We were certainly (ahem…) flush with comments when we discussed the idea of shutting the bathroom door in order to keep good Chi (or qi) out of the bedrooms where people sleep.
Where things took an interesting turns was when – thanks to comments – I got to looking at a possible relationship between chi and ion effects.
If you’re a long-term reader, you will remember the discussion. But, if not, here’s a thumbnail sketch:
There are atoms (and molecules) generally come in three flavors: plain (where the number of electrons is equal to the number of protons), anions (where an extra electron is present and the atom of molecule has a negative charge), and cations (which lack an electron and are positively charged).
Collectively, these things are referred to as ionization of (whatever), but in our discussion this morning we’ll be talking about air.
Now here’s the funny thing about positive ions. They bum people out.
Some famous examples of positive ions which come from hot, dry, desert winds: The Santa Ana winds of California, the Sirroco winds of the Sahara, and the Meltemi winds off mountains in Greece.
What happens when positively charged winds blow is that people tend to become lethargic, depressed, less cheerful, and so on.
At the other end of the spectrum are people like Elaine and I. We are negative ion addicts.
Negative ions are created by what? Falling water…so negative ion addicts love their morning showers – as it has the same mental effects as coffee in some regards.
Another example is cool mountain air, especially in the morning when dew is about, or hanging around a beach where there is a pounding surf, or at one on my favorite places in the world near Snoqualmie Summitt on I-90 in Washington State, a nice waterfall with an up-canyon wind.
There are machines you can buy that are negative ion generators and you can pick them up on eBay or Amazon not too expensively.
I have a small one in my office – which I turned back on this week. And we have a big one in the house that offers an assortment of ionization options: Anions only, ionization only, or both.
I have been around negative ions a good part of my life because people with athsma seem to do better when the air they breathe has been slightly ionized. One of the side effects of negative ions is it tends to make dust “fall out of the air” since it is no longer repelled (cations, remember?) so when it touches ionized air, the dust loses its repelling charge and falls to the ground.
What the Hell does this have to Do With Chi?
Well, sorry for the long bout of literary foreplay, but we all need to be on the same page here.
And here’s where my thinking went on Wednesday morning while pondering the next/further additions to my office: A small water feature and a jade plant on a mirror, as I am working on making the perfect feng shui’ed trading office.
Is there something about Chi/Qi that people have missed?
Here’s the proposition for you: What IF Chi is nothing more than an informal-folk shorthand for managing local environment ionization?
This occurred to me while I was looking at the recently added picture of a waterfall that now lives in the southwest corner of my office.
While I was sitting there thinking about it (focusing with a magnifying glass because my best eye is still 20-100 or worse) it occurred to me that “Aha! George you idiot: A water picture/feature would ne a high negative ion point!”
Well, I’ll be dipped and rolled in it.
And about the six Chinese coins on the back of my door? Could there be some way that the present of metal somehow changes air?
Of course!
There is the slow oxidation of brass and copper, is there not? Not a huge deal, in terms ofd ions, but is it possible?
And the importance of flushing the toilet? Ah…falling water, again.
And in the bathroom, would there not be residual smells (Elaine insists on the word odors by the way, as scents don’t have noses…but another discussion for some other time).
When I thought about it, yes, there would be methane and odiferous sulfur aromatics and yes, I suppose that would impact local ionization levels…
It might also explain why some ham radio operators (like me) are absolutely fascinated with tube-type electronics. Some of my high-end audiophile friends are, too: The high voltages present generate small, but real amounts of negative ions.
I have a lot more work to do on the topic. Especially because Chi/Qi is also central to Chinese acupuncture theory and practice.
But here, once again, the science that is coming out of accupunmcture keeps coming around to needs (conductors) shorting out subtle electrical connections.
There has been a lot of discussion about how electricity works at the cosmological level. Some, such as James McCanney, have even suggested Solar-planetary discharges over geological timescales. And certainly, coronal mass ejections have an electrical as well as particle aspect.
But we’ll pause the discussion for this morning by simply asking this question: Are there still things to learn about environmental electronics from a further reverse-engineering of Chi/Qi precepts of design?
