What exactly subtle energies are can be a difficult question to answer, most particularly because there are so many things that are commonly or loosely associated with this term. For example, we may talk about the “subtle energies” of the body when we talk about things like chakras, meridians, the aura, or the body’s life-force essence or chi. Or, when we talk about the feeling or metaphysical attributes within a room or other space, we may often speak in terms of its subtle energies or subtle energetic dynamic. Furthermore, when we talk about the perceived feel, presence or influence of a spirit, or “energetic entity” as some people call them, again, we may talk in terms of its subtle energy.

Science in general has done relatively little to study subtle energies. Because of this, almost all of the development and understanding of the subject has been left to less technical means of study and description. So even though there are strong common themes in this topic, there are also differences in understanding and various conflicting details. However, even though there are many things that get tossed into this categorical hodgepodge called “subtle energy,” there are still there are still many basic ideas that we can talk about, a few of which I will mention here.

In the least case we can say that subtle energies are things that are meta-physical, or in other words, beyond physical, as opposed to physical.  For example, electromagnetism is a quality of physical matter, but the subtle energies of the body are NOT electromagnetic in nature. It is true that subtle energies like chakras, meridians and the aura can be affected by things that have electromagnetic fields, like cell phones or magnets, etc., when they are placed on, or within an affective proximity, to the physical body. But this is because the physiology and function of the physical body can be affected by electromagnetic fields, and the subtle energies of the body are greatly influenced by the body’s physiological state and function—not because subtle energies have electromagnetic qualities. Subtle energies in the physical body and of other places and things can still move, flow, and be changed or unchanged regardless of electromagnetic fields that may also be present.

To show this from another perspective, the physical body of a living being, a person for example, is made up of many aspects: mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and subtle energetic. If you affect any one of these aspects you will affect all the others to some degree by default. But just because you can affect them all to any degree by affecting one of them, it is obviously not correct to believe that they are all fundamentally the same. Like with any machine, the widespread affect throughout the whole is because the pieces are all connected together in a working system, not because they are necessarily alike.

Everything we interact with in the world around us has a subtle emanating and influencing quality about it—a subtle energy. This includes people, places, and objects—everything. Compared to living things, the subtle energies of objects are generally static, meaning that they have little or no self-initiated action or motion. Also, the subtle influencing energies of objects are the result of a combination of several things. These are:

1. The materials the object is made of.
2. The purpose the object was made for.
3. The subtle energetic conditions that result from how the object is used.
4. The result of other subtle energies that have interacted with it.

Similarly, the subtle energies of most spaces, particularly man-made spaces, are also relatively static in that they also do not have large self-initiated movement or motion. However, spaces of any kind will certainly be more dynamic than objects due to the comings and goings of things, and events or actions that happen within the space. But like objects, the subtle energies of a space are also made up of, and influenced by, a combination of several things. These are:

1. The subtle energies of the materials that the space is made of.
2. The purpose for which the space was made.
3. How the space is used and the energies of the events and actions that happen, and that have happened, within it.
4. The energies of the objects and living things within the space.

However, in contrast to objects and spaces, the subtle energies of living things can be quite dynamic, or in other words, full of motion and action initiated by, or inherent within, the living thing. Their subtle energies are made up of constantly moving flows, pools and emanations of energy that are the result of many constantly interacting and changing aspects. Although these are simple descriptions of rather complex things, the subtle energies of living things are made up of the following:

1. The complexity of the flows, pools, and emanations of subtle energy that are generated from or inherent within the life-form itself.
2. The effects that other things, and other subtle energies, have on the subtle energies of the life-form.

As we begin to understand the qualities and dynamics of subtle energies of people, places and things we interact with, we can begin to have increased influence and more productive interaction with them. From here, understanding concepts in subtle energetic interactions, as well as subtle energetic shielding become especially important. These concepts and many more are talked about in greater depth in my book, Basic BioEnergetics.

LEARN MORE about working with your body’s subtle energies HERE!