Spring: The element of wood

21st MARCH – SPRING EQUINOX

The beginning of Spring is March 21st, the Spring equinox is when day equals night. In the medieval calendar spring was the start of the year. The long dark grey days are about to end, replaced by fresh, dewy mornings that fill you with anticipation of warmth and sunshine.

The smell of Spring has a freshness that you do not see in any other season, provided by the new oxygen that comes from the young shoots and leaves growing around us at this time of year.

As the days become warmer and brighter, nature rises up from the resting phase of Winter, shifting energy upwards for the new growth of Spring.

This time is one of vision for a whole new cycle, an opportunity to make new plans and decisions, determine our direction and take action.

Spring is associated with the Wood element because it is a time where the sap is rising in the trees, just as we have this rising energy within us. If this does not happen, we can feel depressed or stuck and unable to move forwards.

The Spring is associated with the Liver and the Gall Bladder.

Be good to yourself

8 Key Priorities for Spring

  • Keep Life Flexible – free and active so you are supple and strong to withstand the changing circumstances of life.

  • Choose things to motivate you – or be around people who do.

  • Do not let anyone overpower you – take responsibility for yourself, build substance to your life, develop your creativity and then expand out to communicate with and positively influence others.

  • Organise and decide – set goals and a forward plan or even just list a few events you would like to create in the following month.

  • Take up activities with others.

  • Detox and clean up – simplify and lighten your diet, drink less alcohol, tea and coffee.

  • Safely release anger and frustration.

  • Start to move again and stretch your body, create a feeling of being renewed and new energy.

8 Daily Habit for Spring

  • Be kind – to someone, and yourself.

  • Do something towards detoxifying your life – food, thoughts, physical, home or outdoor environment.

  • Practise making decisions.

  • Laugh heartily.

  • Scan your life for areas you may be stuck in and make a change.

  • Do something outside if only for a short time.

  • Set yourself a challenge in the morning, practise living in the moment.

  • Rest your eyes for ten minutes and practise eye exercises.

Eat more

  • Artichokes

  • Beans

  • Beetroot

  • Brown Rice

  • Carrots

  • Chicory

  • Chicken

  • Endive

  • Fennel

  • Green beans  

  • Green Vegetables

  • Kale

  • Leeks

  • Lemons

  • Lentils

  • Millet

  • Olive Oil

  • Parsley

  • Peaches

  • Radish

  • Sweet Potato

  • Spelt

  • Quinoa

  • Sesame Seeds

  • Turmeric

  • Watercress