Next week, we will discuss cooling the Upper Energy Center by moving energy through the Energetic Baton. This week, we need to learn what happens when we have an imbalance of energy between the two ends of the baton.

The Upper Energy Center is the source of our creative and excited energy. This can be very good, but also very stressful! When we are doing artwork, or being creative, our energy moves up to the Upper Energy Center. But the energy also moves up through the baton when we are anxious or worried, and keeps us in that worried state longer. It makes us feel imbalanced, almost like we might get blown head-over-heels if we don't hold onto something!

The Lower Energy Center is the source of our grounding energy. Visualizing it keeps us low to the ground and closer to our natural center of gravity. An abundance of energy in our Lower Energy Center keeps us calm and allows us to let go of stressful situations. It is also important for martial arts: for maintaining our balance and driving power up from the ground into our attacks.

No one can reside in the Lower Energy Center all the time. Life is both exciting and happy, and also stressful and worrisome. Each of these situations cause our energy to rise, making an imbalance that drives Yi, brain energy, and boosts the spirit, Shen. These can be useful in short bursts, but a constant amount of these "fire" energies will cause you to burn out from the stress.

That is why cooling the baton is a very important skill. It keeps us level headed, and maintains a balance of energy in our bodies, when life would normally create an imbalance in favor of the Upper Energy Center.