Qi
Qi 
is pronounced “chi”, as in the word “cheat”. There is no exact English equivalent. In the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary it is defined as “The physical life-force postulated by certain Chinese philosophers; the material principle”. It is actually more than this, in that it lies behind dead as well as living material objects, and even is characteristic of non-material creatures, such as ghosts and angels. It has been equated with the “ether” of certain Western philosophies, and with Wilhelm Reich’s “orgone”. In China it enters into most areas of traditional culture, including for example medicine, martial arts, calligraphy, religion, and feng shui (or geomancy).
It is not merely “postulated” as in the Oxford definition, but can be felt by some, seen by others, and heard by still others. It can be separated into many different categories according to its qualities, but perhaps the most general and simple distinction is effected when qi is classified as being either sheng qi 
or sha qi 
. Sheng is the Mandarin word for “giving birth” or “alive”: sha is the Mandarin word for “to kill”. So sheng qi qi is “positive” qi, in that it is pleasant and healthy to be around, and sha qi qi is “negative” qi, in that it is unhealthy and unpleasant to be around. The terms POR and DOR , are sometimes used for sheng qi and sha qi, respectively: those terms derive from Reich’s terms “positive orgone” and “negative orgone”.
Qi will follow flowing water, and it is the opinion of some (including the author), that it is just this qi to which the “water witch” or “Dowser” reacts when his forked stick or dowsing rod(s) involuntarily move.
Qi of a common nature will often congregate in a straight or curved line, and some times it will flow along that line in one or the other direction. When sheng qi is in the line, I will call it a sheng line , and when sha qi is in the line, a sha line.
