Spring: Yang Rising out of Yin

3rd Solar Term: Waking of Insects

We recently entered the 3rd Solar Term known as “Waking of Insects” which lasts between March 5-20th this year. According to Dr. Tamsin Lee of Elemental Archetypes, “The folk story goes that during this time a loud thunderstorm awakened the insects from the winter hibernation, and usher the warmer Spring.⁣” Some of you might be feeling the growing yang from the deep yin of winter. Out of yin, yang is born. Dr. Lee goes on to say, “Many of us may be feeling a real shift in energy. This energetic shift can feel exciting, confusing, or even a little frightening. ⁣The Wood element is loud. The emotion associated with Spring is Anger and the sound associated with the season is shouting. During the next couple of weeks, this sudden upsurge of energy can be intense.

As growth and life expands around us, we crave movement and stretching of our limbs. During this transition you may find yourself moving upward too fast. It's important to root oneself and find a grounding within the natural upward movement of Yang. This rooted expansion is crucial to transition into the Spring harmoniously.

Wood: The Element of Spring

Wood represents birth, life, growth, childhood, our preovulatory phase & the rebirth into the second half of our life after menopause. Think about trees and how they link the earth to the skies. They are firm, but flexible, swaying with the winds. Along with trees, this element represents all plants and vegetation. If you want to nourish this element, be among plants and bring plants in your home. Wood is the energy that inspires the seeds to push through the dirt upward into sunshine.

With projects, Wood element reflects the planning stage; the gathering of materials, brainstorming, research, calculations, choosing, purchasing, etc. It’s when things start to take shape and fill in. It brings energy into form. Creativity swims in the winter waters and the actions of Spring Wood are what brings it to life.

Organs of Spring: Liver & Gall Bladder

In Chinese Medicine, our Liver is responsible for storing blood and regulating its volume. It also has the unique responsibility of smoothing the flow of qi, blood and emotions. It's the organ system all about smooth flow and circulation. The Nei Jing, describes the Liver as “The root of stopping all extremes.” But if our Liver becomes overburdened or undernourished, it can overreact or stagnate. It will also absorb all the things that aren’t able to be digested (this includes our emotions).

The Gall Bladder rules decision making especially around decisions of growth. If you ever find yourself indecisive, your gall bladder may need some love. In western medicine, this organ is where bile is stored, and it assists the Liver in metabolizing extremes.

How to Harmonize Wood

• Feel into your range of emotions and metabolize through them

• Move your qi, daily & play

• Eat naturally detoxifying foods & overall eat lighter meals in the Spring

• Always finish eating 2-3 hours before bed and follow the 80/20 rule

• Keep your neck covered from wind

Acupressure

1. Liver 3 Great Rushing: This point helps to soothe the liver, rectify qi, and course the connecting vessels and quickens the blood.

2. Spleen 6 Three Leg Yin: This is the meeting place of the Kidney, Liver and Spleen meridians. This point supplements spleen earth, helps movement and transformation, frees Qi stagnation, regulates the blood chamber and the palace of essence (uterus).

3. Gall Bladder 20 Wind Pool: This point helps to course wind and clear heat. It clears the head and opens the portals, brightens the eyes and sharpens the hearing, frees the channels and quickens the connecting vessels.

If you’d like to lean into Seasonal Wisdoms and Cyclical Living, join our waitlist for Womb School: A 9-month seasonal immersion anchored in the womb continuum. We start April 2021. Hope to see you there.