Important Guidance for the Solar Eclipse: What You Should Know
/Greetings YOQI community!
This Wednesday, October 2nd, we will experience a powerful cosmic event: an annular solar eclipse, also known as the "Ring of Fire." As many of you have asked me what Qigong practices are appropriate for this time, I want to share an important piece of guidance: it’s not an optimal time for energy work.
During an eclipse, yin and yang are not stable. The ancient texts of Daoist alchemy warn us to avoid Qigong and internal alchemy practices during extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes and lightening storms as well as eclipses.
In Thailand, where I have lived for over 20 years, villagers traditionally bang on pots and pans during an eclipse to scatter negative energy and scare away evil spirits that may come around. While this may seem like a superstition, it has roots in Vedic Astrology. The eclipse brings a profound energetic transition, and for the hour during an eclipse, especially if it’s visible to you, it is best to avoid doing Qigong or any form of energy cultivation. It’s also not a good time to make big decisions or take risks.
Instead, I encourage you to stay home, center your energy, and wait until the eclipse has passed. Afterward, it’s a wonderful time to do Qigong to reset and balance your energy - such as the Daily Qigong Routine or the Five Element Flow for Abundance.
However, during the eclipse, there’s still something positive you can focus on: peace. When the forces of yin and yang—the sun and moon—are in such extreme movement, there is a lot of energy flowing, both negative and positive. This is a perfect moment to embrace peace and focus on positive energy. Here's what you can do instead:
Take Time to Rest: The eclipse is a time for stillness. It’s the perfect moment to simply observe without trying to manipulate or cultivate your energy.
Stay Grounded: Focus on grounding activities that help you stay centered, such as relaxing in nature, drinking plenty of water, and simply being in the present moment.
Focus on loving kindness and peace: When energy is shifting and other dimensions are open, chanting the Metta Meditation is a powerful way to protect your energy and contribute to peace on the planet. Here is the Buddhist Metta Mantra to radiate universal kindness to all beings:
Let’s use this enhanced moment of energetic transition to cultivate peace within ourselves and share that peace with the world around us.
After the eclipse, return to your Qigong practice to restore balance and harmony.
Wishing you peace,
Marisa