The hills are green and dusted with yellow, the air is alive with vibrant life. And EVERYTHING is blooming! This is Spring in Ojai. We received a wonderful rainstrom a few weeks ago and it reinvigorated all of us….the trees, the flowers, the birds, the bugs, and the humans, too. Spring energy wants to rise up, push through, and get things done. It’s active and energetic, and supports vision, creativity, new endeavors. The themes of the season are growth, rebirth, and renewal. Our job is create room, increase circulation and go with the natural flow of expansion that is happening all around us.
So, what happens when this expansiveness isn’t allowed to blossom?
The last two years have been like that. Staying at home, curtailing travel and get-togethers, and restriction of expression has been something we have all bee with. Constriction of natural growth can lead to stagnation.
In Chinese Medical theory, stagnation feels like anger and irritability, depression, mood swings, migraines, pain, tension and tightness (especially in the neck, shoulders, and sides of the body), PMS and worsening cramps, excessive sighing, and indigestion. For the creative types- you may be experiencing “writer’s block” or lack of direction/ vision/ focus.
The wood element belongs to the spring season and its related meridian system pair is the Liver and Gall Bladder. Together, these organs are responsible for the smooth flow of qi and blood in the body and regulates emotions. They manage energy flow, but are affected by stress. The wood element teaches us about flexibility and adaptability.
So, how do we help the season help us?
1.! Get Moving! Energy likes to move and transform. Outdoor exercise and being in nature is even more beneficial. Movement that destresses the body and mind is also wonderful. Join a Yoga Class!
2. Change Up Your Diet. Similarly, lemon, apple cider vinegar and peppermint or chamomile tea will help move stagnation in the Liver/Gall Bladder channels. The wood element likes sour food (like kimchi and yogurt) as well as light meals with lots of greens (the color of the wood element). Bitter greens (dandelion, nettles, and arugula ) are particularly cleansing for the liver and gallbladder and promote better digestion. These food choices compliment the ascending, regenerative qualities of spring and keep the liver and gall bladder clear and healthy. Join our SPRING ATTUNMENT CLEANSE for more information.
3.Get Creative. Plant out your garden, Invent a new smoothie. Paint a picture. Spring is about Rebirth and seeing things from a new perspective.
4. Self-Care. Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine is designed for seasonal shifts. Body Talk, Massage, and Ayurveda is fantastic for addressing stagnation in the physical body. See what Soul Body Practitioners are offering!
5. Vision. Revise and Renew your life plans.