Ilchi Lee's Blog, page 43

Sending Good Vibes

[Photo courtesy of Body & Brain Yoga and Health]

We can’t touch each other right now, many of us are isolated at home, and we need to stand six feet apart, but that doesn’t mean we can’t affect one another. As one journalist said, “I’m hugging you with my heart.”

Those who know energy, who can feel the invisible essence that animates all life, have been doing this for a while. They know that we are all sensitive to and respond to energy, even if we’re not aware of it. And they know that energy influences both our bodies and our minds. They use energy to create their lives.

I invite you to become aware of energy, and even more, to become a master of energy, so you can help other people from afar.

In order to do that, it’s helpful to actually feel energy. Try this exercise for feeling energy that I did with the audience at a book talk that I gave in Mesa, Arizona last year.

What were you able to feel in your hands after doing the exercise? Did you feel the heat, tingling, or other sensations that mean you are feeling energy? Energy can be easy to feel for some, while others have more difficulty. But feeling energy is a natural function of our brain. If you keep practicing and trying, you’ll eventually be able to do it. The trick is not to try too hard and use relaxed focus.

That focus is what makes energy flow. Energy is dependent on our mind, our intentions. It’s our mind that activates it, makes it stronger, and sends it in a particular direction. You will always get the energy you need to the extent that you focus.

It’s not only our minds that are important, however. The lines and angles of our body are important as well. Creating certain angles in our body allows energy to gather and flow properly.

When we make our body full of energy, we have the capacity to send it to other people. Providing something to others is difficult when our own cup is depleted. This is similar to what some people who practice martial arts do. They gather energy into their body and then use that energy when they strike their opponent to increase the force and effectiveness of their blow. Instead of using energy to hit someone, we can use it to help them instead.

The most important angle is the spine. Straightening our spine from the tailbone to the top of the neck allows energy to flow up it freely and travel throughout the body. It allows us to breathe more deeply to bring more energy into our body, particularly into the energy center that’s in the lower abdomen, which gives us power. A straight spine lets us have a strong center line to keep us steady, as I mentioned in a previous post.

After setting up the vertical line, check the horizontal angles as well. Do your hips and knees create a good support base for you? Are your jaws, shoulders, and hips parallel to the ground? A strong base allows us to have better control over energy, both the energy inside ourselves and the energy we use in the world.

The next angle we create to accumulate energy is with our wrists. Energy enters our hands when our wrists are bent almost 90-degrees. That energy can reach the rest of our body better if our elbows are slightly bent.

With these angles in place, we can imagine energy coming into our bodies through the top of the head, the center of our palms, and the bottom of our bodies (our feet or our trunk if sitting). See it flowing through the body and creating a bright ball in the center of the lower abdomen, below the navel.

As energy gathers there, we may feel our abdomen becoming stronger. Our spine may feel more supported, and our chest feel more relaxed and open. We may feel our head clear, and as if our bodies are becoming bigger.

At some point, we may have a sense of strength and fullness inside. At that point, instead of imagining energy coming into us, we can picture it coming out of our hands. Send that energy wherever you want, such as to a particular person, thing, or outcome. We can also send it to multiple people or things, even to the entire Earth. Add an intention to the energy. For example, we can send it for healing or comfort or helping someone find a job.

If you have a certain person in mind who you know, they can receive the energy you’re sending them more strongly if they consent and if they actively receive it and trust that it will help them. Then they are adding their own intention to the energy.

When many people gather together to send energy, it’s even more powerful. You may have already heard of people doing this, both in person and online.

In the midst of this pandemic, it’s easy to feel powerless. Gathering energy to yourself and letting it overflow to other people is something you can actively do to help our world come out of this time better than before.

 

Find Peace in Your Breath

[Source: Prostock-studio on Envato Elements]

Could you just keep exhaling? Or could you just keep inhaling?

Try it. Keep inhaling. Breathe in more and more, without resting. How do you feel? It’s hard, isn’t it?

This time, shall we try to keep breathing out? Exhale only, without inhaling. How is it? If feels like you’re going to die, doesn’t it?

