Energy and Health

The purpose of yoga is to free "the posture from any blockages or kinks which may be inhibiting it . . . there is a resistance at some point to the flow of energies. In fact, all disease is merely a restriction of the flow of life force in a particular area...." (Peter Renchi, Introduction to the Chakras, p. 48. Quoted in Arnold Mindell's book Dreambody, p. 95.)

Taoistic yoga is also based on the mastery - through breathing - of a subtle energy called mercuriality or vitality. These rituals all try to master serpent energy and use inner concentration, meditation and active imagination on the subtle body responses. (Arnold Mindell, Dreambody, p. 137.)

Oneness with the universe is the essence of human life and when this is achieved the life power can manifest maximum force. If this life power functions strongly all the cell bodies are protected by the life power and work well. Then we can be completely healthy. (Koichi Tohei, Kiatsu, p. 16.)

Energy and Personal Power

The Third Insight "describes a new understanding of the physical world. It says that humans will learn to perceive what was formerly an invisible type of energy." (James Redfield, The Celestine Prophecy, p. 40.)

In other words, the basic stuff of the universe, at its core, is looking like a kind of pure energy that is malleable to human intentions and expectations in a way that defies our old mechanistic model of the universe - as though our expectation itself causes our energy to flow out into the world and affect other energy systems. (The Celestine Prophecy, p. 42.)

"Power is something a warrior deals with," he said. "At first it's an incredible, far-fetched affair; it is hard to even think about it. This is what is happening to you now. Then power becomes a serious matter; one may not have it, or one may not even fully realize that it exists; yet one knows that something is there, something which was not noticeable before. Next power is manifested as something uncontrollable that comes to oneself. It is not possible for me to say how it comes or what it really is. It is nothing and yet it makes marvels appear before your very eyes. And finally power is something in oneself, something that controls one's acts and yet obeys one's command." (Don Juan, speaking to Carlos Castaneda in Journey to Ixtlan, p. 125.)

"Power is a very peculiar affair," he said. It is impossible to pin it down and say what it really is. It is a feeling that one has about certain things. Power is personal. It belongs to oneself alone." (Journey to Ixtlan, p. 153.)

"A hunter of power entraps it and then stores it away as his personal finding. Thus, personal power grows, and you may have the case of a warrior who has so much personal power that he becomes a man of knowledge. (Journey to Ixtlan, p. 153.)