Olga wrote: I am also interested in the opinions of eurythmists about eurythmy and Qi-kung (not Tai Chi). Could we compare them somehow? I'm aware of the differences, but the most interesting things for me are the external curative effects, when a patient sometimes plays a passive role (it is probably not very anthroposophical, but therapists or doctors exist for helping people who suffer). (http://www.philosophyoffreedom.com/node/1763#comment-6486)
As I am not a eurythmy therapist and I have only a thin slice of experience with qigong I cannot make any authoritative statements about either. I hope that we can develop some useful clarity in conversation here.
Eurythmy derives from the spiritual research of Rudolf Steiner with the intention to inaugurate a deeply meaningful artistic discipline of movement. I have written more about this here. Eurythmy’s therapeutic potential was subsequently recognised and then researched by Steiner.
What is qigong?
"Qigong is not just a set of movements, not just meditation, mantra recitations, or cultivation of qi. Qigong is a path of life mastery, a path to enlightenment. The movements, mantras, and meditations are tools that are used towards that end. The tools should not limit you. They should help you grow... A Qigong form is meant to assist a person in gaining the health, energy, and sensitivity needed to explore the more spiritual dimensions in life. After the basics of Qigong are learned, proper posture and alignments, etc., the student is ready to explore some of the deeper aspects of the art. What happens to some practitioners of spiritual movement systems such as Qigong ... is that they strive for perfection of the form, that is, perfection of the outer form, their posture and alignment. And they end up ignoring the inner experience... What is most important is what is happening on the inside, the energetic, meditative, and spiritual aspect of the art."
Eurythmy, like all the arts, has the capacity to reveal and communicate spiritual truths. It is clear to me that eurythmy is not “a path to enlightenment”. For the anthroposophical path of spiritual development the Philosophy of Freedom offers a starting point. Steiner’s How to Know Higher Worlds offers another approach.
This video clip gives some interesting pointers.
One of the points mentioned in the video is the need for a warrior to be a healer. Here is a difference to therapeutic eurythmy, as a therapist does not need to be a warrior.
Another aspect is the use of the qigong healer’s own energy to release blocked qi in the patient’s body. Here the presence of the patient’s own healing capacity is acknowledged. So also in therapeutic eurythmy, but it is the eurythmy itself that is active in promoting a healing response, not the energy or etheric forces of the therapist. The video also mentions that qigong draws on the chaos of nature. I find this significant. Eurythmy draws on the power of universal formative forces that we recognise in speech. So it would seem that the qigong practitioner uses personal intention and power to catalyse healing in the patient’s body. Therapeutic eurythmy rather introduces formative forces through the gestures that give direction to the healing process in the patient. This would seem to demonstrate a fundamental difference of approach.
eurythmy - movement of the future ?
John,
Thank you very much for your effort and explaining deeper differences between eurythmy and qigong. I really like your article - the answer to the question: “Is eurythmy different to other forms of dance and movement?” here
You make the subject clearer.
Through qigong and eurythmy different forces, ideas reveal and all of them are “working”. The main idea of eurythmy is The Word (<=> formative forces). But probably, like the understanding of true Christianity, eurythmy is still “new” in our world. Which can also means a future.
:)
Future work
Thank you Olga.
It will be a wonderful and gracious step into the future when therapeutic practitioners generously share their wisdom with one another. I am sure that some individual practitioners work together already. If each approach could benefit from the learning of others, I am sure that the differences would be honoured and that the illnesses of our time will find remedies in a range of therapeutic disciplines.
That there will be a greater future for eurythmy, I am certain. The disciples at Pentecost were judged to be drunk! That was not the end of it as we know. Others recognised the significance of Christ. Although christians have been warriors, Christ showed that the Way is one of healing and forgiveness.
There are many reasons why eurythmy is not attractive to all. We must persevere and purify our integrity through ever more introspection into the spirit of our work. Our challenge today is to cultivate a growing understanding through personal experience of the Risen Word: Christ in the ether realm. Eurythmy is founded in the heart of Death's Dancing Master.
Isn't it interesting
Isn't it interesting that the Chinese cannot pronounce the letter R? And that in Eurythmy, the R opens what is called the Du and Ren channels (up the spine to tbe crown then down the upper, mid, and lower Dan Tien on the front side.)
What I find interesting is that, in all the thousands of different "schools" of QiGong, almost every single one puts great emphasis on opening the microcosmic orbit. In many instances they do this, not so much through gesture or movement, but through the breath. The goal is to use the breath as a means of circulating this energy.
In the West, we don't really need a breathing exercise like this. We can simply speak or gesture the letter R and our breath follows suit, sending energy through the Du and Ren channels. (I do mean the R in the German usage here of course! The English R is only the top of the round movement and causes too much energy to be in the head and too much connection with the intellect.) Here's where poetry and tongue twisters, properly pronouncing the R comes in so wonderful.
You know, in ancient India it was observed that those who meditated began to breathe slowly and deeply. And, depending on what was meditated on, the breath would change..to a different rhythmn, or different areas of the body would breathe, and it was also observed the meditant's thoughts were peaceful and their feelings were joyful. It was also observed that if someone breathed this way, without the meditation --just the breath that resulted from the meditation, that the same blissful feelings and peaceful thinking resulted...yet no meditation, no work, took place. And that is how Hatha Yoga was born. It was done out of an attempt to "force" what should ordinarily descend from "grace."
DU and REN Meridians
Thank you Blake for this helpful contribution. For those, like me, who do not know about the meridians of qi flow, here is a useful explanation.
Qi Circulation
The Qi, or energy, of our bodies flows through a complex network of meridians that connects our limbs, internal organs, and surface. There are 20 major meridians in the body. Of these meridians, 12 are the Primary meridians that connect to each major internal organ, and these are divided into 6 Yin and 6 Yang meridians. The other 8 meridians are called the Extra-ordinary meridians. These Extra-ordinary meridians function as reservoirs for the 12 Primary meridians, supplying additional Qi when needed by the body. A proper flow of Qi creates a healthy and energetic mind and body.
The Ren and Du meridians
The most important of these Extra-ordinary meridians are the Ren (Conception) and Du (Governing) meridians. The Ren and Du meridians dominate the Yin and Yang of your body. The Ren meridian travels along the front midline of your body and supplies the 6 Yin meridians. The Du meridian travels along the spine and supplies the 6 Yang meridians. When we activate and connect the Ren and Du meridians, we create an internal circuit for these powerful energies to flow in our body.
Both the Ren and Du meridians begin in your Dan Tian, an energy center located in your lower abdomen just below your naval. When breathing during our Qi Gong practice, we breathe deeply down into the Dan Tian by expanding the lower abdomen in all directions. The Ren channel surfaces at your perineum, a point midway between your genitals and anus, and travels up the front of your body to the tip of your tongue. The Du meridian surfaces at your coccyx, and travels up your spine and around your head to reach your palate inside your mouth. When we touch our tongue to our hard palate in our mouth, we connect these two meridians.
(http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Qi-Gong-Sitting-Meditation)
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