What Is Chi Energy? A Modern Taoist Guide to the Life Force Within

Few ideas are as ancient—and as misunderstood—as Chi energy.

The Taoist masters described it as the invisible current linking body, mind, and cosmos.

Modern biophysics now echoes that intuition: beneath every heartbeat and nerve impulse flows an electrical rhythm that mirrors life itself.

This in‑depth guide is part of the Energy Science & Environmental Physiology series, exploring how light, magnetism, and Earth’s natural field shape vitality.

Here, we’ll unpack what Chi truly is, how it moves through meridians, what blocks it, and Taoist‑based ways to restore its natural flow.

Let’s dive in …

What is Chi Energy?

The Chinese word qi literally means “air” or “breath,” yet its deeper sense points to the living spark within matter.

Taoist texts refer to it as the “thread” connecting spirit and substance. The Chinese have long believed Chi is the fundamental energy that sustains all life.

Physiologically, Chi parallels the body’s microcurrents—nerve impulses, ionic gradients, and electromagnetic communication among cells.

Studies in Frontiers in Physiology show measurable low‑frequency biofields around living tissue, suggesting that ancient insight may describe a real layer of human physiology.

When practitioners speak of “feeling Chi,” they notice tingling, warmth, or subtle internal movement during stillness. These are the sensations that reveal life’s current in motion.

At its fundamental level, Chi is electromagnetic information transmitted through the human body and the environment.

Human Energy Meridians (with Acupuncture Points)

How Chi Circulates Through the Body

Chi moves through a network of energy channels called meridians, connecting organs, tissues, and emotions into one coherent field of communication.

Taoist science describes twelve primary meridians woven through the body like rivers distributing life force.

The main meridians develop intricate subsidiary branches. The places where these branches reach the skin are classically used as acupuncture target points.

Traditional acupuncture maps them as pathways of balance: when flow is free, the body thrives; when blocked, pain and fatigue arise.

Modern Evidence of Chi

Modern imaging, including infrared thermography and bio‑electrical mapping, suggests that the body’s meridian lines follow fascia planes and micro‑circulation paths.

Together they form biological “highways,” moving ions and subtle electrical signals that support communication between tissues and organs.

HeartMath research by Rollin McCraty links this concept to physiological coherence: a state in which heart‑rate variability becomes rhythmically ordered and bio‑electrical communication between organs synchronizes.

At its core, Chi circulation mirrors what they call psychophysiological coherence—a measurable rhythmic alignment between heart, breath, and brain that supports calm energy and focused awareness.

The Three Treasures — Jing, Chi, and Shen

Ancient Taoists saw human vitality as a spectrum of vibration.

Jing, Qi, and Shen are energetic substances or frequencies that control many aspects of our health, behavior, psyche, and spiritual growth.

Although these three treasures are considered three different substances, they are of the same essence, similar to how water can take the form of gas, liquid, or solid (ice).

Jing (Essence)

Jing is the lowest vibration of the three treasures.

Many people mistakenly think Jing is synonymous with sexual energy or seminal fluid. While Jing does include this sexual energy, it’s not technically the same thing. (However, excessive sex does deplete one’s Jing.)

Jing most closely translates in English to Life’s Essence.

Chi (Energy)

The Essence (Jing) of the body converts to Chi (or Qi), which most closely translates to energy.

Chi is a higher vibration than Jing, and it transports information throughout the body’s energy system.

The food we eat also converts to Chi energy.

Shen (Spirit)

Shen, the highest or most refined vibration, is the energy of consciousness itself. Many schools of Taoism consider Shen the individual’s Spirit.

In Western integrative psychologies, Shen is akin to the higher self or higher consciousness. Shen manifests as a bright white light, and its frequency is closest to “Heaven.” In its purest expression, Shen is nondual.

Jing, Chi, and Shen — A Modern Correlate

Each “vibration” transforms into the next through breath, nutrition, and intentional practice.

Modern neuroendocrinology offers a parallel: hormones (Jing) drive metabolism (Chi), which in turn alters neural coherence and mood (Shen).

When all three levels are aligned, the entire biofield stabilizes into a state of clarity.

