Whether we consider the green chair, the red world or both, to relate to Qi this gives us an interesting perspective with which to explore what Qi is…

What is Qi?

The normal response when you ask the question ‘What is Qi?’ is either a blank expression or something along the lines of energy or life force. If you do a Google search for ‘What is Qi’ the definition that appears is:

qi/CHē/ Noun:  ”The circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine”.

The problem that occurs is that the concept of Qi that sits within Chinese culture goes far deeper than is initially apparent. The definition of Qi does not really fit into a convenient little box; it’s a concept that is too big for a simple definition.

This is not to say that the definition above is wrong, it’s actually very accurate. The problem is that it’s not complete. It’s a bit like describing a dog as ‘a domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) that typically has a long snout, an acute sense of smell, and a barking, howling or whining voice.’ It provides a good idea of what we are talking about but the understanding of what a dog actually is, the experience of being around the dog or being aware of Qi goes far deeper than a dictionary definition.

Everything we do in life can be viewed in terms of Qi. When we take time and care to prepare a wonderful meal it is said that we have put good Qi into the food; when we breath we can consider the process of respiration in terms of drawing breath Qi into the body. It is a concept that helps us to notice the subtle information that surrounds us at all times.

Coming back to the analogy of the red world, everything in our world and beyond can be considered in terms of Qi.  Qi can be viewed as an invisible force that exists in everything and from this perspective we can draw strong comparisons with the colour Red in the red world analogy. Regardless of the process or technique that has introduced the ‘Green Chair’ into our ‘Red World’ we can either choose to look at the ‘Green Chair’ or sit in it and look back out at the ‘Red World’ and marvel at the subtle information that surrounds our entire lives but we are so familiar with that we choose to ignore it.

What is the importance of Connection in Relation To Our Emotional Wellbeing?

Taking time to sit in the ‘Green Chair’ could be considered to be taking time to observe the connections that exist between things. It’s all too easy in our everyday lives to ignore the subtle ripples that move out from the actions of others, or ourselves. We can find it easier to be within our own little bubble, focusing inwards and feeding our own stories and perspectives.

All too often the perspective we have when looking inside is riddled with judgments, assumptions about the good and the bad, the right and the wrong but when we expand our intention and awareness beyond our own stories and simply observe without judgments we find a far more balanced view, a far less emotive and fraught reality that is less conducive to the slippery slope of emotion based response.

Ultimately when we talk about the importance of connection to our emotional wellbeing we are talking about taking time to simply be, without judgment and without worry. Using Qi as part of our reference framework helps us to understand that some things are too subtle, too all-pervading to be categorised, quite often it is better to accept our observations without trying to explain or analyse them, after all; the time it will take to apply logic and understanding to a past event prevents us from enjoying the current moment.

What are your experiences of Qi?

We’d love to hear your views and experiences, so please leave a comment in the box below.

Browse John Millar’s workshop … Qigong for Mindfulness

Mental Health Awareness is a subject close to our hearts so it got me thinking …

Do antidepressants affect our psychic ability? Do they inhibit our psychic development?

And just how much do mental health issues affect our psychic and spiritual development?

I wouldn’t describe myself as someone with any special psychic ability. I just pick certain things up.

I understand that we all have some psychic ability within us if we’re prepared to open ourselves to the possibility of psychic ability or psychic development.

Here’s my experience in brief …

My father died just over three years ago. In short, I struggled to handle my grief and the aftermath of watching some one I really loved dying in a not very nice way and over a  seemingly long period of time.

After about 9 months, I went to see my GP. I gave him my symptoms: “I can’t sleep, I don’t want to talk to anyone, go out or do anything. My post is piling up. But I’m not depressed. I just need to sleep. I don’t want antidepressants.”

It took us two appointments to get down to the fact that I really was depressed and still grieving. And for me to acknowledge the awful fact that me, a spiritual person, might need a bit of help with antidepressants. I felt so ashamed. However, this is not my point here. Stigma about mental health issues is another topic!

When my GP suggested antidepressants, my first question was: “Look, I don’t expect you to believe in all this stuff. But I’m doing some psychic development work. Are antidepressants going to affect my psychic ability?”

His response: “Hmm. They might do. But they might also make it easier for you to tap into yourself and your psychic ability. You may notice some difference, but it could be better than where you are now. So it could enhance your psychic development.”

Well, I nearly fell off my chair! How blessed was I to have such a sympathetic GP. One that could even entertain a discussion about how antidepressants could affect pyshic ability. And no, I don’t think he was just humouring me!

So I did go down the antidepressant route for a while.

