The Power of Spring

Tis the season of spring, the season of growth, rejuvenation, new beginnings, emergence from the metaphorical cocoon of winter, the season of love and multiplication, the season of the Wood Element.

But what does this really mean?

Wood is the element of expansion, exploration, rising up and out, it is the spirit of adventure, assertion, and perceived dominance. But it’s also the element of anger, rage, robbery, trickery, and getting what you want at the expense of another. This is apparent in the cycles of the five elements.

Wood is the mother of fire, giving birth to the Spirit of consciousness. But it’s also the child of water, the current of the deep. Wood is a bit of both. The child of cold, yet the mother of warm, wood is the transition period of these two aspects of natural energy generation.

Wood is also the controller of earth, the abundance of this very planet. And when wood is out of its realm, in danger of its own depletion or destruction, the control, the earth, is the one to take the brunt of this damage. When there isn’t enough Liver Qi to go around, the Liver simply takes it from the Spleen, who is more than submissive in letting it just happen. Wood thrives on top of Earth, after all.

How does this correlate to everyday health? Wood’s manifestation of might comes from its ability to take Qi, any Qi, and raise it to its next level. The reason why Qi can make it to the next element, is because of the Wood’s ability of raising the Qi up. The cyclical Qi generation cycle is more like a spiral than a loop. It spirals up, or out. The only way Qi can make it to the next element of change, is by way of growing to there, growing from its Wood energy.

In this time of spring, how can this engage us to heal better? During the spring, the entire northern hemisphere of Earth if going through the metamorphous process of regrowth. Every living creature on Earth, whether animal, plant, or fungus, is exposed to the Earth’s position in the cosmos, its distance to the sun, and its tilt in seasonal change. We must engage our Wood within and expand its regenerating force upon the spiral of intertwined rising of Qi. In other words, we must allow our seeds to grow from its long watering over winter.

Tis the time for new beginnings, to shed the old and regrow the new, the better, the fresh, the optimal. Time to take a new route in life, change routine, engage in those activities we always wanted to, and to invite the essence of direct change to get back into our lives so we may use this launching platform to propel us through the rest of the year on a course to success in our endeavours.

Wow, such flowery words, but how can we do this?

The best way to understand this is to go out into nature and feel the trees around you. Watch how they are beginning to push their fresh new leaves into the air, bloom their flowers into fruition, and how their grounded energy begins to rise. Watch how all the tiny things on the ground prevail against all odds. That will be your target for the season. Whatever your desire is to accomplish, know that this is the season to set one’s perseverance on, and to never give up. Be the sapling, the sprout, the beginning of something great, and push through the ground of those old winter leaves and spread those fresh green arms of energy reception to start anew. Push until there can be no more push. This is the time to use our Wood energy.

But where is the wood energy? Well, that would be the split action between the lustrous Liver and the gregarious Gallbladder. It’s time to allow our powerful Liver Qi to flow freely. It’s time to allow our Gallbladder to finally make a decision, point the great ship that is the Liver, and drive forward! The great locomotive that are these organs, their Qi energy, is what gives all things their drive to excel beyond what was thought possible. The raging horses that have been in stables all winter are now primed and ready for action. Don’t miss the call, the call to change, expand, redirect, and boldly jump into the abyss of ones future.

This is a time when dreams may become more vivid, more numerous, or more insightful. Our Hun, the Spirit of the Wood Qi, is now at its most powerful. And that power lies within the aspect of directional change. If you are pondering about this change, thinking you have no idea what direction to head in, try this method:

Find a forest, get as deep into it as possible, and sit with your back to a large, old, tree. If you’re a city folk, a park with trees, or even a back garden with a tree, will do just fine.

Take your shoes off and place them on the ground and squiggle your toes into the Earth beneath the leaves.

Find your big toe and second toe, and just below the knuckle between them, give it a nice rub for 30 seconds to a minute.

Then place your thumb below the large ankle bone and give it a good squeeze for 30 seconds to a minute.

Once may be enough, but you can repeat this a couple more times. These are the source points of the Liver and Gallbladder channels, the source points for one’s Wood energy.

After this channel prime, sit comfortably (cross legged or legs out in front, it doesn’t matter, what matters is that you keep your back straight, neutral and comfortable), take a few deep breaths, and let you mind wander for a few minutes.

As thoughts come and go, let them ebb and flow like the waves on a shore. Let them come and go, until the point of a deep vacancy of thought. There, hold it.

Hold the vacancy for as long as possible until the flow comes back in.

Do this once more, and try to understand its timing.

When you’ve got a grasp of this, during the vacancy, say out loud (or in your mind’s voice if it’s strong enough), ‘what do I want?’ or ‘what do I need?’ or ‘how do I do xyz’, etc.

Ask your question into the forest leaves, into the wild, and let your words take themselves into the vastness of this void. You can sit for a few moments longer, pondering as you like.

Then stand up, slowly (you don’t want to get dizzy standing up after this, for obvious reasons). Put your shoes back on (or not) and take a walk. Let the motion of your movement lubricate the thinking engine of your expanding mind.

Thoughts will begin to bubble up, if they haven’t already, and will being to spark new and fresh ideas.

This concept isn’t different from meditation, to be fair. Meditation simply means to contemplate. But the method in which contemplation platforms on will change the direction of that contemplation into the answers you seek. This can be repeated if a  direction hasn’t been met. And if you’re really willing to deeply understand, seek your local acupuncturist/Chinese medicine practitioner. They can give you more insight into your own personal power of your Wood Element.

This is also the time to begin to load up on certain types of foods beneficial to this Element of season. Bitter foods, strong tasting leafy greens, of all kinds, and sprouts are your go-to. Dandelion leaves will be a powerful tonic, epically in early spring, and can be found for free in your local green spaces (but please pick those that are away from human activity, and wash leaves before consumption to prevent unwanted microbial introductions). But anything deep green and in season will be sufficiently nourishing for one’s Wood Element and their corresponding organs.

Whether you are lost, tis the season to be found. Whether you are stuck in pondering motions of the winter Water Element, tis the season to close your eyes, pick a direction, and move with intuition. Tis the season of motion, exploration, expansion, and long term direction.

Have a powerful day!