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I will describe my own journey to you, it will be a little long, and then ask my question to you. I'm 32 today. My journey into the 'Qi Realm' started in my teens. My parents were interested in natural therapies, and that influenced me as well. I was born with mild scoliosis, so my doctor recommended ballroom dancing and swimming; later, my parents signed me up for Aikido. I fixed my scoliosis, and thanks to Aikido, I learned how to fall safely. Then, I became fascinated with Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee. This led to six months of Kyokushin Karate, a few years of Leung Ting Wing Tsun, and frequent (though irregular) practice of the Yang Taiji 24 Form, which I learned from videos. I wanted to learn to protect myself from bullies; thanks to Wing Tsun, I finally could. It 'saved my life,' so to speak. A few months later, it was time to decide what to do with my life. My late grandmother suggested massage therapy, as I was fascinated by the image of the old martial artist with white hair and a beard who could heal others with his bare hands. After two years, I officially became a massage therapist. In the meantime, during one of my Taiji sessions, I noticed a strange phenomenon: a flowing warmth filling my body, behaving much like a tide. From that point on, whenever this feeling appeared, my skin reacted with piloerection (goosebumps). I interpreted this as my Qi, but I wasn't sure. At first, it was spontaneous - appearing during Taiji or while watching a movie where the protagonist finally overcomes a tribulation or defeats the antagonist. Later, out of curiosity, I started visualizing those movie scenes to trigger the phenomenon. Eventually, visualization became unnecessary; I gained the ability to summon the feeling at will, as easily as moving a limb. I noticed that summoning it provided relief from winter cold or summer heat. When I was tired while jogging, it gave me more stamina. Later, I learned to control it further; for example, I can concentrate the sensation in only one hand, and the goosebumps appear only there. Breathing helps, but it also works while I hold my breath. Finally, I noticed that during a headache, I could concentrate this phenomenon in the area of pain for relief. It doesn't always work, but it often helps; other times, I still need a pill. It has also helped with throat irritation and nausea. After a few years, I saw a video of Chunyi Lin saying, 'During this Qigong, you will feel goosebumps all over your body,' which gave me some reassurance. During those years, I studied everything available in English regarding Oriental medicine: Energy work, Daoist Neidan, Reiki, Jerry A. Johnson’s books on Medical Qigong, and Wai Qi Liao Fa. Yet, no source mentioned my goosebumps. I began using Touch for Health (Applied Kinesiology) in my practice. I developed a method where the patient lies on their back while I stand with slightly bent knees. I draw Earth Qi through the Yongquan points and Heaven Qi through the Baihui point, combining them in my lower Dantian. I then direct this Qi to my eyes or the Laogong points on my palms to send it to the patient. I visualize the Qi as light. When it moves through my body, I feel that same warmth and goosebumps. Regarding Qigong, I consider myself a Sàn Xiū ( 散修 ). I took a few Taiji lessons in person, but my teacher couldn't help me with Qi healing, so I stopped attending. I didn't want just physical exercise or martial applications; I yearned for real Qi work. To this day, it is all about self-study and knowing my own body, myself. This brings me to my question: During your own journey, have you heard anything from Daoists, monks, or practitioners regarding these goosebumps? Is this truly the Qi I am working with?

Many of you know I don't post much these days, I just try to keep to myself, teach meditation to those who are interested and treat patients. Sadly, one of my students developed a massively superiority complex and I want to squish this drama before it can start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H9TghyCOwk The above video is him explaining how it took him only 3 months to faqi, misleading everyone through his completely skewed timeline. He is not only lying to everyone, he is offering teaching which he has no authority to do and posting videos that he was expressively asked not to. He is currently regularly seeing brother wu and made it clear that he only cares about his own financial gain and getting a return on his investment. He outright feels that anything he learned can be taught without repercussion and WITHOUT PERMISSION. He is not authorised to teach anything from Authenticneigong or Gengmenpai, the school of the late Master Jiang Feng headed now by Master Wu (Brother wu to me). I had to step in with this comment on his video. "I think I will just step in here before this turns into a unnecessary battle. Stephen started training with me in April 2022 ( I can prove this ), he took my seminar and did the practices that I teach. I took him on trips to get his health sorted, which was desperately needed. The reason it was free with Brother Wu, from gengmenpai, is because the blockages he had were already resolved on the trips with me. He didn't take 3 months to faqi, it took much longer, was completely and totally assisted. Don't take my word for it, take his own video recommendation for my teaching. This is where his dantian was activated in Nov 2022, this is why his progress was so good. Don't be a chump, give thanks and credit where it is due. This already puts his at training for 6 months, not 3 and his eventual assisted faqi came much later still. Also Stephen, Master Jiang specifically asked not to post his videos online, he doesn't want his face online and this is another thing you didn't respect or do. I am asking you now, to show some respect and do what is right. Take down all the videos you were not allowed to post, stop teaching practices you have no authority to teach." He has been lying about who who learned from and who helped him get there, he has been posting videos he has no permission to do, he has been teaching practices which he has no permission to do and has started attacking my student base for calling him out on his lies. Anyone in our discord can see old messages and Stephen posted often of his training, how grateful he was be learning and how he could feel the results, something very different from his recent online videos where he is trying to claim to be a messiah. Unfortunately my comments on his videos can easily be deleted so made this post to warn newcomers to not fall for these lies and definitely don't train with someone who is a beginner themselves. When things eventually go wrong, he was no way of helping you. Hope this helps people not fall into the trap of believing the delusions of a man who clearly does not respect the traditions of internal practices and lineages.

Dear Dao Bums, Has anyone here on the forum done SFQ level 5? I remember looking at it many years ago, where it boasted of secrets of connecting with ancestors, prolonging life, increasing jing and longevity, supercharging lower dan tien and kidneys for vitality, rainbow energy bone marrow cleansing, opening all spiritual senses and much more. In the commercial films from the retreat people were meditating in front of a large lake, with Chunyi Lin empowering each one-by-one using sword finger to their 3rd eye. When I look at the official page today, it's much more modest in its claims; now it's called "beyond qi" and talks about "advanced qigong", "advanced tian mu", "opening spiritual senses", "increasing healing power". However, I still would love to go for a sense of completion, having done SFQ level 1-4, and having used his qigong and meditation for many 49 day cycles, having had several very expensive one-on-one sessions with him, as well as healed maybe 20-25 people using his system. I always get a deep sense of personal satisfaction and delight when completing something, and taking level 5 would give me that. Further, it would of course also be super interesting to sample and experience first hand the "qi menu" offered (the tian mu and spiritual senses methods). So, looking for experiences here; anyone ever attended? If yes, what was your experience? God bless you