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Author: Bret Gordon  For centuries, martial artists and healers have spoken of Ki 気 (otherwise referred to as Qi, Chi, or Prana) as a vital energy that flows through the human body. In popular imagination, Ki is often treated as a mysterious metaphysical force that can be harnessed, projected, or manipulated in ways that defy scientific understanding. Entire schools of martial arts and healing traditions are built on this concept, and countless practitioners claim to feel, sense, or even move Ki as though it were an invisible current of electricity outside the laws of biology. But is Ki really some kind of supernatural energy? Or is there a more grounded, scientific explanation for what ancient masters were observing and describing in metaphorical terms? When we strip away the mysticism, what emerges is a clearer picture: Ki is not metaphysical. It is a poetic shorthand for real biological and psychological processes: the flows of blood, oxygen, lymph, electricity, and the subtle workings of the nervous system. These processes sustain life, shape perception, and allow us to connect with others. Far from diminishing Ki, this interpretation makes it more profound, because it ties it directly to the living systems we can observe and influence every day. To understand Ki in biological terms, we need to examine the core systems that keep us alive:
Together, these systems create the functional reality of Ki. It is not one mysterious substance but the collective life processes that animate the body.  Modern science confirms that the human body generates a measurable biomagnetic field. Every heartbeat, every nerve impulse, and even the movement of blood through vessels produces weak electromagnetic fields that extend beyond the skin. Sensitive instruments like magnetocardiograms (MCG) and magnetoencephalograms (MEG) can record these fields with precision. Long before these technologies were common, experiments with Kirlian photography captured striking corona-like glows around living tissue: fingertips, leaves, and other biological samples. Although Kirlian images are actually created by electrical discharge rather than proof of a supernatural aura, they do visually demonstrate that living organisms emit measurable energy fields. In the context of Ki, this offers a modern, tangible way to understand what ancient masters described as the body’s “vital energy” radiating outward.  Long before modern science, healers and martial artists recognized that these flows could be blocked, stagnant, or unbalanced, and that health could be restored by influencing them. The modalities they developed work on Ki in concrete, biological ways. Let’s look at them in more depth: Qigong (or Kiko in Japan) Qigong is more than just slow movement; it is a deliberate integration of breath, posture, and intent. Breathing deeply and rhythmically floods the blood with oxygen, lowers heart rate, and reduces cortisol (the stress hormone). Postural alignment creates space in the body, releasing muscular tension and improving circulation. Gentle movements squeeze and release muscles, pumping lymph through the body’s natural detox system. On a nervous-system level, Qigong shifts the body into parasympathetic dominance, the “rest and digest” mode, helping the body heal, digest, and restore. This creates a profound effect on Ki because it optimizes oxygen delivery, blood flow, lymphatic drainage, and the nervous system’s electrical balance all at once. The practitioner feels lighter, more centered, and more “energized” because their biological systems are working in harmony. Acupuncture Acupuncture may look mysterious, but its effects are measurable. Inserting a fine needle into an acupoint triggers tiny local injuries that increase blood flow to the area. The needle also stimulates surrounding nerve endings, which send signals up the spinal cord and into the brain. This activates the release of endorphins (natural painkillers) and modulates autonomic nervous system activity. Acupuncture can lower inflammation, improve organ function by regulating nerve communication, and restore balance between sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic systems. In terms of Ki, this means restoring smooth circulation of blood and lymph, calming excessive nervous system firing, and reducing the physiological “blockages” that manifest as pain or dysfunction. Reiki Unlike Qigong and acupuncture, Reiki does not involve movement or needles. It is often practiced with the hands hovering above or lightly resting on the body. While Reiki is often described in metaphysical terms as “energy transfer,” the effects can be explained biologically. Human touch (or even proximity with focused attention) activates mechanisms of co-regulation between nervous systems. Recipients of Reiki often shift into parasympathetic dominance, experiencing slowed breathing, lowered heart rate, and decreased muscle tension. Gentle touch stimulates mechanoreceptors in the skin, leading to oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin release. This hormonal shift cascades into reduced anxiety, better sleep, and improved immune function. From a Ki perspective, Reiki soothes the body’s electrical system, lowers stress-induced “blocks,” and restores balance to circulation and nervous firing. In addition to physical life processes, people often describe Ki as a kind of interpersonal or emotional energy. “I could feel his energy in the room” or “she had a calming aura” are phrases that echo this perspective. Here, too, science offers explanations.
