Energy Flows
This principle of a driving life force is, of course, common to many cultures and religious traditions. In Japan it is called “ki,” and in India, “prana” or “shakti.” The ancient Egyptians referred to it as “ka” and the ancient Greeks as “pneuma.” For Native Americans it is the “Great Spirit” and for Christians, the “Holy Spirit.” In Africa, it’s known as “ashe” and in Hawaii as “ha” or “mana.”
Elizabeth Renniger
Energy is the ultimate convertible currency.
Brian Greene
The Rhythm of Chi and Work, Rest, and Recovery
Chi represents the Chinese concept of life energy and flow. The Tao Te Ching reflects this idea: Whatever is flexible and flowing will tend to grow, whatever is rigid and blocked will wither and die.
Think about the energy of your life. Can you notice how energy surges during certain moments of your day and life? While at other times, energy wanes – leaving you in need of rest? There is amazing wisdom inherent in the body’s ability to both expend and conserve energy – even at the same time.
The rhythm of work, rest, and recovery allows us to experience the flow of energy every single day. We find energy to create, to produce, to consume, and to collaborate. But there’s more to this rhythm than a straight line from one to the other. We can actually flow within each of these rhythms throughout the day – creating islands of rest, reflection, integration, and new energy.
The second segment of this Aldea Explores Series, The Rhythms of Life, explores what it means to mine the energy as we work, rest, and recover. We’ll explore small but potent practices that tap energy and how to conserve energy for later use. Each week of the series, we’ll provide:
- Weekly thoughts/blogs about the topic of the week
- A weekly podcast that focuses on the topic of the week
- A reflective guide you can use for individual or group exploration