the difference?

[Andrew]

I was wondering if there was a real or theoretical difference between the different energies, besides their origins. Especially Psi and Qi (life energy). From what I've seen techniques for using them seem pretty similar and they both can be used for similar things.

[Winged_Wolf]

There's a difference, all right. The energies don't behave in precisely the same ways, some are easier to use for certain applications than for others, and they interact with each other differently.

[Ramza]

One of the big issues with these kinds of arguments is the cultural differences between the places where these energies are discovered.

You see in China where Qi-gong originates, they sort of used to Qi for two main things. One was for universal energy, the theoretical energy of which all other energies are made; they would probably have classified electricity as a form of Qi (for example). The other use was used in medicine, in that sense Qi refers to the energies of your body which must be kept balanced and flowing freely in order to maintain good health.

I don't remember where the idea of psi actually originated (probably Russia or the US), but when it was "discovered" it referred simply to "what ever it is that allows for the use of psychic abilities". Many theories came about for how it worked but to this day, I don't think anybody really knows for sure.

Now the Psion guild is the first place I know of that has attempted to classify all the many types of "psychic" energy that exist in the world.
It refers to two types of energy that are generated by the body. 1. Psi energy which seems semi-electromagnetic and is linked to the nervous system. 2. Life energy which is very mysterious in nature. In many ways, life energy is even more "physical" then psi, it has very significant physical links to the body, most notably to blood; that is to say, your blood contains a lot of your life energy, and as you lose blood you also loose life. It is also less physical then psi because it has links to other factors. For example, certain body motions (such as those in tai-chi and qi-gong) can increase it. It is believed to be generated by the "soul" but is also linked to how healthy you eat and stuff like that.

My opinion is that both psi and life energy qualify as "Qi" according to its medical terminology, but that the concept of Qi actually goes beyond that. For example traditional Chinese medicine refers to certain energy exchanges between people and between a person and the earth, that are necessary in order to maintain good health, however many psions swear off the concept of drawing energy from the earth and actually go out of their way to keep earth energy out of their systems, yet they don't suffer any loss of health because of this. So I must believe that the energy of Qi is also functional on a completely different level then the psychic energy types classified by the Psion guild, and that certain exchanges occur on that level. Perhaps this level is more conceptual then anything else, though nobody can say for sure.

*Looks at post* Okay that was little longer then I expected, but surely all that info will come in handy for somebody. Also note that Winged_Wolf finished her post while I was still writting mine.

[Andrew]

well I guess I can see that qi can be considered more physical. Of course you missed the other important use it has: in martial arts! Of course you can't fly and shoot glowing balls of qi that will blow up mountains like in Dragon ball or whatever (well... no one knows how to, anyway :lol: )

Also, they're both made by the body or in the body. I think Qi may be made in some other area than the nerve centres mentioned at the guild... (something called a "dan tien") I suppose I'm beginning to understand the difference, though.

[Winged_Wolf]

Hm, blood loss doesn't normally cause that much loss of life energy, no. I think you're confusing some statements on vampirism for a more generalized view.

[Ramza]

Really, I assumed that since many Vampires drink blood in order to obtain life energy, that blood must have a very potent link to it.
So if the link between life and blood isn't actually that strong, then how do vampires aquire life energy through the consumption of blood?

I also see a link in that if you were really low on blood, you would be dead and then you wouldn't have any life energy.

[Winged_Wolf]

You're asking the wrong person. For all we know, perhaps it's psychological.

[Snow_Jule]

From what I've heard about blood drinking vampires, they're not really undead entities that must drink blood in order to survive. I have heard that the reason that real vampires acquire life energy through the drinking of blood is because they scare the living crap out of their victims before they die. The more scared they are, the more adrenaline is coursing through the veins. But, there is this business of drawing power from it, not short term, but long term. In that case, they draw knowledge from another persons life force, knowledge would be power. How this happens one could only guess. Also, I have heard of other substances that Vampires take in order to "highten" their senses, such as white gold powder, or mono-atomic gold. Now, if you get enough of that stuff in your blood stream, youll start to be irritated by sunlight and be extremely allergic to sulphates. Egyptian priests would load up on this stuff to have spiritual experiences, then, to prove that they were the holiest of holies would run out into the desert sun and spontaneously combust...

