Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Hospice Volunteer Work

This is my first time posting. I've studied Level 1 and Level 2, and I love this practice of Qigong. I'm quite new to energy work. I've been studying Spring Forest Qigong for about a year, and when I attended Master Lin's classes two months ago, I really started to feel the energies.

I've been a hospice volunteer for 4 years, and have enjoyed giving comfort to people at the end of life, and also to their families. I'm not there to heal the patient. However, I'd like to give something through Qigong, something like comfort, peace, rest. But I don't know how to go about it. What I've done so far, is just send some energy to the heart and kidneys. I did not try to remove blockages.

I don't want to prolong their life or suffering. But I very much want to give those things I mentioned before. This is in addition to the things the patient already gets from hospice, pain medication, etc.

Any advice about this will be appreciated. Thank you.

Absolutely lovely first post. I hope some of the experience people here can give some advice.

Sending love,
Iam2

Hi Anita,
What wonderful work you are doing. I completely understand what you are saying, when you say you are not there to heal the patient. I consider what you are doing, very high level, insightful work. You couldn't be studying a better system of qigong in regards to your supporting your growth and development in this area. I believe in the future, this type of work will be more common, and also, the people in transition will be more tuned in too. As things are today, many people need help with this. A large number of people sitting in nursing homes also comes to mind, as an area where there is much work to do in improving their state of being. Sending energy to the heart is very good. Master Lin has said that everyone's soul is beautiful. The soul resides in the heart. This, for me, is felt and seen, very deeply. One can think of the heart as a mechanical organ, or an emotional center, but when you go deep, and connect to soul, there is great beauty and powerful experience. Soul to soul, our common oneness in God. I had an experiencerecently, after the level 4 retreat, while sitting in meditation, being very big, reaching out over someone in another state, and channelling light from my soul to theirs. It was an expression of love, that felt very good. I don't know what else to say about it... I offer it as a perspective on what the heart can be, as you visualize and help someone. I think that the comfort and peace you speak of can be effected at that depth of connection. The light in the soul, is of course, connected to the source too. It can be a triangulation of relations in an awareness of truth, or simply that oneness. I don't see clearing someone's heart as a physical organ, working the same way. This is hard for me to express, and I just offer my experience with hard to find words. I know, from what I feel from your post, that you are doing good work, and that you don't have to be concerned about your technique or effectiveness. You should pursue SFQ through 3 and 4, with Master Lin. Especially with this purpose you are pursuing. Level 4, in particular deals with many applicable things. It would be hard and inappropriate to try and convey the content online, aside from the fact that for me, as a student, I need to practice , and try to understand it at a higher level, not teach it at this point!
Know that we have a soul, and, a spirit. The spirit is further divided into higher and lower spirits, yin and yang. The higher, also dwell in the area of the heart. I first thought that feeding the kidneys might not be critical, but the more I think about it, it makes sense. Which further tells me you are right on track. Feeding the kidneys is key in helping the physical body. In the end of one's life, having the body strong, to process this change, would be important. This would also, I would think, help the 'spirit' of someone. The worse their physical experience in making this transition, the more drain on one's spirit. I think you are doing great. I don't have to know the specifics. I can't stress enough, how much SFQ is made for souls like you, and that you should start seeing yourself as taking the level 3 and 4 courses, with Master Lin. In the meantime, trust your instincts. You are doing really important work.
love,
gallen

Thank you IAM2 and Gallen for your welcome to me and your encouragement to me.

To Gallen: Yes, I most definitely want to go on to the higher levels now, especially since you gave me a hint of what's contained there! Sounds as if it's going to be very harmonious with beliefs I already have about Soul and Spirit.

It hadn't occurred to me to think of the patient's heart as the seat of Soul when I was giving energy. My current patient is right on the verge of leaving this life, but is still hanging on. I've visited several times recently, and each time while she sleeps, I talk to her inwardly, sending encouragement and love. It felt right to put some Qigong in there too. We were alone in the room, and I was doing everything I could think of for her.

Thanks for your statements, where you said: <<In the end of one's life, having the body strong, to process this change, would be important. This would also, I would think, help the 'spirit' of someone. The worse their physical experience in making this transition, the more drain on one's spirit.>>

That makes sense to me. It sure fits in with the philosophy of hospice too.

Thanks again for your encouraging words to me. I'm glad to have found this bulletin board, since I live quite far from the Twin Cities.

With love,
Anita

Anita, I’m glad you inquired about hospice. I have been involved with hospice for almost two years and know where you are coming from. I have also practiced other energy work such as Reiki but have always been drawn to Qigong. I am new to this form a Qigong and definitely I like what I see so far and feel it is an invaluable tool in promoting health in myself as well as others.

