From Inspiration to Action: Unlocking the three treasures of Qigong for 2025
The new year is a powerful time for fresh starts and creating new possibilities.
As we step into this transformative season, we have an opportunity to align our vision, energy, and actions to shape the life we desire.
In Qigong, this alignment is guided by the ancient Daoist concept of the Three Treasures:
Shen (spirit), Chi (energy), and Jing (essence).
Each of these is thought to reside in an energy center called a ‘Dantian’. These three energy centers, or energy storehouses, receive, contain and produce a distinct form of Life Force Energy.
By understanding and working with these 3 treasures, these 3 kinds of energy, we can bring our aspirations into reality with clarity and grounded action.
Shen — Inspiration and Connection to Spirit
Shen represents the energy of Spirit. It’s the spark of inspiration, of instant ‘knowing’ that connects us to something greater than ourselves. Shen energy arises as a vision or insight or intuition, a sense of purpose that aligns with our highest self. It’s instantaneous and quantum in nature, like a flash of light that illuminates the path ahead, then is gone leaving behind thoughts.
As you enter the new year, consider this: What vision excites you? What feels aligned with your heart and spirit?
You already know, you’ve heard it — perhaps so much that you doubt it could come true for you. You aren’t a beginner at beginnings, right?
Shen is the foundation of all creation, but it must be followed by accessing the next two Treasures or it remains just an idea that never really goes anywhere.
Transition to the second Treasure
it’s kind of like a relay race, so you hand off the baton to the next center, located in the middle of your chest, including the Heart and Lungs. What do these do? Move breath, circulate energy, pump blood, and Feel.
See your idea, your vision, what you WANT clearly in your mind’s eye, and allow your heart to feel the excitement and joy of this vision.
Write down what you see and hear afterwards to anchor it in your consciousness and in the ‘real’ world.
Chi — Breath and Feeling
Chi, the energy of breath and feeling, is the bridge between inspiration and action. Centered in the middle dantian, Chi energy flows through our breath, emotions, and heart center. It transforms the spark of Shen into a flowing, tangible energy that we can feel and direct. Chi connects us emotionally to our vision, infusing it with passion, vitality, and motivation.
While Shen sets the intention, Chi energizes it. It’s the breath that carries our vision forward and the feeling that keeps us engaged. Without Chi, our inspiration remains distant, unable to move toward manifestation.
Handoff to the Third Treasure
Practice a simple breathing technique to cultivate Chi. Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly. Inhale deeply through your nose, feeling your breath fill your belly then the middle dantian (the area around your chest). Repeat for 5–10 breaths. Don’t think, feel every part of the breath.
Let tension melt away as you shift consciously into the parasympathetic nervous system. Vagus nerve activate!
Jing — Physical Action and Essence
Jing is the energy of essence, of your actual body, stored in the lower dantian and the whole body. It represents both your physical vitality and the actions you take to bring your ideas to life.
While Shen sparks the idea and Chi energizes it, Jing grounds it in reality through movement and effort. Jing is the “doing” energy — the consistent, tangible steps we take to turn our vision into form. Any action, every action, provides movement and feedback in the physical world.
Without action, even the most inspired intentions remain unfulfilled. Jing reminds us that to create something new, we must use our body and energy to engage with the physical world. This is where true transformation happens.
Just Do It — TAKE ACTION
Choose one small action to take toward your vision today. It could be writing a plan, making a phone call, or organizing materials or space. Even a simple movement practice, like a 5-minute Qigong sequence, or yoga, or a walk outside activates Jing energy and helps you align your body with your vision.
You need to move your body every day you can!
If you have a dog, you walk the dog every day — or turn it outside to walk itself — right? You don’t leave the dog in for a week. So get yourself outside if you can — even if the weather seems uncooperative, you can figure out a way.
Movement is the practice of embodiment.
Learn Qigong, learn yoga, pick something and give it time every single day. Get out of your head and into your body, forgetting about your vision for a bit. Let it go deep and quiet, like a seed planted in the ground to germinate. It takes a little time…
Harmonizing the Three Treasures
The magic of the Three Treasures lies in their harmony. Shen provides the spark, Chi carries the energy, and Jing grounds it into action. When all three are aligned, we create a flow of energy that supports our goals and transforms our lives.
Think of it like building a fire: Shen is the spark, Chi is the oxygen that fuels the flame, and Jing is the wood that sustains it over time.
A Simple Practice to Align the Three Treasures:
Connect to Shen: Begin with a moment of stillness and listen, before and between thoughts.
Cultivate Chi: Focus on deep belly breathing and allow your ideas to flow into your heart center, feeling its energy.
Activate Jing: Move your body with purpose. Try a Qigong movement like “Embracing the Tree” to ground your energy and align your physical self with your vision.
Applying the Three Treasures to the New Year
This year, let the Three Treasures guide you as you create the life you desire. Ask yourself:
What inspires me most deeply? (Shen)
How can I keep my heart and energy engaged with this vision? (Chi)
What tangible steps will I take to bring it into reality? (Jing)
By working with Shen, Chi, and Jing, you’ll not only set meaningful goals but also create the momentum needed to achieve them.
The Three Treasures are a roadmap to living with purpose, vitality, and alignment — not just for the new year, but for every day of your life.
Together, these treasures will empower you to create a life of balance, joy, and fulfillment.
Remember: There are no ‘small steps’.
Let this New Year be different, by going beyond a ‘New Year’s Resolution’ and let your 3 Centers of Divine Intelligence, your 3 Treasures, guide your steps.
Want guidance? Come choose a Qigong self-paced or live course from LearnQigong.com