Hi Lynn-marie,
I was delighted to see your occupation. My educational bkgrnd was sculpture. I have been a practicing artist for 30 yrs. Different medium though, than my beginnings.
Now,,,talk about a sham!! Art certainly shot itself in the foot with conceptual art. When Marcel Duchamp signed that urinal, and put it in a museum, art started going downhill, in my book. I understand why that 'is' art, but I chose a more traditional set of values in my own work. I like the object, and I also like craftmanship and technique. It is a visual medium, and sometimes, with conceptual art, the words(conceptual statement) are more than the image. Much more!! Qigong, did not shoot itself in the foot. It exists today, as it did in the beginning. Some place the practice, some 4000-5000 years ago. Some place it as concept, at the time of creation.
Don't get hung up on the part that seems unbelievable. You are new to this old practice. You can engage with qigong on a very practical level, and experience concrete truth in its benefits. You will learn how to relax, slow down, experience stillness, perhaps, and also, how to quiet the mind. Start there,,,that's alot. There is great benefit, to you, and your artmaking, bringing these qualities into your life.
When you get your 'ideas', or have your visions of work to make, they will be uncluttered, and you may start to see greater purpose , within the creative process. This isn't just about healing, although one can put that template on just about anything, as a way to describe improvement and positive growth.
Think of the artistic process... I love the Chinese concept of one's thoughts being 'yin'. They exist in your mind's eye, but are intangible. At some point, if you choose to, or have the 'intention', you manifest this 'idea'. It then exists in three dimensional space. A mini version, (very mini(!)), of how the universe was created. I love the Hopi creation story, speaking of the Creator, having a 'thought', of the physical universe, then manifesting it. Quite a piece of sculpture! So, you have this sequence, in creation, or creating as an artist, of an idea or thought, then , seeing it in this dimension as an existing object. Qigong selfhealing, or healing others, employs the same process. Inner vision, and manifesting that inner vision. There are techniques and method to employ, that make this possible, just as you make art.
Qigong , is very new to the west. Currently, things like accupuncture, or yoga, are quite readily accepted, and have made great strides in mainstream acceptance. I would hope you agree, that these two things are useful, and beneficial. Qigong, is like a grandparent to accupuncture. Same concepts, without the needles, regarding the physical part. The term is not as familiar as these other two I mention. Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM), is one of a few contributors, to qigong method. Other sources are Buddhist, Taoist, and also, martial arts. There is a spiritual aspect too. You don't have to engage with that part, if you aren't comfortable with it. Tai Chi, that slow moving martial art form, is a form of qigong. Very good for your health, and also, a martial art. Spring Forest is a form of qigong that focus's on self healing and healing others. The physical benefits are similar to practicing, say, Tai Chi, although much more simple to attain physical benefit through. The healing focus, elevates the practice, as this is a very high intention.
Approach this as a physical practice. Start there. Stay there if you like,,,whatever. Don't look at the part that seems an unlikely possibility. Start at the beginning, and learn more about what it is, through experience with it.
By the way, my favorite sculptor is Gian Lorenzo Bernini. When I see his work, I see and experience a direct connection to heaven, and heaven's support of creativity.
I saw a verse the other day, that really drew me in. " Bessed is creation, and blessed is the love that sustains it." As an artist, I slipped into the void with that one...
I hope you engage with qigong, and experience the concrete physical benefits. If you do, the other aspects that may seem more improbable, will seem less so. Who better to discern its value than you? It sounds like you are trying it out. Stop thinking about the part that seems questionable to you, and just do the practice. This is how you experience what it is, and can make your own decisions.
love,
gallen