Even the placement of hills in the auspicious directions from a city could influence upslope and downslope winds, and at some subtle level, might the small variations in ionization over time, result in unexpected cumulative results?
Inquiring minds, yada, yada…
Taming the New Cat
Looking for ideas here.
We have a new kitty that has decided to show up about 8 AM at the fence out by the road.
We’ve been giving it food – darn thing is about half-starved.
Neat thing about the cat: It’s pure black – just like Zeus the Cat who has been our copy editor and part-time mouser for several years.
Whether it’s being around our ramshackle news operation, or not, Zeus has a very bad ‘tude toward the young ‘un.
Any ideas on how to get the cats to get along nicely with one another would be appreciated. Zeus looks at the intruder as a theif of his food source and my eyes aren’t in good enough condition to research Overcoming Cat Jealousy.
Might be a talk show in their. The Whiskas Whisperer, or something.
Adventures in Nearly Blind
The other morning I remarked several times to Elaine that “My, these grapes sure have big seeds.”
After about the fourth complaint, she looked at me and announced “Those are cherries, you fool!”
Well, I’ll be damned.
– – – –
Since I am legally blind – at least for a while longer – depending on how a new special type contact fitting goes Friday, I can tell you one of my favorite jokes of all time.
Guy walks up to an airline counter to check in and he’s holding a small dog.
He takes the small dog, grabs it by the tail and swings it around his head a couple of times.
Unable to stand it, the customer service perso9n says “Sir, what are you doing with that poor dog?”
“Well, he’s my service animal…and I was just having a look around….”
(rim shot)
Again, I am “blind” at the moment, and living in the world of Microsoft tools for the vision impaired. Once the eyes are back in commission again, we will return to our usual more serious and somber decorum.
It has been no fun. And Zeus’s tail is still twisted from some experiments this week. Doesn’t tome to “Here kitty, kitty…” anymore, either.
Remember: here;s not an adversity in the world that can’t be turned into a ham sandwich.
Write when you get rich…
Sorry, but cats in general will not get along any better with your involvement. Being a veteran of 13 barn cats, once upon a time, the new ones will be on the outs until they’ve managed to make a place for themselves in the social structure.
In your current situation Zeus has no other outlet for his displeasure than the new arrival. The only thing which would help is to get yet another new arrival so he’ll be able to split up his animosity between the two. The drawback here is that as the young ones mature they’ll team up against him, which will force him to form alternating alliances with the other two.
Might have been better to have left the young one as prey for the local fauna. It is a dog eat cat world, as you’ve so succinctly pointed out many times.
If you’re going to keep it them you’re going to have to name it, which will form an attachment in your psyche, which will only make Zeus worse, which may put your office environment at risk.
Welcome to the wonderful world of domesticated animals and the frustrations they provide.
lol
If you want the cats to get along, the absolutely best thing to do is make sure they are both spayed or neutered. Then wait a month for hormones to process out of their systems. Anything else you do will not matter until this is done.
Interesting stuff – had never considered that flow of qi and ionization might be connected.. it kinda makes sense, doesn’t it?
Hope things work out well tomorrow, G. We’re pulling for you.
P.S.- I like that the old tagline is back. :)
You better get a “cat” scan or get some “lab” work done.
Snoqualmie Falls? Beautiful, magical sort of place. I’d love to visit again, but it’s a long trip from that forgotten little Shangri-La hidden away to your NE, between Texas and Tennessee. Maybe if I had an airplane?
For about 100 years there has been a field of study called “Geobiology”. There are many natural and human made “geopathic” energies which are harmful, and these can be detected and neutralized. In Europe there are entire associations of architects who build energy-balanced buildings. I have taught these topics since the mid 1980’s.
It was scientifically demonstrated in the 1920’s that certain of these energies cause cancer. Hundreds of “diseases” have been demonstrated to relate to these energies. Most of these energies are easy to neutralize once you understand them.
check out David Wilcock’s book, Sourcefield Investigations and some episodes of his Wisdom Teachings tv shows on Gaia where he covers this subject in detail.
A woman brought a very limp parrot into a veterinary hospital. As she lay her pet on the table, the vet pulled out his stethoscope and listened to the bird’s chest. After a moment or two, the Vet shook his head sadly and said, “I’m so sorry, Polly has passed
away.”