My experience with psychic stuff that I was used to picking up? Nothing changed. I’d expected to feel a bit blunted, numb even. Nope.

Did my psychic ability grow during this time? Nope. But I didn’t even try to develop it. I didn’t feel inclined to do any psychic development. Now I don’t know if this was the result of taking antidepressants or just a case of focussing more on my mental health issues.

Many psychic workshops ask you if you’re on antidepressants before you sign up. I don’t disagree with this. I believe that anyone running a workshop needs to be aware of any mental health issues that people may be experiencing. Only in the interests of the welfare of the participant and the capability of the tutor to handle mental health issues.

So what do you think? Do antidepressants affect your psychic ability? Should you attend or even be “allowed” to participate in psychic development workshops if you’re on antidepressants or have mental health issues?

We’d love to hear your views and experiences, so please leave a comment in the box below.

Warm wishes

Jude

In the past, I’ve always ignored these strong signals. Instead, I used my conscious mind to find the answers I needed when I was feeling so strange. But recently, I’ve started to review my sense of intuition and learn to trust it implicitly … which is quite scary!

Last December I started to get a very strong premonition that something big was going to happen. And sometime soon. My intuition was speaking to me. I was pacing up and down my London home like a caged animal. And all of a sudden on December 20th, on my way to the airport to catch my plane to go and spend Christmas in Italy with my partner and my family, I burst into tears for no reason. That was very strange as I’m not the kind of person that normally cries.

When I get to Italy, the atmosphere around me felt a bit surreal and I was confused for days. I had a few issues around Christmas but nothing so serous to justify all that internal turmoil.  New Year’s Eve was pretty good. But a few days later, the atmosphere around me started to get heavy again.

I started to have some arguments with my partner about our future plans and my mother fell ill. After 10 days in hospital, I had to face the fact that my mother wasn’t able to look after herself anymore and a care home was the only option for her.

And then my relationship crumbled.

All this was totally unexpected  … or was it? My intuition had clearly alerted me. Or I had a premonition? The main thing is, I didn’t use my intuition to prepare me for a “something” that was going to happen or a premonition of something about to occur.

A good friend of mine seems to know when people are going to die or are seriously ill. She won’t greet you on the street and think “oops, you’re going to cross over soon” or “get yourself to a hospital quick.”

Her intuition warns her when passing away is imminent only for close family and friends. At first, she wasn’t too keen on this “gift”. She saw it rather as a curse.

But the way she rationalised to me, makes sense. If you know, sense, intuit that something is going to happen, it’s your higher-self, the Universe, God (what and whoever you believe in) giving you the possibility to positively impact the people or events surrounding you and you yourself.

It may be that your intuition allows you to better prepare yourself for upcoming events. Or your intuition allows you to subtly help prepare others in background … without acting as soothsayer or prophet of doom of course!

So, I’m learning. Always work in progress. But how do you react to a non-specific sense of intuition or vague premonition?

Please share your experiences with us as it may help others.

Rob

We talk about priorities and she puts everything else in front of herself. She constantly helps others because they have lost the ability to say ‘no’. She’s signed up for coaching or a workshop to make changes because she wants to improve her life but is frightened to do so in case she lets the side down.

She’s so busy planning and organising for other people that when it’s her time the only thing with any appeal is sleep. However, even that’s used up by the chattering monkey brain and she wakes up tired and yet again, soon becomes ill. Too busy though to admit to being poorly, she hides it with the clever use of make-up and painkillers. Having a migraine is her ‘normal’ state of being. The guilt sets in.

Why has she let this happen? We have supposedly created lifestyles of ease but we run ourselves ragged to fit more in?

I asked another client: “How do you nurture yourself?” She burst into tears. Tears of frustration, anger, and sadness that accompany that general malaise of guilt that so many women live with, all the time.

Apart from the whizzing about being super-human they have to worry about their hair, weight, shape and everything else they think they are being judged by. These fears seem valid when you can’t pick up a paper or magazine without noticing all the features seem to focus on looks instead of talents.

So not only does Ms Fab have no time for herself or her ideas, she has to worry about her appearance to such a degree that she denies herself the pleasure that only a piece of chocolate can provide. And guilt sets in again. Even glancing in the mirror can invoke panic in case there is a new laugh line; if only she could remember the last time she really laughed.

You might think this only applies to women. You’d be wrong. Mr Fab worries that he should be home more or work harder to earn more. He too is tired and worn down.  Life has him by the proverbial balls with a vice-like grip that he cannot escape. He knows he can’t win.

Mr and Ms Fab, unhappy but doing their best to fit in. Someone once suggested meditation – ha, enough of that hippy talk! Imagine what the neighbours or work colleagues might think. “Nurture yourself? When?”.

