whys

In Asian tradition, chi is the life force which permeates the world. In addition to being in all living beings, chi is also found in spaces such as homes and gardens. Although chi is a metaphysical construct, rather than something which can be physically quantified and measured, belief in chi is widespread in many Asian nations and disciplines including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), martial arts, and feng shui, a Chinese art which involves balancing objects within their environment.

Like other Chinese words, chi is seen spelled in English in various ways including qi and xi. The pronunciation of the word is difficult to render in the Roman alphabet, but the word sounds like “chee” when spoken. The meaning of the word is linked to “air” and “breath,” which are believed to vital parts of life. Like air, chi is a form of energy which waxes and wanes in the body depending on health, and in a space depending on arrangement.

Many cultures have a concept of some sort of vital energy which runs through all things, such as prana in the yogic tradition. When it is in a proper state of balance, the energy moves smoothly through the space which it inhabits, and supports rather than fights against the space. Balancing this energy is a crucial part of living a healthy and calm life for many people in Asian countries, and the concept of energetic balance has been adopted by some Western nations as well.

An imbalance of chi can lead to ill health or discomfort in an environment. In the case of living beings, practices like acupuncture, acupressure, and other types of TCM are used to right the imbalance, by unblocking the flow of chi through the meridians of the body. A practitioner of TCM checks in with the patient’s whole body in order to assess overall health, and takes corrective measures as necessary.

In the case of spaces, many Asian traditions surround organizing objects within an environment to make the space harmonious. An imbalance of chi in a space is believed to lead to bad luck and ill health, and many rules surround how things should be arranged from bedrooms to graveyards. As the rules which govern arrangements can be quite complex, some wealthy households hire professionals to arrange their spaces, who are analogous to interior designers in the West, although their function goes beyond pure aesthetic consultation.

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Derived from the Greek word ektos, which means “outside,” ectoplasm is a term that is used in two different manners. In terms of medical information, ectoplasm refers to the part of common cellular construction. The term designates that portion of the cytoplasm found on the exterior of a cell. More commonly, ectoplasm is understood to refer to the paranormal manifestation of spiritual energy related to ghosts. Serving as a physical medium of that spiritual energy, ectoplasm is said to be the more or less tangible plasma residue that helps to give ghosts some degree of physical presence.

The designation of ectoplasm as a physical manifestation of the spiritual power or presence of a ghost is traced back to Charles Richet. While not understood to have a cell structure that is identical to human cells, ectoplasm is nevertheless considered to possess a small degree of weight and can be touched. Over the years, many persons have claimed to have come in contact with ectoplasm, and in fact have captured a portion of the purported supernatural material for study and analysis.

Some schools of paranormal thought attribute ectoplasm with several different qualities. The substance is thought to glow for a period of time after being detached from the host. As the ectoplasm begins to break down, the glowing quality begins to dim. As the decomposition continues, the material is said to gradually dissolve, leaving behind no trace at all. For this reason, many persons have photographed substances thought to be ectoplasm in an attempt to record the phenomenon before the physical evidence fades away.

To date, no scientific testing has yielded any information that verifies the existence of ectoplasm. While countless substances that were gathered and claimed to be ectoplasm have undergone analysis, most are found to be common and very non-supernatural materials. Some of the more common samples of purported ectoplasm have proven to be nothing more than human skin or shavings of chiffon.

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