“Qigong” for An Encyclopedia of Radical Helping, Thick Press
In Taoist philosophy, “Qi” (pronounced chee) is the life-force energy that flows within and without all things. Qi animates and gives vitality to all life.
Qigong is an ancient Taoist health practice and branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The word “Qigong” translates to “play with energy.” Other branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine include acupuncture and herbalism.
Qigong involves coordinating body postures and movements with controlled breathing and visualization of Qi flow. Through these means, activated by the breath, a practitioner is able to attune their mind and body to the subtle flow of Qi through their body, and between their body and the earth and heavens.
Through years of “playing with energy,” an advanced Qigong practitioner may gain remarkable command of Qi flow through their system, even directing Qi towards injured or upset areas of the body, concentrating Qi there to aid healing.
“Tree Gong” is my personal experimental practice that combines forest bathing with Qigong. Tree Gong involves noticing ways in which trees and other natural phenomena interact with Qi, and then relating these dynamics to particular Qigong exercises. The intention of Tree Gong is primarily to aid the visualization component of the Qigong exercise, and to assist the practitioner in remaining present and connected to their environment. It also helps practitioners remember many Qigong exercises by relating them each to different observations of nature.
A Tree Gong practitioner’s approach may be to act as if their Qigong exercise is emulating the nearby tree’s interaction with Qi, or even that they are playing with Qi for the tree. Occasionally, some Tree Gong exercises are accompanied by a short poem, or mantra, that illustrates the natural observation. This poem is recited in the mind in rhythm with the coordinated breathing, movement, and visualization.
Qigong exercises often draw upon nature metaphors and emulate Qi dynamics observed in nature, including trees, animals, water, wind, fire, and minerals. Tree Gong did not invent this concept. The distinction between Qigong and Tree Gong lies only in the fact that part of Tree Gong practice is the exploratory act of finding inspiration and new metaphorical connections while forest bathing, which, although relatively common, is not necessarily a significant part of every Qigong practice.
There are a very large number of traditional Qigong exercises and innumerable variations, all of which may be related to any number of Qi dynamics observed while practicing Tree Gong. I have made many such connections, including Tree Gong exercises related to:
Leaves, roots, branches, trunks, stumps, thorns, flowers, mushrooms, rocks, waterfalls, water droplets, the water cycle, seasons, mountains, and so on.
Tree Gong practice is no substitute for professional instruction in Qigong, nor are the visualizations borrowed from nature a substitute for actually feeling the Qi flow through you and feeling your breath leading your movements. These feelings come from repeated practice. Tree Gong is a great way to get a Qi Gong practice started. By walking in the woods, recognizing the presence of Qi all around you, anyone can eventually harness that Qi for greater health and wellbeing.
A generic flow chart for visualizing Qi flow in coordination with breath, postures and movement. Specific Qigong exercises may be entered into the POSTURE and MOVEMENT fields. Corresponding natural observations concerning Qi flow are entered into the VISUALIZATION field, completing the Tree Gong exercises. It is important to note that it is your breath that activates and sets the cadence for your movements and the flow of Qi.
An example chart with a specific exercise plugged in. The Qigong exercise in this chart is for aiding the lungs. The Tree Gong metaphor at work is the relationship between leaves and our breath, the symbiotic exchange of oxygen and carbon-dioxide.
Places You Can Hang
“Places You Can Hang” is a longstanding monthly column initiated by Boston Hassle’s Dan Shea for the Boston Compass arts & culture newspaper, a project of Brain Arts Organization, featuring a rotating cast of contributing authors. Thus far I have contributed three Places You Can Hang articles to the Compass, posted below.
Places You Can Hang: The Franklin Park Wilderness
Franklin Park: the true people’s gem of Boston’s Emerald Necklace park system. Together, the Zoo, Golf Course, Stadium, Playstead, and Schoolmasters Hill attract Bostonians of every conceivable stripe.
Then there’s the Wilderness. Its few paved pathways, frequented by dog walkers, lead to its few official features: the Overlook Shelter Ruins, the Picnic Grove, the 99 Steps.
Break off into a maze of tiny trails amidst a rocky oak forest and you may encounter some unofficial features: The Cave, The Cliff, The Cages, The Moon…
What happens here? Seek and find the many Direct Actions, real honest-to-goodness Anarchism: fire pits; freshly painted remains of long-discarded cars and safes, renewed by an unknown creative caste; sacred forts of found wood and miscellanea offerings.
The Wilderness’ assets owe to its seclusion. To only breathe here is to receive a primal reminder that we, like the trees, draw our energy up from the earth, stretch out to collect and channel light from the heavens, thereby nourishing ourselves and one another.
An apropos Merriam-Webster definition of “wilderness”: a part of a garden devoted to wild growth. Yet it is not the forest that is free to grow wild, but your SPIRIT.
Places You Can Hang: The VU
You probably don’t need me to tell you the Video Underground in JP is the spot to find DVDs of the rare, local, foreign, cult, kitsch, and classic variety. But do you know it’s a place you can hang? Maybe so. After all, Kevin, the friendly and fastidious proprietor, has been hosting weekly $5 screenings for a quite some time, complete with thoughtful introductions and fresh popcorn galore. Or if you’re like me, whose idea of hanging is standing around drinking coffee, talking about films and gentrification, then yes, you know. But most folks of the underground ilk find that to truly hang it’s apropos to sit, relax, stretch out the legs and take time with that smooth cup of joe, place it down between sips, pick up an art rag and ponder what the night may bring.
I’m here to tell you now what you most likely don’t know – the VU is becoming just such a place to hang. They’re expanding the 3203 Washington Street outfit to include cafe seating, a menu of fine crepes (gluten-free and vegan!), a separate cinema screening area, all the best caffeinated drinks in town, plus a few refreshing options for the somehow-naturally-stimulated set. Did I mention Kevin is friendly, knows his flicks, and genuinely loves his work? Have you seen Clerks? He’s not that guy.
Support the underground. Get hopped up; chow. Watch movies. Talk to Kevin; talk amongst yourselves. Hang at the new VU.
Places You Can Hang: Echo Bridge
Built in 1876, the Sudbury Aqueduct carries fresh water from Farm Pond in Framingham to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir in Brighton. Along its way is Echo Bridge, an American Water Landmark, spanning the Charles River at Hemlock Gorge between Needham and Newton Upper Falls.
The gorge offers scenic, secluded trails on both steep banks. Descending from the Needham side leads to a boardwalk, then onto a peninsula featuring the craggy puddingstone ledge “Devil’s Den” and an abandoned nail factory. The views from atop the bridge, of forest, valley, silk mill and waterfalls, are right out of a postcard.
The real place to hang, however, is under the bridge on the Newton side, on the deck, with some friends if you can rally them, with some musical instruments if you can carry them, or with only your stomping feet, clapping hands, and projected voice. The echo is exceptional – a natural delay pedal. Play a call-and-response rhythm, play sparse for a straight trance feel, or find the pocket, hit between the echoes and play a triplet or 6/8 groove. Sing arpeggiating melodies or bend notes and you’ll harmonize with your own echo. If you’re more a dramatist or poet than musician, experimenting under Echo Bridge will no doubt be enjoyable and fruitful for your practice.
The Hemlock Gorge public parking lot is on Ellis Street in Newton just south of Route 9, or walk, bike, or “cab” it from the Eliot T-stop on the Green Line D-Line.