​Sensing Qi is one of the first steps in cultivating Qi. Tuning in paying attention to our feelings is one of the first steps to begin to expand our sensing skills. 

Feelings are one of the first sensing tools we use because our feelings are always with us. As a result, our feelings naturally become our internal navigation device, almost like a compass or our internal GPS system to help us find our life purpose and navigate our life to satisfy that purpose.

Our feelings are the way we learn to maneuver through our life. It is the way we learn to steer which way we want to go, which decisions we should make, and the type of life we want to live. It is our feelings, and being able to tune in, and then learn to interpret and understand the feeling and the message associated with that feeling.  

We have lots of different types of feelings, but when you first start to cultivate Qi and pay attention to feelings to help you learn how to sense Qi, you begin by grouping your feelings into different buckets:

• Positive feelings
• Negative feelings
• Neutral feelings

This helps you identify the type of subtle energy associated with different feelings.

Next, you notice when and why you are having that feeling. For example, “I get a feeling of dread each morning when I get off the elevator and go through the doors at work.”  You then recognize you have a negative feeling, you labeled it as dread, and it happens when you go to work.
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You then bring in your mental skills and begin to analyze and interpret why you are having those feelings. “Is it just in the morning? Is it just on this floor of the building? Is it associated with the type of job you have? Is it associated with someone you work with?”

As you expand your awareness and go deeper into understanding your feelings and why you are experiencing those feelings, you expand ability to sense and interpret subtle message through feelings. This process and expansion improves your ability to understand your life purpose and to get on, as well as stay on, a life path that is right for you. 

The flow of Qi in our bodies is impacted by many things, including our emotions. Our emotions create thoughts, and our thoughts create emotions. Because our thoughts have energy, our thoughts will direct where Qi flowss.This means, that our feelings and thoughts can (and do) change the normal flow of Qi.
There is an old Chinese saying that says,

• When one is angry, then the qi rises.
• When one is joyous, then the qi relaxes.
• When one is sad, then the qi dissipates.
• When one is in fear, then the qi moves down.
• In case of cold the qi collects; in case of heat, the qi flows out.
• When one is frightened, then the qi is in disorder.
• When one is exhausted, then the qi is wasted.
• When one is pensive, then the qi lumps together

When we consistently use a certain negative emotion over and over again, such as anger,, that means our Qi will change its normal flow and not be where we need it.Over time, this will create health problems in certain parts of the body, depending on which negative emotion we tend to use all the time.

Different organs in the body are sensitive to certain emotions and the Qi will change directions with the thoughts and emotions we hang on to and use over and over. This chart shows the positive and negative emotions,and what happens when our Qi gets out of balance due to our negative emotions - we create symptoms and health problems around the organ which is most sensitive by that emotion or where the qi gets stuck.