Chi Gung: Chinese Healing, Energy and Natural Magick by L.V. Carnie

Lily of the Valley Carnie has written an informative and enlightening book on the study and practice of Chi Gung (Qigong) that brings a fresh perspective to this 4000 year old art.

The first part of her book covers the fundamental principles and concepts needed for a training program in Chi Gung and includes topics like: Nei Dan vs Wei Dan training; Meridians and Cavities; the principles of Yin and Yang; the philosophy of the Five Elements; the Regulation on Mind, Body and Breath; and the Fire, Wind, and Water Paths of Chi Circulation. In addition, she presents a series of Chi familiarization exercises that provide a foundation for the exploration to follow.

The next sections deals with being able to develop and apply an awareness of Chi within a variety of training contexts such as: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Health, Activity, Sensory, and Nature training. This is the largest section of the book and covers a diverse range of exercises that offer new perspectives on Chi Gung training.

The final section explores more advanced Chi Gung topics and includes many anecdotes from the authors own training experiences. Many of the topics enter the realm of Chi Gung abilities traditionally associated with the Taoist Wizards such as moving objects with your mind or reading people’s spirits. But what I found interesting was how all the abilities discussed here are a reasonable extension of the awareness and sensitivity that Chi Gung training seeks to cultivate and flows naturally from the principles and concepts covered in the previous two sections. I finished this section feeling that our only real limitation is the belief we hold about our limitations.

Her book is arranged in a very “right-brained” fashion. You can open the book to virtually any page and find a lesson, exercise or discussion on Chi dealing with a specific topic such as focusing your awareness to enhance your sense of smell, or increasing your ability to feel the differences of colors, or becoming aware of your body movements and internal tensions while fly-fishing.

I love the way she encourages Chi Gung training in a wide variety of situations and this is what I feel sets it apart from other Chi Gung books. Since Chi is indeed a universal energy then one should be able to sense and apply it everywhere and Ms Carnie shows how you can bring the awareness of Chi to all manner of activities even reading a book or flying a kite.

The other thing I really like is the way she encourages the spirit of play when practicing Chi Gung. Since the flow of Chi through the body is hindered by tension and stress then being too serious in your training is a guaranteed way of limiting your potential. Ms Carnie recommends a fun approach to training that allows an awareness of the nuances and subtleties of Chi training to develop naturally.

In short, I found Lily of the Valley Carnie’s book to be an excellent way to learn more about the life energy that flows through the universe. She teaches in a conversational way that is both informational and fun and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in exploring this ancient art.

Thanks very much for posting this review, circlewalker. I enjoyed browsing this book at Borders a year or so ago but decided not to buy it because, at the time, I wanted a more structured approach to qigong. Thankfully, that phase of my relationship with qigong has passed, and your review reminded me just how wonderful this book is. It's full of ideas for extending and deepening one's play with qi. Thanks!

I'm glad you enjoyed the review and that it brought back pleasant memories of Lily's book. It's definitely my favorite book on Chi Gung. I hope you are having fun with whatever Chi Gung practice you've been following.

Nice review! Thanks for posting this.

You're very welcome, circlewalker. My wife gave me a copy of Carnie's book for my birthday, and I'm looking forward to reading and working with it.

Take care.

This book was horrible!!!!! What a silly book. Basically a waste of time! All it does is engage in magical thinking and fantasy!!! It is obvious that this person has never really learned anything about Chi Gung. If she had, then she would have explained how to really do chi gung. All of the people who say good things about this book are either the author or delusional.

This is an interesting book that opens one up to the possibility of magick in one's life through the use of L.V. Carnie's book of Chi Kung. She does choose not to reveal that she is a transsexual, partnered with the woman she was once married to as a man. Somehow, upon learning this, this book lost a lot of power for me: no judgement about it, perhaps because she does not mention this in the book and I was stunned when learning about it in an internet search. No judgement, I think if she had been upfront about who she is in the book, It wouldn't have mattered, but she is very coy and non-revealing in the book, so it made me wonder if projection and fantasy were a big part of her chi kung presentation.
This was just my reaction, I lost interest in what she had to say because I became unsure what was her experience, and what may have been embellished storytelling.
Others may still find it valuable, she appears to have a soul that appreciates life and beauty and the magic that can be found in everyday experience.