This has to stop. One thing I say, a lot (apparently) is, ‘if the oxygen masks come down on the plane, you must put on your own before helping anyone else.’

Transfer this to life. If you run yourself into the ground you’re no good to anyone. You have to nurture yourself.

Read the following words, roll them around slowly and feel them in your mouth as you notice the sensations in your body: love, caress, indulge, relax, soothe, bliss, sensual, bathe, dream, breathe, soft, melt, loose, comfort, sigh.

Just saying them will have an affect and begin to dissolve any built up stressand guilt in your body. At the same time the words will calm your mind.

Here is my ABC mantra for self-care and to help you nurture yourself. Please try it out:

• Adore yourself
• Believe in yourself
• Create the life of your dreams

Simples. Oh, and if you fancy it, laugh out loud and eat the muffin. The triple choc, if that’s your fancy. Ditch the guilt!

Barbara x

Yes, he does reference a book that helped his weight loss. But this is more than just a story about a book to help weight loss and alcohol addiction. It’s about determination and one man’s journey to be the person he wants to be.

We’re sure you’ll understand that because of his work situation in somewhat precarious times, he’s unable to identify himself in person.

However, if after reading this, you’ve got questions or comments you’d like to make, please post them and we’ll make sure that he responds to you.

For the moment, let’s call him Angelo. And now Angelo’s story in his own words and the hope that this’ll inspire others!

“I live at home with my Italian parents. Last September I finally managed to have peace and quiet at home while they were on holiday. Such bliss!

When they’re home, I watch TV or delve into my extensive iTunes music library. Seizing the opportunity of an empty house, I sat in silence listening to all those sounds that surround us on a daily basis. Ones we don’t even realise are there because of our hectic work, social and family lives.

As an Italian, you can imagine meal times are always a feast. Believe me Italian mothers will still try to make you eat more even though you’re full. Never stopped me saying no!

The results showed. Clothes I could no longer wear, eating greater amounts just to feel full at meal times. I felt weak-willed and lacked self-esteem.

I was sure people treated me differently because of my weight. That sounds unfair and damn right it is! But, I had no one to blame but myself!

So in the quiet time alone, I made a decision and said something less polite than “to hell with this, it’s time for a change and that change starts now!”

I stopped drinking alcohol completely.

I remembered a book someone recommended a few years ago by American naturopathic physician, Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo called Eat Right 4 Your Type.

His blood type ethos in brief follows. And I’d highly recommend further reading on naturopathy and anything by Dr Peter J D’Adamo.

He believes you should eat and avoid certain foods based on your blood type. I’d read one of his books many years ago after seeing a homeopathic doctor in Italy and to my amazement what the doctor told me to avoid was written in black and white by Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo himself.

I thought, ok there must be some truth in this. I’d never followed a diet in my life. What the heck, let’s give it a whirl and see what happens. So I started eating for my blood type.

Well, let me tell you, in under six months I lost a staggering 20 kilos!

Now that’s some weight loss, especially when you haven’t changed a single thing in your life apart from what you eat and drink. I didn’t exercise. Nor did I follow the book rigorously ! My general health improved, my social life got great. I was generally a happy chap.

Then disaster struck! Work stress levels took their toll. I didn’t make the time to eat properly. Continuous snacking amongst other things, took me not back to square one but even before that. I was rapidly gaining weight, unhappy and stressed to the max.

This time round however many changes had started to take place in my life so I was determined and convinced to succeed. It’s never too late to start again!

Going back to the roots of my earlier success, I reread Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo book called Eat Right 4 Your Type to refresh my memory.

Boy oh boy …the changes that’ve taken place inside my body are showing on the outside!

Brand new T-shirts that I’d purchased but never worn as they were too small now fit! Some even too big. My hair and skin condition have improved.

A spring has returned to my step and once dull eyes are now sparkling again.

Old friends who remembered me as I was, are amazed at my achievement. Dare I say it, but hey getting checked out far more than before walking down the street has given me that extra confidence back. A gentle smile or wink from a complete stranger works wonders!

So in a nutshell thanks to self-detemination, will power and the help of Eat Right 4 Your Type in about 10 months I’ve lost 30 kilos.!

A staggering amount considering I don’t do any sports at all. I work in an office so sit on my derriere most of the time but I do walk more which I’ve always loved. I’m now just over 80 kilos so reaching my target. And at this point I will be pushing my target back even further.

So if you’re in a rut, feeling stuck or simply need that extra push, please take on board my story to you all. It’s never too late to have another go!

