We might view the start of Spring around March or April, when the weather starts warming up. In the Chinese calendar, Spring starts earlier, sometime in February when the bulbs come up and new buds start to appear.
Spring is associated with Wood, which is the element of the Liver and Gall Bladder. Whereas in winter we have been hunkering down in the Water time of the year, resting and nurturing our yin, Spring brings about a shift in energy, and if we are aligned with nature, we may start to feel the desire to be more active and spend more time outside.
The Wood Element is all about being expansive, creative and fearless It is about energy and growth (just like nature at this time of year). It’s also associated with being determined and organised. But the liver is the organ associated with anger and frustration, and these can manifest if our wood energy is out of balance.
In order to maintain balance, we want to start introducing more sour food to our diet at this time of year. Add a little lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to your meals. Maybe eat some sauerkraut or pickles. Green is the colour of the Wood element, so you might want to wear more green, certainly to eat more leafy greens, and to spend time out in nature as the greenness returns.
We need to make sure that we don’t overdo things, causing a Wood imbalance. Green shoots are fragile and we are only at the beginning of the more active time of year. Take it slow, no matter how impatient you feel!
I work with the elements in my practice, including using essential oils (AromaReflex and Aromatherapy Massage). At this time of year I will start to use more cedarwood, lemongrass, chamomile and bergamot to clarify and ground. If you fancy booking yourself in for a Spring pick-me-up, get in touch and I can book you in.