The Nature of Energy

I am not offended and I appreciate any constructive criticism. Chi is definitely a central, iconic word in this context. I admit that I actually use the word energy in my own thoughts with regards to these things, and I see that word used by others fairly frequently - with the word Chi I feel that I would need to base my understandings around the practices where "Chi" is the primary word used(since it has specific connotations and there are actually other chinese words for other instances of spiritual phenomena), and if I do not base my understandings on those teachings then I fear I may actually use it in the wrong way.

Additionally, if you look up "Life Force", Wikipedia says that "Energy" in the esoteric sense is one of the things that may refer to, linking these two concepts as one.