Purchasing Dr. Peter J. D’Adamo book Eat Right 4 Your Type will be one of your best purchases ever. He’s also written specific books on each blood type and blood type recipe books to match. So if you’re wondering what can eat for lunch today help is at hand. You just need to grab it and pursue!

Good luck to you all and please share your stories with me.

Angelo”

And have made the same mistakes over and over again. Me included!

Yet some source of power, whether it’s the Universe, a divine entity or God, whatever you might believe in … keeps on giving us another crack at starting our lives over. And showing us forgiveness every day.

I’m not asking why every day we get given a new chance, no matter how much we think we don’t deserve forgiveness.

I’m asking how many times can you ask for forgiveness and get another chance at reinventing yourself? Is there a divine, universal, God, personal limit to this?

And who do you ask for forgiveness from? Is it a divine power, your higher self, another?

Love to hear your comments!

Please give us your feed back or like this article if you’ve found it thought provoking or helpful.

Jude

This morning I got a phone call from someone around the corner that I hardly know i.e her phone number wasn’t entered on my iPhone contacts. But it is now.

She asked me if she could store something pretty large in my flat for a few days. My immediate reaction was “yes of course!” There was something in her voice and just an instinctual feeling that help was needed, even from a virtual stranger.

Then a small voice in my head went “Hang on a minute! What is it? Why does she need you to do this? You hardly know her. Are we talking handling stolen goods? Are drugs involved?”

I gingerly asked her what it was and why she needed to store it with me. Her response was that it was connected to a conversation she’d had with me a wee while ago when I bumped into her while out walking my dog.

In summary, she lost her father in February, her partner tried to strangle her the same month, and now he was moving out … today. Stripping their home. And she needed to store a very special and very large painting somewhere. A painting of sentimental value only.

Needless-to-say, there’s now a beautiful, humungous painting sharing some space in my flat. And another tiny one that she snuck in! I’m just hoping my dog doesn’t chew on them!

My regret is that I’d listened to the small voice in my head rather than the big one that immediately said an almighty yes!

Rightly or wrongly, I’ve always thought that I’m a pretty decent human being. Give to our local homeless, support what I believe to be of benefit to mankind and our community where I can.

But sadly, I acknowledge that I’ve become suspicious of blocked or withheld phone numbers, of email addresses that I don’t recognise. Of phone numbers that aren’t familiar.

Today made me realise that I’ve become suspicious and less trusting of people in our community and generally.

That I too have lost a sense of community. I seek to re-gain this sense of community.

But the question is how?

And how do we encourage others to be less suspicious?

Please let me know what you think.

If you’d like to post a comment, click on the bubble at the top of this blog.

And if you enjoyed this blog, please can you like it or pass it on.

Many thanks

Jude

He’s really tall and strides purposefully about with his South African Ridgeback, stopping from time to time to use tree branches to do his pull-ups.

Will always waves and shouts a greeting from afar. If we get up close, he strikes up a conversation.

Mention him to other dog walkers and you get first the disdainful “sniff” (know the one I mean?) and then “yeah, he’s really up himself”.

Now his critics seem to be pretty nice people, not mean or unkind so it got me reflecting on why they perceive Will in such a way. What had they seen that I’d missed?

He …

• has presence, always seems happy, smiles, looks you in the eye when he talks to you, appears very caring, shows interest in others
• speaks his gratitude when the sun shines, expresses gratitude for the pouring rain, conveys his gratitude for his work
• loves his wife (especially her bum), loves his new baby girl, loves his South African Ridgeback
• uses the trees to do his work-out
• is walking-talking gratitude on a stick!

So what’s the problem here? Rightly or wrongly, it strikes me that this is at worst jealousy. And maybe at its best, a niggling feeling that things aren’t so good in their own worlds. And that while Will attracts some jealousy, he also attracts the good things in his life.

I have the impression from our conversations that Will has never heard of the Law of Attraction but what he does and says is living and breathing the Law of Attraction in its purest form. It just seems to come naturally to him. What he puts out he gets back. The Law of Attraction is in his DNA!

Is there a moral to this story? Maybe. Certainly, beware the disdainful sniffers!

I think I show my gratitude for who and what’s in my life. But seeing Will this morning reminded me how I had to work at it. And no, I’m not displaying any jealousy here! For me it all started with watching What the Bleep and then reading whatever I could about the Law of Attraction. Absorbing it all until the Law of Attraction became part of my day.

Having written this, I feel better armed to meet Will’s critics next time. Maybe it’s time to share a little about gratitude with them?

Have you encountered such jealousy? Or do you think I’ve misread the situation?

Let me know what you think.

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