Energy is everything—everything in the universe is in motion, even a rock, at an atomic and subatomic level. According to Dale (2017), energy is defined as “information that vibrates.” Conventional descriptions refer to energy at the physical level and define it as the capacity to do work and overcome resistance. Conventional science recognizes four main types of energy or forces (Dale, 2017; Benor, 2004):
- Strong nuclear force: The strong nuclear force binds neutrons and protons in the atomic nucleus that acts over short distances.
- Weak nuclear force: The weak nuclear force contributes to nuclear structure and radioactive decay. Both strong and weak nuclear forces have little effect outside the nucleus.
- Electromagnetic (EM) force: This force pervades the cosmos, from atomic structures to chemical molecular interactions and electrical power.
- Gravity: This force is weaker than the others over short distances and is active in proportion to the mass of an object. Gravity is the dominant force in the universe. Although its effects are measurable, its nature is the least understood of the energy forces and there are no clear theories to explain how it works.
Until recently, Western science assumed there were no other energies in the universe than the four types listed above. However, there is an increasing body of new scientific evidence related to bioenergies (human energy fields) that have not been previously recognized in Western science. The energy of human life, called mana, can express itself in many ways, including patterns, sounds, and thoughts. Although the subtle patterns of thoughts may not be easily seen, they exist nonetheless (Dale, 2017).
Schwartz (2007) offers a complex, more comprehensive description of energy as the capacity to do anything at the physical, psychological, or spiritual level. The term energy can refer to familiar and easily measurable frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as light (including color) and sound, or to less familiar influences of living systems for which measurement is currently more difficult.
