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Hi,

I'm a new student of SF Level 1. I've begun the active practices and meditations and I'm enjoying myself so far. I was hoping I'd be seeing and feeling the energy more by now. (I guess I'm just impatient)

My question pertains to Level 2. I'm wondering how many of you have practiced it at home, and how long you spent learning Level 1 before starting your study of Level 2? Is there a fixed time period? Is there some kind of internal feedback your level 1 practice should be resulting in that tells you you're ready for level 2?

thanks for any comments you can share. I'm looking forward to participating here as my Qigong practice grows.

Jay



Hey there, Jay, and welcome!

I am still learning SFQ myself. I began Level I in the fall of 2005 and I just started Level II a few weeks ago! I had the entire Deluxe Home Study, but I just was not ready to begin Level II until now.

I think it varies from person to person to some extent. Having said that, probably it should be at a minimum of 3-6 months, depending on the time spent in practice. If you are doing more than an hour a day, it might be closer to 3-4 months. If you are practicing less than an hour a day and/or not even every day, then it will be at least 6 months to a year before being ready for Level II, for many people.

And all of that still is somewhat personal and depends on other factors as well: other energy work before practicing SFQ, how sensitive to energy one is, etc.

From what you said, I would wait until you are feeling the flow of energy more.

I can understand the impatience. I have that sometimes myself when it comes to progress in this and in other areas as well. The main thing is to somehow get into the flow by realizing that it is the process that is important. Try to enjoy the process as much as possible.

First of all, I would drop the specific need to "see" energy . I have been practicing Tai Chi and Qigong of various forms for over 25 years. And I do not "see" energy. In Tai Chi pushing hands, we used to talk more about "hearing energy". And I think all of these things are very personal, and variable. Energy is happening. It is flowing. And you are already aware of it on some level.

It also depends on what blockages there are in your life and in your body.

There are many signs of both having blockages and also having them break up: gas escaping, the popping or cracking of joints, yawning (especially excess yawning), laughter and/or tears during practice and/or meditation, very cold extremities or very hot extremities--this is especially true if for example, one side is cold and one side is hot (e.g. a warm left hand and a cold right hand or visa versa), mucous or skin eruptions, sweating and so much more. Again, everyone is different and it all depends on where the blockages are, how long they have been there, what either caused them or is causing them now.

Some things that can help the process progress in many cases:

increase practice time and/or frequency,

try to get a few minutes every day during peak qi times (5-7 AM & PM for active exercise; 11-1 AM & PM for meditation, especially Small Universe),

if the blockages are primarily physical, do more active exercise,

if they are primarily mental, emotional or spiritual, maybe more meditation

diet changes can help--less meat and/or sugar if these are part of your diet in some cases, more fresh fruits and vegetables, especially local produce, and even some light juice "fasting" or other kinds of controlled fasting can help (none of that should be done without consulting your medical care professional, especially if you have kind of condition where fasting would be counter indicated and/or you are not familiar with fasting)

try to find "study buddies" to help support each other--this can be local and in person or phone/e-mail/snail mail buddies. For example, I know I need this I started an e-mail support list for California from people who attended the Triple Fortune Seminar this past November in SF, CA (and I am chagrined to note that I really have to send something out, as I am WAY behind! )
I also have been looking for local "buddies" and after putting the energy out the Universe for some months now, I am finally close to a success because of a recent sermon on qigong and spiritual healing I did at a Episcopal church my Jewish congregation meets at and partners with. People were very jazzed by the message and a few people actually already had an SFQ home study course! And I am getting more people to get it. I also got a good 'ol buddy of mine to order the materials. And so I am helping create more people to help support my journey as I also help theirs and help the world have more healing.

And that is another BIG, BIG way to help increase your progress, your being aware of the flow of energy and getting into Level II: you, I, we, all of us, MUST focus on the love, kindness, forgivness or to put it in one word, the compassion for all living beings. The best way to start that is to focus on family members, friends, loved ones in your life already (even pets and plants) EVEN while doing Level I. Think of the goal of not only helping yourself, but helping others. The more we focus on this, the more we uplevel our SFQ practice and all spiritual and energy practice.

This was a big deal for me at the Triple Fortune Seminar--this message that Chunyi Lin emphasized again and again.

I predict that the more anyone does this, the more they will progress in SFQ.

There are more things that can help, but these are a few. Feel free to PM me and I can share more with you if you want. Keep in mind, I am still a beginner and this is just my perspective. I just know these things help me. And of course, "patience, grasshopper" ! That is also key here. I have found the more I just try and enjoy the practice, the more I feel the energy.

I hope this helps and I look forward to sharing progress with you.

All the best for a New Year of healing energy!

Steve

P.S. Hakim also points out in the recent thread about seeing qi that the Small Universe practice can uplevel one's practice and experience the flow of energy. I agree. And I am going to go do a few minutes more right now (already did an hour of SU today, plus another 30 minutes of another SFQ meditation. But it is 12:53 PM, so I have a few "peak moments" left to get some more bang for a little buck (or maybe that is a little doe-- I always get the gender of these dear things mixed up!)

blessings,

Steve