‘The harvest of a whole year depends on what you sow in the spring’ Chinese proverb
What do you want to sow? Spring is here and with it is our chance to plant something great, to invest in ourselves and in our relationships with small seeds that can bloom into something large and strong.
In Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the color green (no surprise there) and the element wood. The energy that has been stored up for the entire winter now begins to move quickly up and out of the earth. The birds are coming back, singing earlier in the morning. Plants are starting to send out their shoots.
‘Spring is sooner recognized by plants than men’ Chinese proverb
Pay attention and you may also notice changes in your body due to the spring. You may notice waking earlier and feeling increased energy. This energy, or Qi, in your body responds to the energy in your environment. When the Qi of nature starts to move, our internal Qi responds by wanting to move more as well. This can also be felt in a negative way. If you’re feeling stuck in any way, either physically or emotionally, you may feel that amplified in the spring in such ways as increased anxiety, irritability or restlessness.
Think about the element associated with spring in Chinese medicine, wood. Trees are amazing. They have a tendency to grow up and out, and most importantly they have the nature of being strong yet incredibly flexible. A tree must be able to withstand the wind and rain. If it were not flexible it would easily snap. We too must learn to be strong, yet flexible both physically and emotionally.
Signs that your Qi may be stuck include;
- Feeling anxious or irritable
- Increased headaches
- Frequently sighing
- Digestive complaints, stomach aches or bloating
So, how do you help your body get ready for spring? Eat more green foods, wake earlier and exercise more frequently. All of these things can help the Qi of your body get moving more easily, which will help you become strong yet flexible. This is a great time of year to plant new seeds of health!
One final quote,
‘It is better to ride along with the current than to try to walk upstream’
Julie