Nature is busy renewing her energy, and it shows: when the colour palette first sprouts from the soil, it’s like the sleeping Earth Goddess re-opening her magical eyes. In such a time, even scents in the air have their own more subtle shades.
As I’m writing, in the northern hemisphere, after the dark Winter months of stillness and tuning in, the upward movement has finally began.
Signs of Early Spring are everywhere. As light ascends, days get longer. Breezes – the messengers of Heaven wake up mountains and rivers as well as our vision.
Your vision is the direct inspiration from your Soul. When you reawaken your Spirit, you also unleash your creativity after years or even decades of suppression.
When we reconnect with Spring, we find renewal happening easily and naturally.
Insects Awaken is one of the Chinese 24 Solar Terms, usually just before the Spring Equinox.
The Dao/Tao is speaking through rebirth and growth.
As animals emerge from their hibernation, the pace of the gardens start to pick up again. Green blades spring up from the dark earth.
Snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils…these beautiful children of Earth Goddess use their innate intelligence to judge the outside conditions. And once the pivotal moments have arrived, they bloom and remind us that us human too have our intricate intuition to rely on.
At this time of the year, the overall weather can still be unstable. The great cold can alternate with sudden warmth, and it could swing from freezing beast to heat waves in a blink.
Sometimes, even good weather can bring on bad mood. As the light and warmth of Yang increases, it is not uncommon that people feel frustration, anger or aggression, or at the other side of the spectrum: extra sleepy.
a) If you have a lot of unprocessed frustration or resentment, according to Classical Chinese Medicine, it can be because you didn’t have enough rest or nourishment during the deep Winter, which may feel like you are giving from an empty cup right now.
Bear in mind that it has been a very difficult couple of years. Don’t judge yourself too much. Focus on clear and renewal. Knowing what you know now, you can prepare the coming year better.
So be gentle towards your own emotions, redirect and process your anger and frustration by paying close attention gently to the Wood Element in you – The Wood Element inside knows how to generate positive and powerful fuels.
b) Or on the other extreme, if you feel consistent fatigue or drowsy throughout the day, TCM suggests that it could be because the Wood Element (the peak element in Spring) is rising up too much, which causes imbalance or weakness in the Earth Element (represents Late Summer) in you.
The Five Elements inside each of us represent the Five Seasons: Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Autumn & Winter. Each Season & Element gives birth to the next, however, each of them also controls another Element.
For example, the Wood Element controls the Earth Element. We see this type of relationship in Nature all the time, for instance, we plant trees to minimize soil erosion, but too much Wood can depletes the Earth’s nutrients.
If you feel light headed, have problems with digestion or lose your appetite easily, you can gently press and massage this acupuncture point: Leg Three Miles (足三里). (please avoid arousing this point in Pregnancy from the 8th month.)
Leg Three Mile is the Earth Element on the Earth Meridian of Stomach channel. By pressing or massaging this point with the intention of creating momentum and stamina, it will tonify the Earth Element and allows the energy in you flows better again. It is also a first aid point for treating fainting and digesting.
It’s located under the kneecap, with one roughly one hand width down and one thumb width out.
See the yellow circle in the image below.
When the Equinox season comes, both our vision and reality are illuminated.
On one hand, you are moved by your calling, on the other hand though, at times you might feel discouraged, confused or impatient by the gap between your vision and reality.
Especially with what goes on in the world right now, people are hurt, our human world is troubled. Due to shellshock, many of us are shattered and at times transported to hardship and sorrow.
If you are having doubt, or questioning if you are doing the right thing, this is all normal. In this article, here are four ways to help you bridge the gap between your vision and reality, find courage and inspiration to walk your path.
Finally, here is a could-do or to-enjoy list for March (taken from the Magazine The Simple Things).
Let’s not forget that it is by rooting ourselves in the simple things from our immediate environment that we can find treasures in the ordinary and revive our ability to flow through transitions.
In this season, follow the Way of growth. Let each bud that you see, each birdsong that you hear awaken the precious seeds inside.
With love,
Yiye Zhang 章一叶
