Dawn and Dusk – Magical Times for Qigong Practice

When is the best time for qigong practice?

A common question new qigong practitioners have is: When is the best time for me to practice qigong? There are many answers to this question, and as a general rule, whenever you can make time for practice is ok. Qigong is good at any time of day, so whenever you are able to fit it in, it is sure to bring you many benefits. But there are certain times of day which have some magical properties that can make our qigong even more beneficial and special if we are able to practice during them.

Rhythms of nature

In so many ways in modern life, we insulate ourselves from the natural environment around us. We have insulated homes with heating and airconditioning that make us less vulnerable to seasonal changes in temperature. We use artificial light sources so that we can work and play into the dark of night, and blackout curtains so that we can rest easily even when the light from the sun is bright outside. These innovations help us to lead more comfortable and productive lives, but they also often have the effect of decreasing our awareness of the rhythms of nature and our connection to them.

The energy in nature has rhythms and patterns and our bodies and energy function best when they are in harmony with these rhythms. One of the major rhythms of energy in nature comes from the rising and setting of the sun, the division between day and night. Daytime is the natural time to be active. It is warmer, so it is comfortable to come out of our shelters, and it is light, so we can see what we are doing as we move around and go about our activities. The rising of the sun governs the increase of Yang, not just in humans and other animals, but in plants too as photosynthesis takes place and they produce energy and grow. Conversely as the sun sets, the yin energy increases. It is time for shelter, rest, and peacefulness.

Key times of energy transition

During this cycle there are four key times that we can make best use of this rising and falling of Yin and Yang energy. They are:

• Midday
• Midnight
• Sunrise
• Sunset

At midday the Sun is at its highest point and the Yang energy is at its peak. At midnight, it is fully dark and the Yin energy is strongest. Tapping into the energy of our environment at these times can have very strong effects as we connect with these powerful Yin and Yang forces at their peaks. So powerful in fact that without special training, we will often naturally shut these energies out rather than absorb them at these times, because if we take them in unprepared they can be harmful to us. Because of this, for most people there is no particular extra benefit to practicing at these times. The benefit of focusing your practice at these times comes when there is some therapeutic need that can be helped by such strong Yin or Yang energy. Usually this is best done at the recommendation, and under the supervision of a practitioner with advanced skills. The energy is definitely magical at this time, but it is simply too strong for everyday practical use.

Sunrise and Sunset – the magic times for qigong practice

That leaves Sunrise and Sunset.

The situation is entirely different with these times. Because these are times of transition, they are the times when the Yin and Yang energies are most gentle and easily absorbed.

In the morning after the long period of Yin of the night, as the sun begins to rise, the light and activity in the natural world begins to increase softly. At this time the yang is so gentle that in some special qigong practices we can even take in and benefit directly from the energy of the sun, whereas later in the day the sun is far too bright to do this safely easily, so we shut it out and take energy from it only indirectly. Absorbing this gentle yang energy directly from the rising sun creates vitality and freshness in our energy within.

In the evening the sun sets, and the Yang of activity in the natural world transitions to Yin. When we tap unto this transition of energy in the world around us, it can help us to also discharge any excess Yang energy that we have, and more smoothly transition into a more peaceful and calm Yin state. When we do this, we find that our rest is deeper, more restorative and renewing, as we rest clear of any trapped yang left over from our activities of the day.

These transitions between Yin and Yang are also reflected in our consciousness. Yang being conscious, and Yin unconscious. This relationship is obvious in our normal patterns of sleep and wakefulness. We usually predominantly sleep during the night – unconscious and Yin, and are awake during the day – conscious and yang. This makes dawn and dusk a powerful time to bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind, and it is interesting that one of the things we observe in nature at these times is displays of a wide array of colors from the sun. At these times, instead of just seeing the whole spectrum together, nature shows us it broken into parts. As some of you know from certain Long White Cloud Qigong practices, this is similar to some of the things we can do within ourselves as we become more skillful at bridging between conscious and unconscious.

All of this makes dawn and dusk, sunrise and sunset, magical times for us to practice qigong. If you are able to practice regularly at these times, you will surely benefit from the fresh vitality of rising yang in the morning, and the peaceful discharge of excess energy in the evening. You will also become more connected to the rhythms of nature, and practice at these times will open you to deeper and more profound insights about yourself and the world around you as you strengthen the bridge and communication between your conscious and unconscious mind.

Each day your practice will be different, much like the sunrise and sunset, no two are quite the same. Sometimes there will be spectacular displays and experiences, other times it will be more subtle, but the energy will always be fresh, vital, and easy to absorb at these times.

Don’t miss out on the next informative blog post, or news from Long White Cloud Qigong. Join our newsletter below: