself in the exercise. I just finish the exercise, complete to whatever side I am on.

Oh! - Just to start with the left first.

Gallen, Thanks.

I was so concern of each 7 positions to move the energy that I don't even realize the complete cycle of 14 steps.

Another point clear, another positive step forward! Now if I could only just moving the energy and not my hands higer and higer with each steps, maybe the body will keep its balance better.

Think of grounding, or "into" the earth a bit, as opposed to standing "on top" of the ground, teedering... As your hands gather to move up, bring energy up from the earth, it grounds your position/balance, when you move your hands down the energy goes down, out the bottom into the ground again. As you shift your weight, move slowly, like a tai chi movement, finding your center on the support leg. Draw the leg you are lifting to that support leg, then lift it up, so you are moving up your centered and grounded position. Slowing down the movement helps you define the stability of the positions.

Yeah, this topic is ancient, but it's the best one that popped up in my search. I'm going to continue searching for other threads, but post my question on this one.

With seven steps:
Question 1: I'm not sure, but I think that, at times, I accidentally begin with the right foot instead of the left. Is there something to this?

Question 2: After 7 steps, we are to inhale one time focusing on the lower Dantien, exhale focusing on nothing in particular. If we do not complete the full list of exercises (start through 7 steps) should we also do this last breath in focusing on lower dantien exhale focusing on nothing in particular? For example, say I'm doing Joining of Yin and Yang and want to go into Harvesting at that point - should I do the last breathe in thing that would be done after Seven Steps?

Question 3: After The Harmony Of The Universe going into Seven Steps, what do we do with the energy ball we're holding?

Question 4: How long do you do Harvesting Qi if you're only doing a smaller session, of, say 10-15 minutes?

Thanks for your time : )

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

Thanks gallen for the response!

Question 1: Ok, my intuition was telling me that it was 'ok' if the right leg started instead of the left, but my brain was fussing about it.

Question 2: It's good to know what others do sometimes. I'm glad to know what you do! I had done this spinning-->energy pill with small universe, but I think I will now also incorporate it into the active exercises.

Question 3: Ok, I see now : ) That makes sense.

Question 4: Ok, cool : )

Thank you so much for your help!

All is Love
Curtis