Orgone was a hypothetical universal life force conceived by Wilhelm Reich in the late 1930s, as the primordial energy of the universe, perceived as a life force or cosmic energy that heals the body and mind through its intrinsic nature. "Orgone" derives from "orgasm" and "organism", both of which Reich considered essential elements in the biological and metaphysical efficacy of this energy. Orgone energy is thought to exist everywhere and is perceived to be radiative and omnipresent. It is concurrently responsible for weather patterns, the color of the sky, gravity, the formation of galaxies, and the biological expressions of emotion and health. Reich perceived Orgone energy as a positive force whose flow within a person can be interrupted or affected by traumas, leading to physical and mental illnesses. Utilizing different therapies, Reich aimed to reestablish the natural flow of Orgone energy within the body, thereby improving health. Orgone is conceptualized as the life-force energy or the primal energy of the universe. It is an omnipresent, omnipotent, and non-material cosmic energy. Reich described it as "the universal life force,” the substrate from which all nature is created. He believed that orgone energy is radiant, blue and spontaneously moves from areas of lower concentration to higher concentration areas, which are also orgasm-attracting and life-attracting.
Reich underlined the importance of orgone energy in emotional and physical health. He argued that disruptions or blockages in the body's internal orgone were the cause of many diseases, including cancer and mental illnesses. Psychoanalysis and bodywork were seen as ways to release these blockages and restore health. Reich's theories also connect orgastic potency with the flow of orgone energy. Just like an orgasm represents the release of pent-up sexual energy, it also signifies the free flow of orgone energy within the body for Reich. Disruptions or blocks in this flow could lead to physical diseases and mental health problems. Reich developed therapies, including character-analytic vegetotherapy and bodywork, intending to alleviate these blockages and restore the full flow of orgone energy, thus reinstating orgastic potency.
Reich posited the concept of orgone homeostasis, the state in which orgone energy circulates freely and evenly throughout a living organism, supporting optimal physical, emotional, and mental health. Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism or system to maintain equilibrium or stability within its internal environment when dealing with external changes. A stable internal environment requires multitudes of variables to be regulated. For Reich, orgone homeostasis represents the state where the body's energy flow is in perfect equilibrium, neither too low causing fatigue and illness nor too high causing tension and hyperactivity. When this equilibrium is maintained, the individual enjoys good physical health, mental clarity, and emotional stability.
According to Reich, every person has an "emotional orgone reservoir," which, when balanced and unblocked, supports a healthy emotional response system. He viewed this reservoir as an attribute of orgone homeostasis, with disruptions or blockages equating to emotional instability and other health problems. Just as a river needs to flow unobstructed, so too must orgone energy within an individual. Blockages or imbalances in this flow can lead to a range of health issues, manifesting as physical illnesses, mental disorders, or emotional instability.
To achieve and maintain orgone homeostasis, Reich proposed a variety of therapeutic methods designed to address and remove energy blockages. These include character-analytic vegetotherapy, a form of psychoanalytic psychotherapy that adds physical techniques to the traditional psychoanalytic approach; bio-energetic exercises, designed to improve the flow of vital energy in the body; and emotional release techniques, such as catharsis, which involve the release of repressed emotions, states of tension, and stress from the body. These therapies aim to re-establish a smooth flow of orgone energy within the individual, thereby restoring equilibrium and promoting health and wellbeing.
Orgastic potency is a term coined by Wilhelm Reich to denote the ability to experience, and allow, a full orgasmic discharge of built-up sexual energy during the climax of sexual arousal. Reich argued that this complete discharge was necessary for the proper functioning of life energy (or orgone energy) within an organism, playing a crucial role in overall mental and physical health. Reich's work on orgastic potency came from his background in psychoanalysis, where he started exploring the idea in the context of patients' sexual problems he treated. According to Reich, mental health relied heavily on the individual's ability to fully discharge the build-up of sexual energy in the body. He held that most forms of psychoneuroses prevalently seen in civilization stemmed from a continual inhibition and inability to experience this orgastic potency.
Reich also believed in an energy field or 'aura' surrounding every living being, constituted of orgone energy. This field or 'orgone field' reflects the state of energy within the body, with a balanced and harmonious field signifying a state of orgone homeostasis. A harmonized orgone field is thought to resonate with the fields of other beings and the universe, fostering overall wellness and a connection to the cosmos.
In Reich’s framework of understanding, orgone energy is fundamental to the bodily functions, mental capabilities and emotional landscapes of an individual. Thus, maintaining a balanced flow of this energy – orgone homeostasis – is crucial for overall well-being and efficient functioning.
Orgone homeostasis relies on bio-energetic resonance between the life energy (orgone) and the physical manifestation of the individual. Reich believed in an innate ability of living bodies to vibrate in tune with this universal life force. He posited that disruption in this resonance results in health ailments. Preserving bio-energetic resonance is, therefore, an integral part of maintaining orgone homeostasis.
The homeostatic balance of orgone energy within the body is deeply tied to the emotional health of the individual. Emotional traumas and repressed emotions create blockages in the flow of orgone energy, thus negatively influencing emotional well-being. To restore emotional health, it is necessary to reestablish orgone homeostasis which often involves emotional release or catharsis.
Reich's concept of health was not limited just to physical wellness but encompassed emotional and mental well-being. According to Reich, blockages in orgone energy could not only lead to physical manifestations such as diseases and disorders, but could also manifest as mental health disorders like anxiety and depression. Similarly, disturbed emotional states could create imbalances in orgone energy, thereby disrupting orgone homeostasis. This implies a direct relationship between emotional health and orgone homeostasis. Thus, maintaining orgone homeostasis is synonymous with preserving optimal emotional, mental, and physical health.
Another crucial component of orgone homeostasis is the unblocking of energy channels in the body. Reich held that energy blockages could lead to a variety of health issues. These could be manifested as physical diseases, discomfort, or even mental health concerns. His therapies aimed at identifying and physically releasing these energy blockages to restore orgone homeostasis. Practices such as somatic therapy, character analytic vegetotherapy, and bodywork can assist in restoring the balanced flow of orgone energy and thereafter, maintaining homeostasis.
Reich designed the orgone energy accumulator with the intention of harnessing and applying orgone energy for therapeutic purposes. These accumulators were box-like structures of various sizes, big enough for an individual to sit inside. They were made up of alternating layers of organic and inorganic materials that were specially arranged to both attract and trap orgone energy. Reich suggested that individuals suffering from various illnesses could subject themselves to the concentrated orgone energy inside the accumulator which would help to stimulate the body's own healing capabilities. Though disputed by many researchers, patients relayed experiencing improvements in a range of health conditions after spending time in these orgone accumulators.
Moreover, Reich posited that each individual has an emotional orgone reservoir. This reservoir, when balanced and free flowing, gives rise to a healthy emotional response mechanism. Emotional orgone reservoir can be considered an important element of orgone homeostasis. If this reservoir becomes blocked or imbalanced, it can lead to emotional instability.
In summary, orgone homeostasis underscores a balance of energies within an individual. Disruption to this balance can lead to a range of health issues - emotional, physical, and mental. Restoring orgone homeostasis involves a combination of therapies intended to unblock energy channels, release trapped emotions, and realign the body’s resonance with the universal life force or orgone energy. This holistic approach to health and wellness became a foundational principle of Reich’s work.