"I sit with my back
against an old oak tree,
The wind blows, grass
lifts around me,
The tree remains steady,
The wind pushes me
forward,
My eyes tear with the
rising impulse,
Spring bursts forth,
It is full of life,
Vision clear,
See the plan,
What do you see,
What do you judge,
What is the plan,
Shout to the world,"
In Chinese thought there are many ways
of describing the world around us and our experience of it. One of
them is the model of the Five Elements, or Five Phases. I prefer the
term Five Phases because it denotes movements of energy over periods
of time as opposed to static building blocks of reality. The Chinese
phases are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. In a previous post I
described some of the qualities of Fire as it relates to the Heart
organ-meridian system. In this post we will explore the season of
Spring which is associated with Wood.
Wood Correspondences (in
Chinese Five Phase Theory)
|
Emotion
|
Anger
|
|
Yin Organ
|
Liver
|
|
Yang Organ
|
Gallbladder
|
|
Sense Organ
|
Eyes
|
|
Body Part
|
Tendons
|
|
Body Fluid
|
Tears
|
|
Sense
|
Sight
|
|
Taste
|
Sour
|
|
Life
|
Birth
|
|
Season
|
Spring
|
|
Color
|
Blue-green
|
|
Virtue
|
Judgment/Discernment
|
|
Direction
|
East
|
|
Climate
|
Windy
|
|
Movement
|
Upwards, Outwards
|
Spring is a time of birth and renewal.
It is the seed growing upwards and breaking ground. There is an
energy of bursting forth and moving upwards. The Yang Qi becomes
dominant, bursting out of Yin which has been dominant in Autumn and
Winter. The light begins to return, the days become longer, and the
temperature begins to warm. The state of expansive potential
associated with Winter shifts into the state of manifested potential.
The full realization of potential won't happen until the Summer.
There is still a quality of the unknown present in Spring.
Spring can be a difficult time for
people because of all the change and movement happening. After the
deep contemplation of Winter it can be a jarring shift to move into
Spring. The movement happening in nature can stir up Wind - both
metaphorically and literally. Things might seem like they're a little
out of control and overwhelming. People will experience allergies,
frustration, and a sense of being disoriented. All these things are
normal and by knowing what's happening in nature we can learn to
adjust to the changing seasons more easily, helping any physical
symptoms to become less severe.
The Liver likes things to be
consistent and organized. The Liver is associated with vision on all
levels (i.e. physical, having foresight for future projects,
opportunities, etc.). Because Spring is a time of change the Liver
can become irritated. It may be unable to see what will happen in the
future because the potential of Winter is still being shaped into
what it will become. It is analogous to the feeling that occurs whiel
driving behind a large truck and being unable to see the road ahead
of you.
Spring invites us to learn to move
with the currents of nature, to be okay with the unknown as it is
happening. Winter is more a time of deep contemplation where we learn
to sit with mystery and the unknown in a state of darkness, quiet,
and stillness. Spring is a time of driving 90 mph on a winding road
that we are unfamiliar with. In the Winter we use the time to discern
what no longer serves us and Spring is when we get rid of it all
(Spring cleaning). This process can leave us feeling raw, vulnerable,
and a little rough around the edges.
Finding things in our life that we
know will be consistent is helpful during Spring. Having an anchor to
hold onto while things are shifting and being let go of helps us feel
secure in the process. It makes change and growth more comfortable.
We want to put ourselves at the eye of
the storm where there is stillness as opposed to being on the
periphery where the tornado is blowing strong and we might get hit
with a flying cow. Focusing on the positive qualities that change and
growth will bring into our lives will help us allow it to happen with
less resistance. Asking where we want to go, where we see ourselves
going, and why we want to get there will help the journey be more
enjoyable. Spring and Autumn are all about the journey. Winter and
Summer are more related to the destination. They are the rest in the
light and dark. Spring and Autumn are navigating the old rickety
bridge between two mountains.
Self-Care Tips for Spring
Be asleep or in bed resting
between 11 am and 3 am. This is the period where the Qi is strongest
in the Liver and Gladder. It allows them to carry out their
functions of judgment, discernment, vision, and refurbishment. Less
sleep starting earlier will always be more beneficial than more
sleep starting later.
Contemplate or journal about
visions, dreams, what you want to let go of, what you want to bring
in to your life, and how those changes will help you be more content
in life.
Dietary support for the liver
requires to things: healthy proteins that allow the liver to
function properly and sour/bitter foods. A great combination is a
green apple, a little lemon juice, cilantro, and dandelion greens.
Be careful not to overdo cold, raw, bitter foods because they can
negatively impact digestion. If you notice coldness, loose stools,
cramping pain, or fatigue, it means you're probably overdoing it.
Be smart about detoxes, cleanses,
and fasts. The liver requires energy to work properly. Juicing
removes all the fiber from the fruit or vegetable which means the
body absorbs all the sugar very quickly. This leads to dangerous
spiking of blood sugar levels and is taxing on the pancreas. Juice
fasting may be helpful in serious situations but should not be self
prescribed and done with the guidance of a trained healthcare
professional. For most people having a healthy, consistent diet,
taking care of yourself, and getting adequate sleep is going to
allow your body and life to detoxify most effectively.
Create consistency in your life to
help the liver in this time of change. Go to bed at the same time.
Wake up at the same time. Eat at the same time. Create things your
body knows it can rely on. Create a feeling of safety in your life.
Be okay with feeling off balance
and a little confused during this period. You will get through it
and you will be better for it afterward.
This week we explored the energetic
movement of Spring in nature and our bodies. We looked at how
associations with Spring show up both literally and metaphorically in
our lives and bodies. Next week we will look at the biomedical
physiology of how the liver detoxifies our bodies as well as talk
more about allergies and how Chinese medicine helps with them.
Questions are always welcome.
~Joshuah Ciafardone, L.Ac
