"Buildings, too, are children of Earth and Sun"
Frank Lloyd Wright

I remember an occasion when sitting by a lake and becoming aware of an energy that appeared to flow from the trees in the distance, over the lake and into a spiral pattern near where I was standing. This took me completely by surprise and was something I could see with my normal perceptions. It looked a like the glassy smudging spirals you may see if you pour boiling water into a freezing cold bath. I now understood that chi energy can move across an environment and absorb vibrations as it flowed over different areas. In this case, the energy it was picking up from the lake felt restorative and uplifting. I could now see this happening with my own eyes. Clearly- for me at least- earth energy is a reality.

As energy moves over an environment it absorbs the vibrations of the things it encounters. In this way, the energy influencing us can be beneficial or harmful. This is one of the main ideas behind the Chinese art of Feng Shui which I will touch upon in due course. However there are also forces acting upon us from below the ground rising upward from beneath the earth. The combination of the radiating earth energies and the flowing earth energies on the surface of our planet have an important influence on the wholesomeness of an environment.

Earth energies and ley lines can also have a sinister side. When the energy from a ley line passes through decaying matter such as a city dump, a polluted river or a graveyard it picks up the negative influences it encounters. The energy becomes what geomancers call a 'black stream'. Similarly, energy coming beneath the earth may encounter underground water streams, geological fissures and fault lines that interfere with the earth energy. This too can cause a 'black stream' of earth energy. Someone living or sleeping in these areas may become ill or emotionally disturbed by these influences. Many practitioners believe that 'black streams' can even cause cancer.

The Earth behaves like a huge electromagnet with many geo-electromagnetic field lines crossing its surface and rise up through the earth. This natural radiation can be distorted by other electromagnetic fields, subterranean running water, certain mineral concentrations, fault lines, underground cavities, cosmic radiation and artificially created electromagnetic fields.

A person who is adversely affected by these negative earth rays is suffering from what we call 'Geopathic Stress'. They can lose physical strength, energy, emotional stability and happiness. Illnesses claimed to be caused by these forces include never feeling relaxed after a night's sleep, aching muscles and joints, emotional over-sensitivity hyperactivity and aggression. They also claim it causes a weakness of the immune system, which could lead to an inability to absorb nutrients properly and making one susceptible headaches, depression or stress. And of course, Geopathic Stress may be the source of unwanted paranormal activity.