The distressed owner wailed, “Are you sure? I mean, you haven’t done any testing on him or anything. He might just be in a coma or something.”
The vet rolled his eyes, shrugged, turned and left the room returning a few moments later with beautiful black Labrador. As the bird’s owner looked on in amazement, the dog stood on his hind legs, put his front paws on the examination table and sniffed the dead parrot from top to bottom. He then looked at the vet with sad eyes and shook his head.
The vet led the dog out but returned a few moments later with a cat. The cat jumped up and also sniffed delicately at the ex-bird. The cat sat back, shook its head, meowed and ran out of the room. The vet looked at the woman and said, “I’m sorry; but like I said, your parrot is most definitely, 100% certifiably …dead.”
He then turned to his computer terminal, hit a few keys and produced a bill which he handed to the woman. The parrot’s owner, still in shock, took the bill. “$150!” she cried. “$150 just to tell me my bird is dead?!”
The vet shrugged. “If you’d taken my word for it, the bill would only have been $20, but with the Lab Report and the Cat Scan, what did you expect?”
Naming the cat. Hmm, I recall something about “Zeus” being the short form of “Hey Zeus”. Of course, no one wants to call out “Hey Zeus” after dark in Texas at night anymore.
Anyway, maybe the new cat’s name could be “Diddle” as in the short form for “Hey Diddle, Diddle, Cat and the Fiddle” and so forth?
“It might also explain why some ham radio operators (like me) are absolutely fascinated with tube-type electronics”
But honey that BC-610 will benefit you too!!
I was thinking a Collins 21-E modified for 3885 kHz…
Hoping your eye procedure goes well George.
Back from our 2 week cruise, saw my son in Hilo and went zip lining in Kauai. had a good time and gained 6 pounds.
An important quality of Chi is that it spins, just like electrons. In an energy balanced state the chi spins in a counter-clockwise direction. Magnetic fields cause spin, with the north pole causing counter-clockwise spin. Counter-clockwise spin is healthy for the body. A breast cancer shows clockwise spin. A common demonstration with kinesiology / muscle testing is to show a muscle weakens with the south pole of a magnet and strengthens with the north pole. Iit is because of the spin. Chi is the essence of life.
George, we have 9 indoor cats and 2 barn cats at Three Meows Farm, and socializing cats is interesting and complex. It can go quickly, take months, or never happen. There are basically 2 types of personalities, lions and panthers. Lion types are more social and can hang out in groups. Panther types are loners. There are a lot of things to try to maximize your chances. If you want to email me a phone number and a convenient time in the evening I’ll give you a call to discuss it. It’s a little too complex for an email discussion.
James Johnson, ex-nuke
Keep your cats in separate areas for several weeks so that they can smell and get used to the presence of one another. Separate food bowls, and separate litter boxes. Then slowly introdue them to each other. Hold the stray cat so Zeus can smell its rival on you. Zeus most likely did not have another cat around when it was young and needs to learn cat social skills.
Right after college, I had a roommate who was legally blind, but worked as an IT professional with corrective eyewear. He made big money, but did not have to pay taxes like the rest of us due to his legal blindness. (As in, huge deduction).
I ownder if your temporary condition can be “pro-rated?”
i’d take the rax hit any time
Having been involved in martial arts for quite some time, I have worked on harnessing/directing my qi. It helps to think of qi as energy that travels through the body along well defined paths. Acupuncture and acupressure are techniques to break up points where the energy flow is blocked. I had a flash of inspiration, as I flushed the toilet: equate our internal qi pathways with the earth’s magnetic field, and ionized air with the solar stream. Perhaps the effects we feel from different levels/types of ions is the effect they are having, good and bad, on our qi network, creating or removing points of blockage. Or, perhaps, I’ve had way too much Starbucks this morning.
NO, man you are on the right track~
Great column, man !
I wonder if the ion balance in one’s space has anything to do with influencing luck and fortune ?,(as in good fortune)
Name the new cat Thor. Puts him on an equal footing with Zeus, just a different mythology.
Lt.S
When it has not rained for a long period of time, not only do the plants suffer, everyone feels the negative affects too of the charged atmosphere. Rain discharges the tension of the positively charged ions, bringing balance with the negative ionization.