You can’t live if you only breathe in or only breathe out. It’s a principle of life that we must breathe in after we breathe out. Life repeatedly gives and receives, contracts and relaxes. This principle is not man-made. It’s a law of nature.

If we try to hoard or only accumulate and consume, this is like only breathing in. If we only give of ourselves until we are depleted, this is like only breathing out. Our relationships with other people, with ourselves, and with our environment depends on first giving and then receiving. Breathe out first, and then you will breathe in.

We are at peace if we live according to the laws of nature, and not if we don’t. Peace depends on breathing. Life is found in breathing, and Truth is in breathing. When we breathe well, our bodies and brains become more comfortable, we are healthy, and everything gets better.

If you focus your attention on your breath, it will naturally become more relaxed, slower, and deeper. Within your breath, you can experience the wonder and peace of your life.

 

When Times Are Tough, Hang onto Your Dreams

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You may not be thinking about your dreams right now. Your life may feel as if it’s on hold as you watch the news and wonder what will happen next. It’s hard to make plans when everything seems so abnormal, and you don’t know when it’s going to end.

But I think that when we face challenges, we need our dreams the most. Having a dream can keep us strong and give us direction, even when things seem upside down.

Do you have a dream? If you don’t, you may now have more time to look inside and discover it. What does your heart truly want? What would make you feel at peace even during hard times? True peace comes from doing what our heart desires. True pain comes from going against those dreams and wishes.

If you do have a dream, keep connecting with your heart and asking what you can do to keep working on it, even now. By looking inside this way, everything going on outside pales in comparison, and you can uncover the hope that is always there.

Love and peace and happiness for all—that’s the dream I have. This dream is so important to me that even if I fail, it’ll be okay; since this is the right thing to do, even if I try it and fail, I believe that someone who comes after me will carry on this dream.

Even if the work I’ve done does not succeed, I will use those failures as footholds and just keep moving forward. In this way, those failures have value. Because I believe I’ve come here to this world for this work, this is my way.

If anyone wants to shed a life of narrow thinking and personal gain and live for a great dream and ideal instead, I suggest taking that path right here, right now, without calculation. Now is always the right time. It’s the only time we have.

When you walk the path your heart has chosen without expecting any recognition or glory, you can get a taste of your own value and purpose, one that’s independent of the evaluation placed on you by society, or by your fears and insecurities. You can sense your own wholeness, and your inner light will shine more brightly.

True happiness will be yours.

 

Overcoming Overwhelm

It’s as if an invisible force is taking over our civilization. A novel virus that can only be seen under a microscope has caused the human species to work together to ensure the health and survival of even its weakest members. In order to meet this challenge, we are rapidly restructuring the systems we depend on for our needs.

It may seem as if the earth is shifting beneath our feet, and it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the influx of confusing information. But if we take a moment to step back and look beyond our man-made systems at nature itself, we can see that everything tends toward harmony and balance, even amid rapid change.

Human beings are also part of nature, and when we connect with our own inner nature, we can make harmony and balance within us in any circumstance. Then, whether it’s an ordinary day or the middle of a crisis, we can remember the purpose of our lives and move toward that guiding light, in both small and large ways.

There’s a strong “pole” of energy running through the center of our bodies that connects to everything else in the universe. With our feeling and awareness, we can hold onto this pole and stay steadily centered within ourselves as circumstances change around us. However, it’s difficult to hold onto this pole when it’s covered with the grease of our preconceived ideas and pent-up emotions. When we see inside ourselves only through the eyes of our ego, we may not even realize we have a center to hold onto.

Energy Line Through Three Energy Centers

But by steadily washing away this “grease,” we can return to a state of “nothingness,” a zero point of calm from which we can see clearly. That clarity lets us watch the anxiety, sadness, and fear that may be inside and around us without being overwhelmed by them. Instead of floundering in thoughts and emotions, we can surf them like waves, keeping our heads above water. And we can hear our inner voice beneath those waves. That voice can lead us out of any crisis if we act on what it tells us.