This white gold stuff has also been called mana. Wizards and sorcerers would go through an extremely lengthy process to distill it and then solidify it into an edible form, like a cookie or a small gumdrop or something. If you had enough of it, you could make a man loaf. You can buy this stuff on the internet today. The gold powder is supposed to increase nerve conductivity.

This might be slightly unrealistic, but a Psion could use this stuff to make a mana potion to either regain or highten energy. Of course, if you took to much too often, it would be quite damaging to your system. You would have to be able to regenerate or heal energetically in order for there to be no long lasting effects. On the positive side, if taken in small amounts, the substance is rumored to increase thought process, natural healing process and highten senses. I've never taken the stuff myself, but I thought about it once. I talked to other people about it and the best peice of advice that I got was better never start, once started, better finish. I don't plan on messing with it until I know what I'm exactly dealing with.

[Winged_Wolf]

:shock:

#-o

:smt120

:smt107

:smt075

[Ramza]

I have no idea what Winged Wolf is saying, but I agree completely.

From what I've heard about blood drinking vampires, they're not really undead entities that must drink blood in order to survive.
Most people who study parapsychology already know this.

I have heard that the reason that real vampires acquire life energy through the drinking of blood is because they scare the living crap out of their victims before they die. The more scared they are, the more adrenaline is coursing through the veins.
Here's the deal, even vampires would have a hard time getting away with murder. The average modern day blood drinking vampire doesn't have "victims" they have donors. A vampire would extract a small quantity of blood from a trusted donor via sanitary means (i.e. medical needle, the same kind used for blood tests). All safety precautions are taken to insure the well being of both people. Vampires without donors may drink animal blood (available from many butchers), or rely entirely on energy feeding.

The reason vampires acquire life energy through drinking blood is supposedly because there is some sort of connection between the two. I for one believe that the semi-conceptual nature of life energy causes it to connect to all things necessary for life i.e. you would die without blood, therefore blood must contain life. The same could be said about air or food, but perhaps vampires have a hard time "extracting it" for some reason so they need a more direct route, such as taking the energy directly, or taking it through blood.

Naturally my theory has some holes, but as Winged Wolf said earlier:
For all we know, perhaps it's psychological.
Maybe blood vamps only drink blood because is helps them psychologically connect to there donor in order to draw the energy, or maybe they don't need life energy or blood at all, they only think that they do and they create the symptoms as might a hypochondriac.

As for the stuff about white gold powder and stuff, that really isn't on-topic.

[Snow_Jule]

yeah, I don't know much about vampirism these days, but this is something that I've heard about historical vampirism. Modern vampirism is quite watered down now, not as dark. In the times of Babylon or the dark ages, maybe it was like that.

I also doubt many people on this forum study parapsychology. My bad for stating th obvious to those who do study it...

As for the white gold stuff, your right, its off topic. I was just responding to the post within the thread. Thought it might have been valuable, perhaps relavant to the discussion that was going on.

[Ramza]

I also doubt many people on this forum study parapsychology.
Really, perhaps it's actually my bad then for assuming that most people here do.

The idea of ancient vampires being as you described is interesting to say the least, I've already considered the same idea and was thinking about using it in a book (on the off chance that I ever get around to writing).

[Winged_Wolf]

I don't see any real mention of parapsychology going on here...a lot of newage speculation and bizarre claims with no scientific (or even reliable anecdotal) evidence...
I imagine most people on this forum DO study parapsychology to some degree.

I mean, really now? Exploding Egyptians? Fluff!

Vampires used to be darker? How do you come to THAT conclusion? This has no basis in reality.

Back to energy types, shall we?

[LadyCG]

I dont' post often.. but I am a member and I am Sanguinarian.

I find that blood is more of a physical need than an energy need. I have never been convinced that what a Sang gets from blood is energy related at all. My bet is on something more physically related.. such as the fact that the most easily absorbed form of iron is hemoiron, found in blood. I lean more towards a chemical reason than any other theory, though of course we dont' actually KNOW what it is we use from the blood.. but we can get it from more than just humans. I have survived for long periods of time on animal blood. (hense my suspitions that its chemical in nature)

For the record.. I am over 40 and have been a Sang for over 25 years.

Lady CG.