The Three Dan Tiens

The Three Dan Tiens

In addition to the meridian system and the three treasures, the Taoist internal arts also include the three Dan Tiens.

These Dan Tiens are primary energy centers within the human body, connected by the central branch called the thrusting meridian.

The three substances—Jing, Chi, and Shen—can be transported and converted through internal energy work, such as Nei Gong and Nei Dan practices.

From Damo Mitchell’s Daoist Nei Gong:

Each Dan Tien is a sphere of Qi which is held together within a type of energetic/magnetic field formed from the surrounding meridians. The center point of each Dan Tien is empty and able to fill with Jing, Qi or Shen so that it may be transformed into its next state.

The Lower Dan Tien

The lower Dan Tien is located behind and below the navel and at the midway point within the lower torso. (See instructions below.)

The lower dantien is considered the primary cauldron where the Chi energy is cultivated and distributed throughout the body.

The Middle Dan Tien

The middle Dan Tien is located in the heart region. It connects our energetic body with consciousness.

This energetic sphere relates to our transient emotions.

The Upper Dan Tien

The upper Dan Tien is within the head, behind the Yintang point—the third eye region.

Shen is directed to the upper Dan Tien when it moves into the head and then into the “consciousness body.”

A Modern Correlate to These Energy Centers

Science mirrors this triad through the gut (brain of intuition), the heart (electromagnetic command center), and the head (cognitive integration).

Studies in heart‑brain entrainment demonstrate that when the heart’s rhythm is coherent, neural activity across cortical regions synchronizes, improving memory and emotional stability—practical evidence that the “heart center” does more than pump blood.

For a deeper look at these energy centers, see The Four Centers of Intelligence.

The Energetic Mechanics of the Lower Dan Tien

The bioelectric field of the lower Dan Tien is present at birth; however, by puberty, it is dispersed. As a consequence, adults looking to cultivate their Chi need to rebuild this field.

The lower Dan Tien is like a vehicle’s gas tank. If the tank is damaged or filled with holes, it can’t hold fuel. The same goes for the lower Dan Tien.

Yin and Yang of the Lower Energy Center

Everything in the Taoist arts has both yin and yang components.

In this case, the yin represents the form or organizing field of the lower Dan Tien, while the yang represents the energy, substance, or Chi that fills this organizing field.

To cultivate Chi, one must first learn to locate the lower Dan Tien region with breathing and awareness (Yi).

Then, one can begin rebuilding this bioenergetic field. Once this Yin field is rebuilt, Chi can be gathered and cultivated.

The Location of the Lower Dan Tien

How to Locate the Lower Dan Tien

Anyone interested in cultivating their chi will need to learn how to locate the lower Dan Tien with their minds.

First, place two fingers directly below the navel. Locate the Qi Hai point (REN 6) approximately two-finger thickness below the navel. (If you gently massage this point, it will feel slightly bruised.)

Qi Hai means “sea of qi.” Many practitioners mistakenly think the lower Dan Tien is located here, so this point is also called the false Dan Tien.

Next, constrict your perineum, located between your genitals and the anus. This point is called Huiyin.

Imagine a vertical line going from the perineum up toward the crown of your head (Ba Hai) as illustrated above.

Another horizontal line goes from the Qi Hai toward your back.

In the crosshairs where these two lines intersect is the approximate location of the lower Dan Tien.

When you can sink your awareness into this region and comfortably sustain it, a feeling of heat or a slight pulling sensation will signal that you’re in the correct location.

Signs and Benefits of Strong Chi Flow

When Chi energy flows freely, everything feels connected.

Breathing deepens, movement becomes graceful, and emotion quiets without suppression.

Ancient Taoist teachers said that strong Chi makes life “effortless yet alert.”

In modern terms, it’s when the body’s electrical, chemical, and emotional systems fall into sync—energy circulating with clarity instead of friction.

1  Physical Vitality

Smooth energy flow keeps muscles warm, joints supple, and circulation steady.

You feel grounded and alive instead of wired or drained.

Many notice that skin tone improves, digestion steadies, and recovery from fatigue shortens.

These are simple signs that Chi is reaching all areas of the body instead of pooling or stagnating.