Each of these processes gives rise to sensations that cultures have historically described as Ki. These are not supernatural, but they are no less real. They represent the deeply interconnected nature of human physiology and psychology. Interestingly, those on the Autism spectrum often experience the world through an intensified lens of sensation and perception, which directly influences how they engage with Ki. Many individuals with ASD show heightened neuroception, which can make them especially sensitive to subtle changes in energy, tension, and presence. Similarly, they may experience somatic empathy more vividly, physically feeling echoes of another person’s discomfort or stress within their own body. Emotional empathy, too, can manifest with overwhelming intensity, leaving them deeply attuned to the moods and affective states of others, even if they struggle to label or interpret them. Where they often face difficulty is with cognitive empathy, yet this gap is balanced by their capacity to feel energy and emotion directly, without the filters most neurotypical individuals rely on. When coupled with the tendencies for hyperfixation and deep immersion common in ASD, this sensitivity means they may engage with practices like Qigong, Kiko, or Reiki at profound levels, experiencing Ki in ways that feel more immediate and tangible than for others. For this reason, many on the spectrum demonstrate natural affinity and even proficiency in the internal martial arts, perceiving the subtle interplay of body, mind, and energy with extraordinary clarity.  When ancient masters spoke of Ki, they were not describing something imaginary. They were observing and naming the very real flows and connections that sustain life. They lacked the vocabulary of neuroscience, immunology, or physiology, so they used metaphors like “energy,” “wind,” and “flow.” The result is a poetic language that still resonates today. Understanding Ki as biology and psychology does not strip it of meaning. On the contrary, it deepens it. To say that Qigong improves Ki is to say it enhances oxygenation, circulation, lymphatic flow, and nervous system balance. To say acupuncture restores Ki is to recognize how it regulates blood flow, nerve signals, and inflammation. To say Reiki soothes Ki is to acknowledge how human touch and nervous system co-regulation calm the body and restore balance. Ki, then, is not mystical energy but the living reality of the body in motion, the mind in awareness, and the nervous system in relationship with others. It is the science of life described in the poetry of an earlier age, and perhaps, that poetry is what keeps its wisdom alive. P.S. Reiki and the Christian Faith - "But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak." 1 Corinthians 8:9
Everything described above aligns with widely accepted scientific understanding, including the mechanisms behind healing through touch, as in Reiki. In essence, concentrated, intentional touch stimulates the nervous system, which sends electrical impulses that increase blood flow to the targeted area. This enhanced circulation delivers fresh oxygen and nutrients while helping flush out inflammation and waste products, thereby supporting the body’s natural processes for physical healing. On an emotional level, it also triggers the release of dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin to provide comfort and stress relief. However, as a Christian, I feel it necessary to expand upon the limitations of Reiki as a natural form of health and wellness, and warn against where its practice can cross the line into a spiritual danger zone. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Church recognizes two kinds of healing: healing by divine grace and healing that utilizes the powers of nature. When understood in the context I've described previously, Reiki can be classified as healing that utilizes the powers of nature. Despite being largely condemned by the Catholic Church (due to the practices I'm about to detail), when explained in these terms, every priest I have approached has understood its validity. Unfortunately, the majority of Reiki practitioners move beyond the boundaries of science and into the metaphysical realm. Many speak of Reiki as though it were a sentient force, a living, universal energy that one can “tap into” or channel at will. Common Reiki practices often include “intuitive healing,” in which the practitioner claims to receive inner impressions or guidance about a person’s health, as well as calling upon “spiritual helpers” to aid in the process. These helpers are frequently described as angels, enlightened beings, ascended masters, or even deities from various traditions. In some circles, these practices are framed to appear compatible with Christianity by invoking the language of angels and divine light. Yet Scripture warns us that Satan’s greatest weapon is deception and that the most dangerous lies are those that most closely resemble the truth (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). For this reason, in my own personal practice I prefer to use the term Te Ate Ryoho, which means “hands-on healing method," rather than Reiki, deliberately distancing myself from the metaphysical claims and spiritual associations that have become common in its modern practice. While the scientifically documented benefits of healing touch (such as expedited physical healing, reduced stress, and enhanced nervous system regulation) are real, believers must exercise discernment and avoid any practice that blurs the line between natural healing and spiritual counterfeits. "Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world." 1 John 4:1
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