That’s why I ask people to trust themselves, to trust their brains. That doesn’t mean trusting their thoughts, but means trusting their awareness of the central part of themselves and its connection to the greater universe. This awareness comes from their brain, and wisdom comes from this connection to themselves and all life. We all have brains, and we all have this wisdom.

How can we train our brains to be aware of our center line (pole) and keep it clear? How can we develop the ability to see the changeless amid changes? Although the answer involves our brain, it doesn’t involve thinking about it. We can change our brains through mindful physical training.

“Brain” Training for Staying Centered

Along the energy line through the middle of our bodies are three main energy centers. One in the lower abdomen, about two inches below the navel, relates to our physical power. One in the center of the chest relates to our heart power and emotional balance, and one in the center of the brain, around the pineal gland, relates to our brain power. Clearing and strengthening these three energy centers gives us a strong energy line and greater connection to ourselves.

Try these mind-body exercises for each energy center:
Lower Energy Center

Stimulating the area on the front of our body near the energy center creates vibrations, and vibrations stir up any energy that isn’t moving freely—important for keeping the centers clear and strong. The vibrations also allow our brain to focus on that area. Energy concentrates wherever our awareness does, so if we want to give energy to something, all we need to do is focus on it. We can stimulate the abdomen below the navel by tapping on it with our fists or palms (Abdominal Tapping), by pressing on our navel with our three middle fingers or a tool (Belly Button Healing), or by pulling the abdominal muscles below our belly button in toward the spine and then out again (Intestinal Exercise). Abdominal Breathing—breathing so that our lower abdomen rises with each inhale and falls with each exhale—also concentrates our mind and energy in the lower energy center.

Middle Energy Center

Tapping on the center of the sternum with our fingertips or knuckles creates similar vibrations we can focus on. The sound, “Ah,” also stimulates and vibrates the middle energy center (similar to the heart/fourth chakra). While tapping and saying, “Ah” with each exhale, listen to the sound and feel the vibration of your voice. Focusing on the sound will connect you more deeply to your inner essence.

Upper Energy Center

Tapping all around the head with our fingertips stimulates the upper energy center. In addition to focusing on the vibrations this makes, add visualization and affirmations to the exercise. Imagine bright, golden light entering your brain from the crown of the head and filling every crevice of the brain, making it brighter and brighter. Say to yourself, “I love my brain. I trust my brain. I connect to my brain.”

Then draw a golden line of energy in your mind, seeing it go from the top of the head to the base of the trunk. Visualize it growing wider and brighter until it forms a column over your entire body. Imagine you are in a cocoon of love and support. Finish the meditation by sweeping your hands down the front of your body and then taking three deep breaths.

 

My heart goes out to all those overwhelmed by the current global pandemic, and to those working to recover from the illness and those caring for them. I send all of you LifeParticles, energy to help you move forward to health and happiness.

 

Try This to Free Your Mind

[Source: FlamingoImages on Envato Elements]

When your head is tangled in knots, give this a try . . .

Close your eyes and concentrate on your body, feeling its physical sensations.

Smiling and opening your mouth wide, relax all the joints in your neck.

For one minute, stick out your tongue as far as you can and really shake your head side to side.

You don’t need to be quiet and well behaved. Just move in ways that are out of the ordinary for you. Your brain wants new movements.

And it wants to really be free.

When you do this, you’ll relax, and when you focus, other thoughts won’t arise, and you will attain a state of no-self.

Our lives can be tense, and sometimes we worry about what the person next to us thinks. That’s when emptying our brains can make a real difference. Why not dump everything we have, seeing what that’s like . . . just let go of yourself.

Then your brain becomes free.

 

Immunity Boosting Toolkit: Toe Tapping

[Source: @hardi_wb via Twenty20]

As the basis of Asian medicine, energy circulation is important for maintaining health and immunity. Ideally, energy flows through its channels throughout the body without stopping. Its flow is even and balanced. Warmer energy concentrates in the lower part of the body while cooler energy concentrates in the upper part (Water Up, Fire Down). When energy cannot circulate in this way, the body has less resilience against physical, mental, or emotional challenges and disease can result.

