{"id":6140,"date":"2016-10-03T14:38:52","date_gmt":"2016-10-03T18:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/?p=6140"},"modified":"2026-05-24T18:53:54","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T22:53:54","slug":"challenge-choice-and-chi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/challenge-choice-and-chi\/","title":{"rendered":"Challenge, Choice, and Chi"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"et_pb_section_0 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_0 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_0 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_1 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_0 et_pb_divider_hidden et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_top et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_0 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Challenge, Choice, and Chi<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_1 et_pb_section et_pb_fullwidth_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_fullwidth_menu_0 et_pb_fullwidth_menu et_pb_fullwidth_menu--without-logo et_pb_fullwidth_menu--style-left_aligned et_dropdown_animation_fade et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_text_align_right et_pb_text_align_right-tablet et_pb_text_align_right-phone et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_row\"><div class=\"et_pb_menu__wrap\"><div class=\"et_pb_menu__menu\"><nav class=\"et-menu-nav fullwidth-menu-nav\"><ul id=\"menu-rr-divi\" class=\"et-menu fullwidth-menu nav downwards\"><li id=\"menu-item-2319\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-home menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-2319\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/\">Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2425\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-75 menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2425\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/about-rachelle-rogers\/\">About<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-5583\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-5575 menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-5583\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/books\/\">Books<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2427\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-1088 menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2427\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/poetry-3\/\">Poetry<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-222947\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-46905 menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-222947\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/blog-luminations\/\">Blog<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2586\" class=\"et_pb_menu_page_id-2576 menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2586\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/contact\/\">Contact<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav><\/div><div class=\"et_mobile_nav_menu\"><div class=\"mobile_nav closed\"><span class=\"mobile_menu_bar\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_2 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_1 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_2 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_1 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>03<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_1 et_pb_divider et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_top et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_2 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>OCTOBER 2016<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_3 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Writing<br \/>\nWisdom Healing Qigong<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_3 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_3 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_4 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Three years ago, in 2013, my memoir,<a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/books\/\">\u00a0Rare<em> Atmosphere, An Inter-dimensional Affair of the Heart<\/em><\/a>, was published<em>.<\/em> Shortly after that, however, my writing Muses took off for Bora Bora and haven't returned since. It left me with a familiar niggling of sadness and melancholy.<\/p>\n<p>During this past year especially, happiness seemed to elude me entirely. Instead, fear took its place, fear instigated by recurring physical symptoms, emotional mud puddles, and mindless mental chatter. I was close to marking seventy years of moving through time, and I felt that I didn't have much to show for it besides echoes of not enoughness and a good deal of loneliness. There were times I didn't know whether or not I even wanted to stay in a body. I wasn't afraid of death. I believe I go on. Life, on the other hand, truly living, frightened me.<\/p>\n<p>Plus, everything in my inner and outer world was a rush of constant change\u2014body \"betrayals\" upon every peek in the mirror (no one told me skin can get so thin that you look like the veiny science class model of the Invisible Man); close friends moving away; other's having their own personal and family challenges; shaky finances; very little energy; no desire to continue French conversation group; no desire to continue designing jewelry; and, except for working with my website clients, no inspiration for writing\u2026anything.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_2 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_4 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_0 et_pb_image et_pb_image_sticky et_animated et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/flaming_june-900.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"827\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/flaming_june-900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/flaming_june-900-768x706.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" class=\"wp-image-6146\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_5 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Flaming June<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_6 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Painting by Frederic Leighton<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_3 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_5 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_6 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_3 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_7 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>When going through intense challenge, I'm most comfortable spending free time hunkering in alone at home, sharing myself only with a couple of close supportive sisters-of-the-heart who will not hurl worry at me or try to \"fix\" me. Although it definitely has its place, I am not a great proponent of Western medicine's approach to healing\u2014treating disease and symptoms rather than the whole person. I did not want tests, a diagnostic \"label,\" toxic drugs, or invasive procedures. I'm more comfortable with alternative venues that go deeper. Although a mighty drain on my savings, I chose acupuncture and Chinese herbs as my therapy of choice. And you get what you focus upon, so I knew that in order to heal, I had to stop focusing on what I did <em>not<\/em> want, and instead, focus on the vision and feeling of the health and wholeness I saw myself achieving\u2014the hardest thing at times.<\/p>\n<p>I thought a lot about this state we call happiness. What does it mean to <em>be happy<\/em>? In an inner and outer world that seems wracked by insanity, how does one find happiness, especially in the midst of what personally feels like yet another dark night of the soul? I've been privy to a lot of wisdom over the decades. I knew the words: <em>happiness is an inside job; happiness is not dependent upon anyone or anything outside of the self; happiness is a choice\u2026 <\/em>But the actual experience of unconditional happiness had only presented itself to me in fleeting moments. I wanted more. I wanted to finally learn to be happy despite what my body\/mind might be moving through. I wanted <em>happiness for no reason<\/em>. I was exhausted from the battle with my small self, the battle with fear, anxiety, depression. I put out the prayer and intention that I was ready to choose life.<\/p>\n<p>As lethargic, low energy, and sleep deprived as I felt at times, I knew I had to move the body and I began doing some yoga at home, not pushing myself, doing the best I could. But it wasn't giving me what I was looking for. I became interested in qigong, and bought a course on Udemy to try. I liked it, but it, too, didn't give me what I was looking for. Actually, I didn't know what I was looking for, but I knew I'd know it when I found it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_4 et_pb_row et_pb_gutters3 et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_7 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_8 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>And I did. It turned out to be a particular form of qigong called Wisdom Healing Qigong, taught by Master teacher and remarkable human being Mingtong Gu, founder of <a href=\"https:\/\/chicenter.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Chi Center<\/a>, who personified <em>being happy for no reason. <\/em><\/p>\n<p>As defined on The Chi Center website, <em>Qi (Chi) means \u201clife energy\u201d and gong means \u201ccultivation and its benefits.\u201d Qigong, an ancient technology and revitalized science of energy healing, has developed through more than 5000 years of Chinese history. Through gentle movement, visualization, sound, breathing and conscious intention, the ancient practice of Qigong energy healing dynamically restores the life energy and creative power within oneself. As the underlying causes of life's challenges are released, you reconnect with the universal source and bring new and vital energy streams into the flow of life. With this practice, you amplify a web of positive changes for you, your loved ones, and planet Earth.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Wisdom Healing Qigong, developed by Dr. Pang Ming, a Qigong Grandmaster trained in both western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the most powerful forms of qigong. Grandmaster Dr. Pang's synthesis of his profound medical knowledge of the old and new healing sciences, together with the ancient Qigong practice, led him in 1980 to found the world\u2019s largest medicine-less hospital known as <em>Huaxia Zhineng Qigong Training and Recovery Center<\/em>, which was located in Beijing.<\/p>\n<p>This is where Mingtong Gu studied, trained, and through this practice, recovered from his own chronic conditions of asthma, scoliosis, back pain and kidney weakness.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_8 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_2 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_1 et_pb_image et_animated et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Mingtong-from-header-650-web.jpg\" width=\"650\" height=\"703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Mingtong-from-header-650-web.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 650px) 100vw, 650px\" class=\"wp-image-6152\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_9 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Master Mingtong Gu<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_5 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_9 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_2 et_pb_divider et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_top et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_10 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module et_pb_text_align_center\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">This was what I was looking for. This was the vehicle through which I felt I could enter into an entirely new, more expansive and joyful relationship with my body, mind, heart, and spirit.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_divider_3 et_pb_divider et_pb_space et_pb_divider_position_top et_pb_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_divider_internal\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_6 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_10 et_pb_column et_pb_column_1_3 et_block_column et_pb_column_empty et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_11 et_pb_column et_pb_column_2_3 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_11 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Mingtong's teaching emphasizes <em>activating the power of inner self-healing which facilitates the release of chronic illness, while improving health and well-being. It is a concentrated and powerful system engaging all levels of physical, mental, emotional, and soulful healing. Through posture, movement, breath and mental concentration, Qigong offers a methodology to rediscover the inner medicine\u2014chi, the vital and healing resource within us\u2014and to magnify the exchange between ourselves and nature, enabling us to fuse with the infinite creative power of the universe that ultimately is the origin of love, compassion, and the source of all healing.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>I perused The Chi Center website, watched the abundance of YouTube videos (interviews and sample practice sessions) with Mingtong Gu, and found a deep resonance with everything he expressed and explained. He echoed the perspectives I had learned from my own spiritual guides and teachers, perspectives that, although they rang true for me, I had not been able to fully integrate into experience. This was what I was looking for. This was the vehicle through which I felt I could enter into an entirely new, more expansive and joyful relationship with my body, mind, heart, and spirit.<\/p>\n<p>The beginning course being offered by The Chi Center at that time was Sound Healing. I already knew that healing with sound was recognized, even by the medical and scientific communities, as one of the most powerful healing modalities. I signed up for the three month online course, realizing from the start that this was going to take a real commitment to be of benefit. I made that commitment to my first 100 day gong (practice). I started in mid-May and did not miss even one day of those first 100 days. It was not always easy. Sometimes, there were what are called \"chi reactions,\" which made things feel worse for a short while. But I knew this meant that energy was moving.<\/p>\n<p>With Mingtong's explicit and encouraging direction on the practice videos, and the sensed connection to the healing chi field created by the global community of practitioners, I kept going, and by the second month, I noticed I was feeling a little less anxious, a little less fearful. I learned to embrace all that was going on in my body, mind, and emotions. No labels. No stories. No judgments. I practiced the Inner Smile, sent love to all my cells. I cried when I needed to\u2014for me, a great way to release, and something I find easy to do. I cried a lot. I did the sound healing and added thirty minutes of yoga when I could muster the energy.<\/p>\n<p>By the end of the three month course, I felt great improvement. Especially in the way I dealt with whatever was coming up. I was learning to embrace and honor this physical body as my home. It became easier and easier to choose where I put my focus. Knowing that what I focus upon grows, I committed to turning from old patterns of fear and anxiety as my first line of defense. Instead, I put up a bird feeder and delighted in the tufted tit mouse and chicadees that entertained me each morning. I listened to Strauss waltzes. I searched my mind for uplifting memories. And yes, I watched YouTube cat videos. I became aware that there were longer and longer moments when I actually felt pretty good.<\/p>\n<p>I continued my Sound Healing practices and in September signed up for The Chi Center's four month Awaken Vitality online course, movements to release deep blockages (the cause of all illness and dis-ease) throughout the body. Now I practice both sound healing and movement about an hour and a half a day, and the healing continues. I still have challenges, but I always have choices. And more and more I'm making the choice for life and happiness.<\/p>\n<p>As we say in Wisdom Healing Qigong\u2014HAOLA! (how-la) All is well\u2026and getting better.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_7 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_12 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_image_2 et_pb_image et_animated et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"et_pb_image_wrap\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Blake-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-web.jpg\" alt=\"Midsummer Night&#039;s Dream by William Blake\" title=\"blake-midsummer-nights-dream-web\" width=\"1000\" height=\"653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Blake-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-web.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Blake-Midsummer-Nights-Dream-web-768x502.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" class=\"wp-image-6155\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_12 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Midsummer Night's Dream<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_13 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p>Painting by William Blake<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_8 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_13 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_text_14 et_pb_text et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_text_inner\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\">For more information about Wisdom Healing Qigong, visit The Chi Center <a href=\"https:\/\/chicenter.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_9 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_14 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_post_nav_0 et_pb_posts_nav nav-single et_pb_module et_block_module\"><span class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/how-not-to-burrito-a-17-pound-cat-2\/\" rel=\"prev\" class=\"\"><span class=\"meta-nav\">&larr; <\/span><span class=\"nav-label\">How Not To Burrito A 17 Pound Cat<\/span><\/a><\/span><span class=\"nav-next\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/quantum-physics-and-the-political-arena\/\" rel=\"next\" class=\"\"><span class=\"nav-label\">Quantum Physics And The Political Arena<\/span><span class=\"meta-nav\"> &rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_10 et_pb_row et_block_row et_animated\"><div class=\"et_pb_column_15 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\"><div class=\"et_pb_signup_0 et_pb_signup et_pb_newsletter et_pb_subscribe et_pb_bg_layout_dark et_pb_module et_flex_module\"><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_description\"><h2 class=\"et_pb_module_header\">KEEP UP WITH MY POSTS<\/h2><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_description_content\"><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span>Subscribers receive a free PDF of my published memoir <\/span><em><span><br \/><\/span><\/em><span><\/span><span style=\"color: #57006d;\"><em>Rare Atmosphere: An Extraordinary Inter-dimensional Affair of the Heart<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_form\"><form method=\"post\" class=\"\"><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_result et_pb_newsletter_error\"><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_result et_pb_newsletter_success\"><h2>Thank you for subscribing. Your gift is on the way.<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"et_pb_newsletter_fields et_flex_module\" style=\"--flex-direction: row;\"><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_field et_pb_contact_field_half et_pb_contact_field_half_tablet et_pb_contact_field_half_phone\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" style=\"display: none;\">Name<\/label><input class=\"input\" id=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Name\" name=\"et_pb_signup_firstname\" \/><\/p><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_field et_pb_contact_field_half et_pb_contact_field_half_tablet et_pb_contact_field_half_phone\"><label class=\"et_pb_contact_form_label\" for=\"et_pb_signup_email\" style=\"display: none;\">Email<\/label><input class=\"input\" id=\"et_pb_signup_email\" type=\"text\" placeholder=\"Email\" name=\"et_pb_signup_email\" \/><\/p><p class=\"et_pb_newsletter_button_wrap\"><a class=\"et_pb_button et_pb_newsletter_button\" href=\"#\" data-icon=\"E\"><span class=\"et_subscribe_loader\"><\/span><span class=\"et_pb_newsletter_button_text\">SUBSCRIBE<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_provider\" value=\"mailerlite\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_list_id\" value=\"\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_account_name\" value=\"123665865706047230\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_ip_address\" value=\"true\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"et_pb_signup_checksum\" value=\"3ffce166f074caed73b12d4f23536232\" \/><\/form><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"et_pb_section_3 et_pb_section et_section_regular et_block_section\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_row_11 et_pb_row et_block_row\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_column_16 et_pb_column et_pb_column_4_4 et-last-child et_block_column et_pb_css_mix_blend_mode_passthrough\">\n<div class=\"et_pb_comments_0 et_pb_comments_module et_pb_no_comments_count et_pb_bg_layout_light et_pb_module et_block_module\" data-icon=\"E\" data-icon-tablet=\"\" data-icon-phone=\"\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three years ago, in 2013, my memoir,\u00a0Rare Atmosphere, An Inter-dimensional Affair of the Heart, was published. Shortly after that, however, my writing Muses took off for Bora Bora and haven&#8217;t returned since. It left me with a familiar niggling of sadness and melancholy. During this past year especially, happiness seemed to elude me&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6155,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[129,143,208,59],"tags":[128,126,124,127,125,3],"class_list":["post-6140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wisdom-healing-qigong","category-healing","category-life-practice","category-writing","tag-healing","tag-mingtong-gu","tag-qigong","tag-spiritual-practice","tag-wisdom-healing-qigong","tag-writing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6140"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46876,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140\/revisions\/46876"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rachellerogers.com\/dev1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}