George for the reason you described the attraction for you to your discharging activity, tis the same for me as I garden and could be why anyone is drawn to boating, fishing, various water activities here in the northland as people escape the city to the lakes. I do a lot of plant hand watering. No matter then where I go with water in hand, I create good chi as I release tension. I also enjoy doing dishes by hand, never using an automatic dish washer. I do not need a long shower because I am releasing tension all day long with water play.
As people have even gotten away from turning on the faucet to get a glass of water, drinking out of a prepackaged water bottle, they’ve taken away yet another tension releaser. Never mind the changing of the water structure, as well as municipal water being totally dead with various toxic treatments. There is a reason water drawn from a well is called “well water” – it contains life.
Lab report and cat scan, LMFAO. Have you checked out thunderbolts project?
Hello, George. Re: The New Cat. Were you to name it Loki, at least you would know what to expect. Seriously, though, not meaning to sound morbid, but has anyone geographically near you died recently? Might explain why the cat was unfed and suddenly started showing up.
About the eye: to paraphrase the old showbiz sendoff, ‘break a lens!’
You’ll be fine, as long as claws stay away from your face. ;-)
From the comments here, you have some very astute readers. The advice on cats is spot on.
I want to mention an experiment I’ve been doing this spring. February first I bought a Himalayan Salt Lamp. I loved it so much I turned right around and bought a second one on the 4th. So I have two, one in the living room for daytime and one in the bedroom for a night light.
They are supposed to help with allergies and asthma by putting negative ions in the air.
During my visit with the lung doctor yesterday we were talking about HER spring allergies. I told her of my lamps and that I have NOT had any problem with allergies this entire spring season. I think I’ve used two allergy tablets (homeopathic) in the past three months. Usually, I would have to use as many as 4-6 tablets a day.
As for the asthma, I do think I am coughing less but I’m not sure that’s a good thing because when I do need to cough something up I feel everything is dry and tight and it’s hard to get a productive cough. I’m still working on this project, but this is what I’ve noticed so far.
I also have a couple Himalayan salt lamps. But what I didnt know is that they take water from the air, and deposit it on your furniture. Now they are on saucers.
if it’s possible, one of your posters has already suggested a great $ saver…do your own road grading (neighbors pitch in) with that tractor..since that business that made $$ (without a feng shui consultant!) left you a rocky road..
I took a whole semester of Chinese Medicine, one interesting tidbit: It had to conform to a Fibonacci pattern, could not settle with 4 regular seasons, but had to add a ‘late fall’ season, in order to make a 5 pointed star in a round circle. (72 days make the ‘points’ of a whole year.)
http://www.goldennumber.net/five-phi/
Curtis has some good advice to get you started. We have a screen door we put on the guest bedroom with a movable cloth ‘sight blocker’ for intermediate stage introductions. After they get accustomed to the sound and smell of each other we slowly allow more and more visibility of each other.
Also does Zeus have a favorite treat? We have used giving treats to both cats within site of each other but widely separated. This gives a positive association with the sight of each other. Slowly over weeks(months) decrease the distance between the two. Keep introduction sessions short initially. Slowly lengthen them based on their behavior. All of our cats are rescued strays and some were feral. We have had the intro process take only a couple of weeks to as long as 4+ plus months. Only had one that was not fully successful. He adapted to the existing cats but refused to any accept newcomers afterwards (very strong panther personality). He now has the run of half the finished basement and has access to 1/2 acre yard fenced off with electrified poultry netting fencing. We have lots coyotes, some fox, bobcat, and even a mink on the property and all have been know to take cats. The fencing not only protects the cats but also prevents them from being a nuisance to our neighbors. We have also used a modified form of this plan to introduced 2 rescued feral donkeys to our herd.
Also have had success with animal communicators. I was initially very skeptical but have had too much success to reject it now. If you want I can give you contact info for one that I use and trust.
James Johnson, ex-nuke
>the idea of shutting the bathroom door in order to keep good Chi (orqi) out of the bedrooms where people sleep.
You mean the exact opposite of what you wrote. It should be “to keep _BAD_ chi out of the bedrooms…”