2  Emotional Stability and Focus

When Chi is balanced, emotion moves like weather—passing through, not getting stuck.

The heart feels open but steady. Focus sharpens, yet the mind stays calm.

Small irritations fade more quickly because internal currents stay even rather than spiking or collapsing.

Taoists called this “clarity through still energy.”

3  Self‑Healing and Longevity

Unblocked Chi activates the body’s natural repair system. Cells renew faster, tension dissolves, sleep deepens.

Over time, this steadiness becomes the true foundation of longevity: energy that restores rather than leaks away.

Taoist philosophy saw this not as magic but as maintenance—life energy circulating instead of scattering.

The body is innately designed to heal itself. When Chi flows freely, this innate self-healing mechanism carries us through life.

What Blocks the Flow of Chi Energy

Even though Chi moves through everyone, most adults experience some degree of stagnation.

Blockages arise when emotional strain, poor posture, artificial light, or environmental toxins interrupt the body’s natural rhythm.

Taoists compared this to a river slowly clogging with silt: flow weakens not because the river disappears, but because it can’t move freely through the bends.

So what blocks the natural flow of Chi energy within our bodies?

1  Negative emotions and chronic stress

Fear, resentment, or chronic stress constrict the body. Shoulders tighten, breath shortens, and circulation slows.

Every unexpressed emotion becomes a micro‑blockage that reroutes energy.

Over time, these constrictions translate into fatigue, anxiety, or physical pain.

Release begins with awareness—allowing suppressed and repressed emotions to move rather than holding them back.

2  Physical Inactivity and Modern Living

Hours of sitting, screen light, and shallow breathing dull the body’s electrical rhythm.

Movement generates Chi; stillness without breath drains it.

Digital overstimulation fragments attention, scattering subtle energy across too many inputs.

Restoring flow requires cycles of motion, deep rest, and reconnection with natural light and grounded surfaces.

3  Internal Inconsistencies

The Taoist idea of integrity meant alignment on every level—physical, emotional, and moral. When we act out of tune with ourselves, the flow falters.

Dishonesty is another aspect of improper living that influences our Chi. Lying, for example, collapses various acupuncture meridians.

However, a more significant issue is self-deception—that is, being dishonest with oneself.

Self-deception is a sign that we’re divorced from our Self, or as they would say in depth psychology, one’s psyche is split.

These types of psychic splits, reinforced by dishonesty, disrupt the natural flow of Chi.

4  Environmental and Energetic Noise

The human body constantly exchanges charge with its surroundings.

Processed foods, polluted air, “junk light,” fluorinated water, alcohol and drugs, non-native electromagnetic fields, and artificial blue light influence the flow of chi.

The more tuned in you become to your subtle energy field and the movement of chi within your body, the easier it will be to identify and remove these common pollutants.

Clean environments, clean intentions, and truthful living remain the ultimate energy detox.

How to Unblock Chi Energy

When your Chi energy is unblocked, your experience of the body is very different. Most individuals have little awareness of the inner workings of their bodies. Most of us are completely numb in many regions of our bodies.

For example, when there’s no blockage, you can feel virtually every region of your body, including the movement of all your organs. This sensitivity level helps you detect and feel the flow of Chi (which is different from blood flow).

Some of the practices one can explore to help unblock their Chi include:

• Tuning the Breath
• Practicing Qigong
• Trauma-Release Exercises
• Acupuncture

Let’s examine each one.

Tuning the Breath

As we saw above, Chi energy blockage is primarily caused by unprocessed emotions. When we experience negative emotions, such as fear, for a prolonged period, it can change how we breathe.

As a consequence, to support the free flow of energy within the body, we must train ourselves to breathe properly, allowing the body to become properly oxygenated and relaxed. In Eastern traditions, this is often referred to as “tuning the breath.”

Tuning the breath is less about exerting effort to breathe a certain way. It’s more about learning the principles of natural breathing and then allowing the body to return to this state.

See this in-depth guide on how to breathe properly.

Wuji Standing Posture in Zhan Zhuang

Practicing Qigong

Qigong translates to the way of energy or energy skill. It is said that there are multiple qigong systems, each comprising thousands of exercises (3,600) in the East. Qigong systems encompass a range of exercises, movements, standing postures, forms, and breathing techniques.