I have always had the question in the back of my mind or caution when dealing with patients due to medications and what not. For example I have always heard that when helping someone who is going to have a form of surgery that it is better to do healing before and or after but not during. This I understood for various reasons why it was important not to interferer with the surgery its self and any medication being used. In dealing with Hospice patients it is always in the back of my mind how much energy work and how much caution is necessary.

It also occurred to me, and Master Lin mentioned this also that others around you including your surroundings benefit from your energy. So just by the internal work you are doing and your presence you are promoting healing. I know that my feelings of compassion when I look into the depths of my patients eyes is,,, well there is a connection there at a soul level that is hard to put into words. I’m sure you have experienced this and I guess my point is that there is a level of healing going on there that does and goes beyond the cloudiness of our doubtful judgment on the what to do's or how to's. So while you build your energy you have more to share and really do not have to do much but be there compassionately.

In situations where someone is in pain, well let your intuition be your guide. I say this for myself as much as for you. One approach could be to call in your Masters, guides, healers to assist in alleviating and removing the pain. I would ask for assistance from your guides there guides ect as to direct the energies where it is most needed. My first impression would be caution in focused energy to kidney or other organs that may prolong the battle within the body. Check your heart and intuition here. In certain circumstance it may be warranted and certainly sending to the heart could not hurt. Remember that the energy is not coming from you but from all around you, universe, GOD ect draw from this vast resource so that your energies do not get depleted.

test attempt to reply to a post....

Asending1,
I agree with your perspectives, but question the "battle in the body" concept. I see this as a non desirable view of a possible better state of being at that time in transition. Of course, any work has to be measured, or guided by loving intention, and the higher spirits help directing one's work, whether one is conscious of this, or not. Or, rather help get the energy you are giving, even if specifically directed, to the right places. As long as you ask for help, as you do your work, to have your work help this person in a healing way, you are asking that your work not be inappropriate in any way, hence, filtered through that working relationship with the master's energy. One either knows what one is doing, or, one can get help to make sure everything one is doing will be ok for the person you are helping. The whole approach is more intuitive too, of course, as opposed to a clinical standard approach of say, always doing 5 minutes of sword fingers to the kidneys, of every person in this situation. Sometimes it will be appropriate, sometimes not, but working through the master's energy and being in the present with each 'individuals' situation will bring about what it brings about. I would not want someone to experience a battle within the body, at any time. Remember too, that the overall purpose or intention has to do with helping someone elave, not healing them. This also 'colors' the overall work, regarding what you might do with specific organs. I like, very much, your mentioning the simple presence of a qigong healer/practioner's energy, and what that does to the energy the place.
love,
gallen

Thank you for your comments, Gallen and Ascending1. I'm glad to have the reminder to ask for guidance each time. I don't always remember that one. Specific guidance about where to send the energy-- yes, I can use that guidance at the time! I'm going to especially remember that as I do more healing work with people who are not hospice patients.

This path is very exciting to me. I never thought I'd be able to feel energies. But I do now. It's like a whole new world.

Love, Anita

Thank you Gallen, for clarifying the battle analogy and your insightful wisdom. I admit it is not a good analogy to subscribe to but unfortunately in some cases that is exactly what is going on, the bodies systems are failing and life is slipping away. Hospice is there to help make the transition as painless and comfortable as possible. As you alluded to, hospice is not there necessarily to prolong life although it is not out of the realm to have patients go into remission or even get better and be removed from the program. What a joy that is for all involved when that happens. With that in mind I try to take a compassionate approach to the situation I try not to judge what I see and the battle analogy is not in the forefront of my mind. There is too much unknown to try and determine what should and shouldn’t be. A person may just be hanging on so to speak to complete unfinished business or who knows what. Any help that assist them on this level is a blessing in and of its self. I am there to support and offer support in anyway that fits the situation or that I am guided to. My hope is to be more consciously tuned into the guidance and the signs and be of service and take action as appropriately needed.

I’m glad to be apart of the sharing and offer something that could help you Anita. Thank you both for I find that as I clarify the thought process and share I also learn for myself as well.

Love & light to you both as well.

[This message has been edited by Ascending1 (edited September 23, 2003).]

ditto....
I am learning too. Sometimes, when you write something down, you can see certain held beliefs, like the battle within the body idea, that just don't seem to be right anymore. They can be transformed or released, just like a physical blockage.

Everyone learning SFQ, that is currently engaged in healing work, like you Asending1, and Anita, are breaking new ground, bringing qigong into hospice work. You are defining a new approach, and are somewhat on the front lines,,,and, will help define it. I just caught the phrase as something that would be good to change. It is a common phrase connected to people in that stage of dying. You two are doing the work, and I have alot of respect for you both.

One great aspect of qigong study, is that it brings one a greater awareness of truth.
If something isn't connected to truth, it sticks out like a sore thumb.
love,
gallen