Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ Spring Forest Qigong Alcohol and Qigong

The weirdest thing happened last night! Before I tell you, first let me say that I've only been practicing qigong for a few days(not SFQ - still waiting on my course to arrive). Anyway, my husband and I went to a dinner party and I had a couple of drinks. By the time I got home I was DRUNK! I can't believe it! I've had twice this much before and didn't get drunk. As a matter of fact, I was still light headed when I woke up this morning. And now have a horrible hangover. So...this brings up several questions.

1. Do you think it's possible that since qigong opens up our energy channels, and removes blockages that it removed my tolerance for alcohol?
2. Or maybe, since my energy is flowing more and there are less blockages, that the alcohol traveled faster throughout my body therefore causing its effect to be faster?

I don't know... just running thoughts by all of you who have been doing this for so long.

I did a search on 'alcohol' on this forum and found this from gallen: "It is also possible, after moving to higher levels of qigong practice, or other spiritual work, to feel a fairly immediate adverse effect from alcohol, that wasn't there before. Your tastes might change."

Do you think that is what happened to me? I know I certainly don't want it to happen again :-).

Here is my clear and undeniable belief, "Maybe". I'll share two of my experiences.

First, when I started SFQ I did it very intensely and regularly. Three to four hours a day, after the first few months. Then at the level III retreat, I heard Master Lin's story of using qi to move alcohol from his glass another. He was in a social situation and an old friend (I thought drinking buddy) wouldn't allow him to politely decline. Well, I then was with my friends during the holiday celebrations but now I didn't want to be the drinking to the excess that I had in previous year. I also didn't want to ruin my friends fun. So I tried what Master Lin did. I used my understanding of qi and move the alcohol from my glasses (yes I had several) and moved them to various other glasses. Well, I felt no effect that night; more than a little to my own surprise.

Now the second story, has to do with over eating. I'm over weight. Maybe not gigantic, but heavier than I believe is in my Best health interests. Well, one day I notice that unpleasant discomfort from having too much in my stomach. I recognized it as a message from the universe telling me what I should do. Well, I ate much better for the next several days. I then thanked the universe for the message, because I was eating and feeling better. I then asked the universe to give me a the message when I was not eating in a way that best supported myself. Well damn didn't the universe comply and send me the discomfort whenever I strayed, even a little. The feelings were way out of proportion to what my experience would dictate they should be. Well, after a few weeks of better and better eating, but still feeling discomfort I was wasn't quiet, calm, or thankful. I asked the universe to stop sending the messages. Then stopped and my eating reverted to old habits, and the pain didn't return until size and consumption warranted it.

So my answer is maybe. Maybe your stated and unstated request to the universe has provided you with guidance you can ignore and were not ready for. Perhaps you have grown unaccustom to drinking alcohol, and your bodies capacity has declined. This is a well know physioligical response. The body develops a greater capacity to process alcohol, the more and more regularly to consume it. Likewise you loose that capacity if you reduce your consumption habits. Or maybe someone just slipped you a micky.

You are perfection,
Iam2

This discussion of alcohol intake is interesting!I am in my third year of practicing SFQ and found myself gradually not feeling good after a glass of wine. So I stopped drinking altogether, much to the puzzlement of friends who thought a glass couldn't hurt and that may be I was being a bit extreme. So on last Thanksgiving, since I was at a friend's house, I thought I would take just a tiny sip of wine - just a couple of mouthfuls. Well, very quickly I began to feel weak and nauseated. The message for me is loud and clear:-) Now, when I go to parties, I bring along my own box of green tea and all is well! And my friends have quit asking questions and offering advice (but a glass of red wine is so good for you!!).
Another friend who practices SFQ has also lost her taste for alcohol.

But I still have not gotten a distaste for chocolate!! Do I want to ask the
universe?:-)

Best,
maura

Thanks Maura and Iam2. I appreciate you both sharing your experiences with me. This thing with the alcohol might be a good thing! :-). I hope others will decide to post replies as it would be interesting to see if this is a common occurance.

I had and am still having similar experinces. After practicing for about 3 months I developed an intolerance for alcohol and coffee. I have basically quit both. Maybe 5 drinks and 4 cups of coffee over the last 5 months. I tell people I quit by accident.

Recently I have found I can't handle very much red meat :-( The last 2 times I had steak I was miserable all night.

RodB

I have never liked alcohol much so I don't drink instead I would always have iced tea or a soda of some kind. I have found that since doing qigong and especially since the October retreat I no longer want to drink sodas. I used to have one a day at lunch and on rare days I would have a second soda. Now, I prefer to drink water.

Also, I really like Iced Tea and hot tea but have found myself chosing to drink Green tea (both iced and hot) as often and sometimes more often than black tea.

I don't crave sweets much any more and find that a couple of bites of a cookie is enough and it tastes too sweet. This is true for ice cream and chocolate too. There are even some fruits that taste "too sweet" after a few bites...like pineapple which I love.

The other factor that I find really interesting is that the amount of food I want to eat has decreased. I get full feeling quickly. So I am finding I enjoy "lighter" foods such as salads more frequently or I only want one half of a sandwich.

Sorry this post is not about alcohol specifically but there are some of the changes I have experienced around eating since begining to practice SFQ.

Blessings
Nickie

Hi,
Yes I too have had a similar experience with SFQ. I used to enjoy a social glass of red wine or two and, because I don't live too far from Scotland - the odd whisky! I now can't take it at all. Wine gives me pains in my elbows - weird! and even the smell of whisky puts me right off.
I now enjoy a glass of water or a herbal tea.
I'm still battling with weight - mainly savoury stuff not chocolate - but have definitely become much more moderate in my consumption and am having much more green stuff. My house rabbit likes the change!
Love and light
Faune