Many people are familiar with Tai Chi, an internal martial art form primarily based on the principles of qigong. (Many Tai Chi practitioners also train in qigong.)

One qigong practice that I highly recommend is called Zhan Zhuang, which translates to pole-standing or standing like a tree.

Zhan Zhuang helps you stabilize your energy and learn how to sink your awareness into your body.

See this in-depth guide on Zhan Zhuang.

Trauma-Release Exercises

For many individuals, qigong may not be sufficient for opening their bodies. In my experience, most qigong practices in the West are too gentle. (Gentle or soft qigong is more appropriate for elderly individuals.)

Western approaches to breaking up trauma within the body can be beneficial to many individuals interested in unblocking their Chi.

Dr. David Berceli’s Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) can be highly useful. They are designed to induce spontaneous shaking in the body that helps release trauma stored in the psoas muscle region. (Zhan Zhuang can produce a similar result if you stand for long enough.)

Here’s an introduction to TRE by Berceli.

Another option is Bioenergetic Analysis, pioneered by Dr. Alexander Lowen. This system is also designed to help you release chronic muscular tension through deep stretches, movements, and breathing exercises. (Just search for “bioenergetic analysis.” There’s a lot of information available online.)

Deep Stretching

At the core of methods like TRE and Bioenergetic Analysis are deep stretching systems that target specific body regions where most people have energetic blockage.

Learning how to stretch intentionally and carefully, while breathing deeply and maintaining awareness in a specific area, is a vital skill for releasing stored tension and trauma.

For example, many individuals unconsciously hold tremendous jaw tension, which blocks the flow of chi energy.

Deep stretching and conscious relaxation help you develop greater kinesthetic intelligence or body awareness.

Yoga-style stretches can also be helpful here. The key is to learn to sink your awareness into your body.

All of the above methods offer various stretching routines. Eventually, you can develop your own.

Acupuncture

Another classical approach to releasing energetic blockage in the Eastern arts is acupuncture. This ancient system uses an understanding of the body’s energy meridians to address physical symptoms related to blockages in specific branches.

Early on in my journey, I visited five or six different acupuncturists, including one who’s considered a multi-generational master. My results were marginal at best, but they will vary from individual to individual.

You can also learn to perform “self-acupuncture” without needles, using only your awareness (called Yi). For example, see Damo Mitchell’s Heavenly Streams (2013).

How to Cultivate Chi Energy

The original alchemists were Taoist practitioners. These internal alchemists sought methods of cultivating this primal life-force energy within their bodies. They developed numerous pathways for cultivating Chi energy.

The first step is to open one’s energetic channels via a combination of stretching, movements, postures, and breathing techniques.

Methods for cultivating Chi energy include:

• Qigong and Neigong Practices
• Internal Martial Arts
• Cultivation of Virtues
• Jing Stabilization
• Seated Meditation
• Conscious Eating

Now, let’s look at each of these options.

Qigong and Neigong Practices

We already covered qigong above. One of the best ways to begin cultivating life force energy is by learning how to stand and practicing it daily.

Neigong is a more advanced set of practices and understanding of Chi. It is specifically focused on cultivating Chi. Below, I have linked to a few recommended books on this topic.

Internal Martial Arts

Generally speaking, the internal martial arts include three “sister forms”:

1. Tai Chi
2. Bagua
3. Xingyiquan

All three sister forms have interrelated principles and different mechanics for cultivating and moving energy through the body.

Cultivation of Virtues

The Taoist classic, the Tao Te Ching, translates to “The Book of the Way and Its Virtues.”

Virtues play a central role in the cultivation of Chi energy within the Taoist arts. (Recall above how self-deception and lying disrupt the flow of Chi.)

As Qigong Master Dr. Yan Xin explains:¹Yan Xin, Secrets and Benefits of Internal Qigong Cultivation, 1994, 66.

In the cultivation and application of qigong, virtue always plays a technical role that is uniquely central, pivotal, and sustaining. The source of the qi of qigong contains substances and energies based on highly unified matter and spirit. Virtue determines our ability to access this source.