Often, smooth and active energy flow corresponds with the flow of fluids in the body such as blood, lymph, and interstitial fluid. All of these depend on adequate body movement because they cannot completely circulate on their own. And all of them are important for our immunity, for they are involved in immune cell production, storage, and transport.

Hand-in-hand with adequate circulation is body temperature. Immune activity is higher when body temperature is at the higher end of the normal range. Movement and circulation are necessary for keeping the body warm.

The final exercise in my Immunity Boosting Toolkit, Toe Tapping, is ideal for creating healthy circulation, even while lying down. Toe Tapping involves shaking the legs in a way that can relax the mind and the whole body. It slows down brain waves and sends blood in the legs back to the heart while pulling down any warm energy that may be stuck in the upper body.

Toe Tapping can be done sitting or lying down, but it’s the most effective when done lying down.

Here’s how to do it:

Lying with your back on the floor, scan your body and consciously and gradually release the tension from it.
Stretch out your legs, with your heels touching and your ankles lightly flexed. It’s alright if there’s a little bit of space between the lower back and the floor. Rest your arms comfortably at your sides, palms facing up.
Using your heels as the pivot points, repeatedly bring both feet to the center until your big toes touch.
Then move your toes apart. Touch your little toes to the floor if you are flexible enough. Move your entire legs, not only your feet.
As you repeat this back-and-forth motion for several minutes, keep your upper body relaxed. If you feel sharp or significant pain in your hip joints or legs, rest for a minute or two and then start again.

Follow along with this video to see Toe Tapping in action:

Toe Tapping not only boosts your immunity; it is ideal for helping you fall asleep. Do gentle Toe Tapping while lying in bed until you start to feel sleepy. Without too much energy concentrated in your head, your sleep may be deeper and more revitalizing as well. Getting enough sleep, as you probably know, is also important for your health and immunity.

You can learn more about Toe Tapping in my book, The Solar Body: The Secret to Natural Healing.

This exercise is the last in my Immunity Boosting Toolkit. You can learn more exercises that warm your body, calm your mind, and improve your circulation in my previous blog posts.

 

Empower Yourself with Words

[Source: @shr_cx via Twenty20]

Words have energy.

They are the creation of your brain and affect your brain. When said aloud, the energy of words are carried on the waves of sound from the vibration of your vocal cords.

If you focus on those vibrations and sounds, you can feel the energy shift in your body and brain. Your energy will resonate with the energy of the words.

What words are you using now? With what energy are you operating?

We can use words thoughtlessly or we can use words mindfully in each moment.

You can amplify the messages you want to give yourself through chanting. Take a deep breath and give yourself an affirmation, repeating it to your own rhythm. You can say it loudly or softly, quickly or slowly, as you express your inner self. Let your true self come out through your voice.

Using your voice, you can begin to embody the energy and attitudes you want to choose for your life. By changing your energy with sustained chanting, you empower yourself to take action with that energy.

You don’t have to use sentences or even words, though, to express yourself and change your energy. You can simply make sounds. Any sound will do. If you focus on a part of your body, the sounds that part needs will come out of your mouth. If you can focus on your soul in your heart, the sounds your soul needs to grow will be expressed.

Trust yourself. You have everything you need to make a difference in your life if you choose to let it out.

Immunity Boosting Toolkit: Brain Wave Vibration

At a time when the strength of our immune system has become even more important, it’s useful to have simple ways of boosting our ability to fight off infections. I’ve included many exercises in my Immunity Boosting Toolkit that you can do in short bursts throughout your day. The next tool in this multi-post series is also one of the oldest (and perhaps the most fun)—Brain Wave Vibration.

This form of moving meditation involves rhythmically, mindfully, and freely moving the body. Some people prefer this method of meditation because it releases tension from the body while calming the mind. It can be easier for beginners to go into a meditative state with a moving meditation such as this, and there is nothing to know or learn.

The real key to Brain Wave Vibration is to feel, particularly to feel the body and its energy. By focusing on our bodily sensations, we draw our attention away from our thoughts, gain access to our subconscious mind, and develop greater awareness of our body and its condition. Brain Wave Vibration allows us to find the movements our body needs to create in order to release pain and tension and to rest and rejuvenate deeply. The body already knows this and can do it when we get our “thinking” mind out of the way.

