Go with Your Gut

Recent reports from the German magazine Geo indicate that scientists have discovered an intricate neural network near the intestines and stomach area of human beings and are calling it a "second brain." The area is thought to contain more cells than can be found in the spinal cord. Research indicates that this area may retain information regarding somatic reactions toward mental stimuli.

This research is in direct alignment with the teaching of Eastern religions which focus attention on energy centers in the body and pay special consideration to the area around the belly. In Taoist disciplines such as Kung Fu or Tai Chi Chuan this center is called the tan t’ien, in Japanese teachings it is called the Hara, and in Yogic practices it is the solar plexus chakra or Manipura.

It is from this center that we exchange energy with the world around us, and it is very important to be mindful of the reactions emanating from this area. It is here that we are most prone to bleeding or leaking energy, and this is also the place most vulnerable to psychic attack from negative thought forms from an individual or mass culture.

Vital energy, known as chi in Taoism, and prana in Yoga, is as important to human functioning as air, food, or water. This idea is the missing link in human evolution, for once the energetic system is understood and accepted by the masses there will be a revolution in how we deal with each other and our environment.

Because we need to have a flow of energy through our systems constantly, those who are unaware of how to generate this energy, through meditation, prayer, physical practice, or some form of interaction with divine essence, will develop mechanisms for stealing chi from others. That is why we feel a"pit" in our stomach when we are around negative people who seem to drag us down with their behavior. These people are literally leaching our vital essence.

In her book Positive Energy, Dr. Judith Orloff, MD, describes the ways that we can revitalize our energetic systems to alleviate stress, heal disease, and improve our lives in every way. She also offers practical solutions for combating "energy vampires," and the different manipulations that these people use to rob us of our energy in various ways.

The first step is for us to pay attention to the signals our body is giving us, and to trust our gut reactions. There is now scientific proof that those reactions are an important part of the mind and its interaction with our environment