According to Dr. Xin, virtues represent 70% of one’s Qigong energy cultivation.

Jing Stabilization

As we saw above from the Three Treasures, Jing (Life’s Essence) converts to Chi within the body.

Sadly, many of us regularly leak and rapidly destroy our Jing via excitation, over-stimulation, and sexual activity. For men, in particular, sex/ejaculation is the primary way Jing is depleted.

Anyone interested in cultivating their Chi for longevity and long-term health should learn and apply the principles of sexual energy transmutation.

Seated Meditation

Another way to stabilize Jing and cultivate Chi energy is through various forms of seated meditation.

However, meditative practices for energy cultivation are not the same as mindfulness-based meditations or other consciousness-based approaches (like Vipassana).

Cultivating energy through meditation is the focus of Nei Gong methods, which are employed after establishing a foundation in proper sitting, standing, and movement-based practices. The body must be open before sitting practices can consolidate and circulate one’s Chi.

Conscious Eating

In addition to the primordial energy we’re born with (also called Yang Qi), the primary way we build energy in our bodies is by converting the energy from food.

Ideally, the food we eat converts into Chi energy. In my experience, learning the principles of energy and how Chi works in the body can significantly alter one’s approach to food and eating habits.

Most people associate eating with pleasure. In effect, most of us eat to “get high” and change our emotional state. For example, eating wheat produces effects akin to morphine.

That is, we use food as a way of self-medicating without being fully conscious of our behavior.

However, when one understands the principles of energy and develops sensitivity or body awareness, one starts to eat very differently.

From the perspective of the Taoist arts, we are meant to eat mainly for energy conversion (not pleasure). When we eat for energy, we naturally eat less and become highly selective about what we eat.

See also: The Ultimate List of Spiritual Practices (200+)

Integrating Chi into Daily Life

Cultivation means little if it stays confined to practice sessions.

True integration happens in movement, conversation, even in silence. Every ordinary act becomes part of the energy circuit.

Walk with awareness of the feet contacting the ground—miniature earthing sessions built into daily life.

Stretch your spine at the desk, look at real daylight, breathe through transitions instead of rushing.

By leaving small pauses between tasks, Chi settles instead of scattering.

Alignment also extends to relationships. Speak honestly but calmly; listen fully instead of reloading the next thought.

Each micro‑moment of attention keeps the heart field open and energy continuous.

That’s the real purpose of practice—to carry inner coherence into an incoherent world.

Chi Energy as the Source of Life

Chi is the rhythm behind everything that lives—a current that moves through breath, thought, and intention.

When you cultivate it, you aren’t adding something new; you’re uncovering what’s already alive underneath distraction and fatigue.

Taoist texts described this as “returning to the Origin,” the state where effort dissolves, and life flows of its own accord.

Science now observes similar harmony in balanced nervous systems and synchronized cellular oscillations. In simpler language: you feel clear, strong, and quietly joyful.

Regular practice of breathing, grounding, and self‑honesty keeps this current strong.

When Chi flows freely, vitality is no longer something you chase—it’s the natural state of a body in truth with itself.

Related Reading

Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change
by Damo Mitchell

A Comprehensive Guide to Daoist Nei Gong
by Damo Mitchell

The Way of Energy
by Lam Kam Chuen

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Scholarly References

• McCraty, R. (2017). New Frontiers in Heart Rate Variability and Social Coherence Research: Techniques, Technologies, and Implications for Improving Group Dynamics and Outcomes. Frontiers in Public Health, 5, 290543.
• Álvarez-Prats, D., Carvajal-Fernández, O., Garrido, F. V., Pecos-Martín, D., García-Godino, A., Santafe, M. M., & Medina-Mirapeix, F. (2019). Acupuncture Points and Perforating Cutaneous Vessels Identified Using Infrared Thermography: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2019(1), 7126439.
• Langevin HM, Yandow JA. Relationship of acupuncture points and meridians to connective tissue planes. Anat Rec. 2002 Dec 15;269(6):257-65.
• Heubner, F., Lieberman, K., Rubino, R. & Wall, J., 1984, Demonstration of high opioid-like activity in isolated peptides from wheat gluten hydrolysates, Peptides 5:1139-47.