Brain Wave Vibration achieves all of the conditions we need to improve our immunity:

Warmer body temperature
A relaxed state
Stress relief
Better circulation of blood, lymph, and energy
Improved removal of waste in the gut to create a healthier gut environment
Bring the mind and emotions into a positive state

This meditation method can be as simple as shaking the body to its own natural rhythm. It can also include tapping the lower abdomen to stimulate the important energy center there and to facilitate Water Up, Fire Down energy circulation in the body—the healthiest energy flow it can have. Regardless of the movements we make, Brain Wave Vibration involves three steps:

Deliberately make vibrations.
Let the entire body ride the rhythm.
Follow the flow of energy.

To do Brain Wave Vibration, we can stand, sit in a chair or sit on the floor in a half-lotus posture. We can even lie down. Listening to percussion music made up of simple beats can help us get into the rhythm in the beginning.

At first, we consciously shake, move, and tap the body. As our brain waves slow down and we become more attuned to our bodily sensations and energy flow, we can allow them to take over and guide our motions. This lets us tap into and strengthen the unconscious processes, such as our immune system, that maintain and heal the body. It allows these processes to do their work instead of being overridden by the thoughts we have that lead to stress and energy blockage.

One of the most common and effective ways to do Brain Wave Vibration is to sit and shake your head from side to side while tapping your lower abdomen. This combination of targeted movements releases head, neck, and shoulder tension while also reducing abdominal tension. It increases circulation in the abdomen, much like Belly Button Healing and Get Bright Breathing, and also strengthens Water Up, Fire Down energy circulation.

Learn how to do this type of Brain Wave Vibration from Body & Brain Yoga instructor Danielle Gaudette in the video below:

Practicing Brain Wave Vibration may remind us that life can be free and organic if we don’t suppress the natural healing abilities of our bodies and brains through chronic stress and habitual negativity. Our bodies have a natural tendency toward balance, unless that tendency is disrupted. Brain Wave Vibration’s ability to foster deep relaxation is a hallmark of many of the world’s indigenous healing practices. It not only strengthens the immune system, but unleashes our natural vitality, confidence, and compassion.

If you would like to learn more about Brain Wave Vibration, you can check out my book of the same name: Brain Wave Vibration: Getting Back into the Rhythm of a Happy, Healthy Life.

Ilchi Lee Book Now Available in Mandarin

Ilchi Lee’s popular book, I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years: The Ancient Secret to Longevity, Vitality, and Life Transformation (Best Life Media, 2017) has now been translated and published in Mandarin by Best Life Media, the independent U.S. publisher responsible for Ilchi Lee’s English titles. The book was initiated and translated by Charlie W. Chen, an IT entrepreneur in Dallas, Texas.

Chen’s enthusiasm for the book started after he first read it in 2018. It made Chen start to rethink his goals and perspective on his retirement years. His work on the book stemmed from his desire to do more for his community and the need he saw while hosting an online study group with his wife Pauline.

“[I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years] changed my life expectations,” he said. “At my sixties, with achieving what I could, I thought I would retire nicely and take it easy. But Ilchi Lee’s messages of finding your soul and pursuing the completion of life inspired me so much that I realized where I am is just the beginning of my second half of life, and [that] the second part is even more important than the first one. So I changed all my personal and business plans, and decided to live 120 years to pursue completion of life with a new HongIk spirit, for as far and high as I can.”

Thus far, I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years, has also been published in Korean, Japanese, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Lithuanian.

The Mandarin edition is available from the publisher’s website and ChangeYourEnergy.com.

A Conversation Between Generations

What would a seventy-year-old man and an eight-year-old boy ask each other? Could they find the meaning of life?

See the common ground formed by Ilchi Lee and an eight-year-old New Zealand boy in this delightful conversation.

“I hope you grow very healthy and happy. . . . if you ever need something while you live, I would give a hand to you. You’ve given me inspiration. You are a very happy and blessed person. I hope you always live happily and grateful. You are a lucky guy,” he said.

See the interview in this video: