Energy – The force that moves all living things

What is Energy?

The word energy holds many layers. It can describe something as concrete as movement, heat, or electric current — and at the same time, something as subtle as consciousness, presence, and life force.

Depending on the lens we look through—the scientific, the philosophical, or the spiritual—the concept takes on different shades of meaning:

In physics, energy is defined as the capacity to do work. It can be measured, weighed, and transformed from one form to another.

In psychology, “mental energy” is often used as a metaphor for our motivation, attention, and cognitive capacity—the inner language that drives us to think, feel, and act.

But in spiritual and esoteric traditions, the idea of energy goes much deeper. Here, energy is seen as life force—a vital, spiritual current that flows through all living things. It moves through the body, between people, and through the universe itself. This is where concepts like consciousness, chakras, aura, and feminine and masculine energy become relevant.

It is this more subtle energy paradigm we will explore here.

Eastern and Western perspectives on Energy

The East

In the Eastern traditions—particularly within Chinese, Indian, Buddhist, and Taoist philosophy—all life consists of energy, and health depends on that energy flowing freely and harmoniously.

Qi (or chi—from Chinese tradition) is described as the vital force that moves through the body’s meridians. When qi flows freely, the body is in balance; when it’s blocked, illness and disharmony arise.

Practices such as acupuncture, qigong, and tai chi are designed to regulate and balance qi.

In India (through yoga and Hindu philosophy), this life force is called prana—the breath of life that moves through the body’s chakras. Each chakra is an energy center with its own symbol and theme—from the grounding of the root to the divine connection of the crown.

Meditation, yoga, and breathwork (pranayama) are all ways to strengthen and balance prana, creating harmony in body, mind, and soul.

In the East, energy is not something to be measured—it is something to be felt. It is experienced through the body, awareness, and our connection to nature.

The West

In the West, the understanding of energy has been shaped primarily by natural science. Here, energy is a measurable entity—expressed in joules, watts, and calories—concerned with heat, motion, and electrical potential.

Yet even in the West, there has long been a search for the more subtle dimensions of energy. Psychologists like Freud and Jung spoke of libido and psychic energy as the forces driving human behavior.

In the 20th century, a new current emerged—a blend of Eastern wisdom and Western psychology—in which energy was once again understood as something alive, healing, and connected to consciousness. From this synthesis grew modern practices such as healing, meditation, mindfulness, and energy psychology—a bridge between what can be measured and what can be felt.

Life Force – The energy behind all living beings

Life force describes the invisible pulse that allows all living things to breathe, grow, and move. In India it is called prana, in China qi, and in Japan ki.

Life force carries consciousness. It follows our attention—where we direct our awareness, life force flows. It is strengthened through practices that bring us into presence: yoga, meditation, breathwork, dance, singing, time in nature, creativity. When life force flows freely, life feels effortless and meaningful. When it’s blocked, we experience stagnation, fatigue, or inner unrest.

Modern psychology describes similar phenomena with words like drive, vitality, intrinsic motivation, and emotional intelligence (EQ).

“Energy” in our time has become the bridge between East and West: it connects physiology with spirit, biology with consciousness. It lives in the breath, in the heartbeat, in our meeting with another human being—and in that quiet sense of being connected to something greater.

Different forms of Energy

Energy can be understood on several levels:

Physical energy relates to the body’s biology—heat, movement, electrical impulses. The brain uses glucose and oxygen to think, and the nervous system constantly pulses with electrical activity.

The energy of consciousness is being explored in neuroscience, where researchers observe how thoughts and emotions shift the brain’s energy consumption. At the same time, spirituality describes consciousness as a field where energy is exchanged through presence and intention.

The chakras symbolize the body’s energy centers—from grounding to spiritual awakening.

The aura is described as an energetic field surrounding the body, reflecting our inner state.

And astrology can be seen as the universe’s energetic map—a symbolic language for the forces and rhythms we move through as a collective.

The New Era – The Age of Aquarius

We live in a time where our understanding of energy is transforming. Many believe we are entering The Age of Aquarius—a shift from the hierarchical and belief-based energy of The Age of Pisces toward one that is conscious, collective, and innovative.

Aquarius symbolizes the flow of knowledge, freedom, and community. It invites us to understand energy not only as something within the body, but as something that flows through relationships, networks, technology, and collective consciousness.

We see it in the rise of spiritual practices, in the growing interest in healing and consciousness development—and in the fact that people increasingly seek meaning over performance.

Energy is no longer something we simply produce—it’s something we manage, feel, and share.

The new era is not about having more energy, but about having purer energy—in our thoughts, emotions, and actions.

An energy that arises from balance, love, and conscious presence.