The Final Call

Balancing life’s force

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There is a heartbeat that flows through the universe. There is a rhythm that pulses through all life, every living creature. It is intangible, cannot necessarily be readily felt, but without it there would be no movement, no life.

We know that we are made up of bones, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, etc. But our bodies, which are tiny replicas or microcosms of the universe, need this energy in order to go about our daily lives. It is known in general terms as the life force. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is called Qi (pronounced “chi.”) Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, is one of the oldest forms of medicine, dating back thousands of years. It includes the therapies of acupuncture and herbal remedies, and its ultimate aim is to enable the body to do what it needs to become balanced and healthy. And one of the foundations of TCM is the element of Qi.

Qi is neither substance nor energy. It is both. It is Yin (female) energy and Yang (male) energy. It is transformation and movement. Qi is “present before, during, and after any metamorphosis.” Every living thing is made up of Qi, and our outer lives reflect the inner state of our Qi. The state of imbalance is a form of Qi, resulting in manifestations of stagnation or deficiency, which will express themselves in our daily lives. As wives, mothers, housekeepers, nursemaids, teachers, working in and out of the home, it is very easy for our Qi, as women, to become imbalanced. This imbalance can manifest as high blood pressure, fatigue, irritability, mood swings, body aches, menstrual issues, headaches, fibroids, just to name a few. And as the heartbeat and the pulse of the home, when we are thrown off, everything and everyone in the home gets thrown off.

A Chinese medicine practitioner is taught to look at the patient, not as a structure made up of many separate parts, but as a whole entity, a landscape where each part is interdependent upon the other to promote a unified and harmonious flow. But looking on a deeper level, we all can see the manifestations of this imbalance of Qi on a larger scale, in our homes and in our communities that have become barren wastelands of unhealthiness in the miseducation of our children, unemployment, the many liquor stores and fast food chains that dot our streets, sickness, violence, and a general lack of knowledge of self.

However, Qi can be transformed into a state of balance and health. “The Qi of illness can be transformed into healthy Qi by a medicine that resonates between the two particular states.”  Resonance is “the process by which a thing, when stimulated, spontaneously responds, according to the natural guidelines of the particular phases of vital energy engendered in itself and active in the situation.” We as Muslims under the direction and guidance of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan know we were given medicine that resonates and that brings us and our communities into balance in the form of the Teachings of the Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad as given to him by Allah (God in Person) Master Fard Muhammad. However, all of us, no matter who we are, can work to bring our Qi back into balance. 

By taking time for ourselves, time to meditate, lighting a candle and sitting in silence, getting the proper rest, and staying away from unhealthy foods, we nourish our bodies and minds.  Positive reading materials raise our energy levels and our consciousness and keep us connected. Prayer is the best method of spiritually transforming our Qi as it grounds us and connects us to Spirit, to the Ultimate Power Source, the Ultimate Energizer and Qi Giver, Almighty God. 

So as we go about our hectic lives, trying to be everything to everyone, remember that energy that flows through us. May we listen to our bodies. Let’s remember our Qi and take the time to keep it balanced and achieve the optimal health, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

(Rachel 4X is a Chicago based freelance court reporter and will soon be finished completing her clinical hours and will be taking her boards to complete her Masters of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine. She can be reached at [email protected].)