I no longer wish to contribute to this forum, my apologies, but I'll be removing anything that was my own work (Essays, pathworkings, training exercises, and the like.)

Since Lady Dunsany has left these forums, they have decayed and degenerated, in my opinion. I see no one and nothing left of the greatness that I saw when I first arrived. Goodbye everyone.

Question.

You've mentioned that the visualization of energy should come from the chest area.

I've done various martial arts and Tai-chi over the years and all of them have taught that the "Hara", (for Japanese arts) or "Tan'tien", (Chinese) is the locus of the body's energy and resides in the lower abdomen.

Interestingly, the Japanese ritual of Seppuku, (also known, incorrectly, as Hari-Kiri...ritual suicide), involves slashing the lower abdomen open, thus symbolically destroying seat of the warriors power.

Invariably, anyone who works with energy knows this. So I'm curious...is the energy that you can raise from the chest area different from the lower abdomen? I've never worked with the different Chakras, but I realize that there are different "locuses of energy" within the body...why specifically the chest?

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The Angel has spread its wings
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Though, it can be debated that the energy comes from your lower abs or stomach area. When in doubt, go with what you know and what feels right.

I simply said chest because it was how I was taught to do this exercise, when I gather from my lower abdomen, the energy has more of a fiery taste to it, figuratively speaking. From my chest it feels more like life-energy, air oriented. Being a gemini myself, air energy for me is easier to work with.

fair enough...makes sense.

Another thought also crossed my mind. As the energy raising exercises I've been taught all have a martial bent to them, it would make sense to utilize the energy most applicable to the context. In my case combat.

As you noted...the energy raised from the lower abdomen has a "fiery taste"...indeed it does, and I like it like that No point in raising a passive and airy energy unless your negotiating with your opponent as opposed to dealing damage.

For the purposes of your exercises...the chest is just cool I suppose.

PS: I'm Aries...gotta love that fiery feeling

__________________
Prick your finger it is done
The Moon has now eclipsed the Sun
The Angel has spread its wings
The time has come for bitter things

haha, too right. A while ago I started mixing my energy working with my choi kwan do practice. I'd draw my energy from that area and use it to empower the attacks. One technique I utilized allowed the energy to empower the shockwave, which caused a lot more damage than normal, I heard about a few martial arts that used this technique as well, but they seem to do it a little differently than I do.

Fun though isn't it ? Combat practice to raise energy works wonderfully.

Do yourself a massive favor. If you are interested in energy work and Martial Arts...get involved in Tai-chi.

Believe me, its a lot more than little old ladies muppeting about in the park to keep the knees from locking up...I've been thrown across Dojo's by more than one "little old lady".

Its also one of the fastest ways I've found to destroy the ego...being tossed around by grandma is an experience I recommend to anyone who wishes a new perspective on life.

__________________
Prick your finger it is done
The Moon has now eclipsed the Sun
The Angel has spread its wings
The time has come for bitter things

i will try them but i am going to look and study them more befor i try the all the way thorw

This the simplest ways of getting in touch with and recognizing first one's own energy and knowing and the ability to sense other energies that can be around you

This will also aide in feeling the vibrations of say crystals

well written! infortantly my energy centers are messed up right now and I am trying to fix them (personal reasons) so i can only create half my usual size of an energy ball and maintain it, but anyway this is very well written

I see, if I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, meditate a bit and focus on your chakras, let them bloom and spin clockwise for a few minutes to help get everything in balance, as well as that. Feel the flow of your body's energy through your veins and sort of feel the circulation ease up and such.

That always helps me