Spring Liberation
By Kidada Fields
This past month we continued with the Seasonal Health Series: Wood. We designed this series to help folks live in better harmony with the seasons by discussing the related elements, how energy shows up in humans, and the associated Acupuncture points. Spring resonates with the Wood element of the five phases; an element that has to do with movement, planning, action, discernment, justice, choices, courage and creativity. Because Chinese Medicine is nature based, “as above, so below” guides its philosophies. What is happening outside is also happening inside you.
As our environment has moved into Spring, inside we have also shifted. Do you notice any internal shifts when the seasons change? Take a look outside for insight. With Spring, the Earth has woken up from its deep winter rest; bulbs are popping, birds are singing. There is more movement. How does this feel in you? Ready to get going, exercising, moving on a plan you have set? Or are you stuck and frustrated about being stuck?
If you're motivated to move. Let the movement start slowly, so as not to hurt yourself. To ensure flexibility, stretch your muscles first before going for that run or walk. Move forward with your plans with focused intention, with a clear vision of where you wish to go.
If you are not motivated to move, that is ok too! Be flexible with yourself. Start gently. We had an intense winter navigating life during a pandemic. Maybe start internally by lightening up your food, moving away from stews and more into lightly sautéed or steamed greens; add more greens to your diet; add chlorophyll to your water to get more oxygen to your blood. You can even start with your mind and your third eye. Meditate on what you want, see it, believe it. Wood energy brings vision. What do you envision for yourself? What do you envision for your community? The planet?
Applying pressure at GB1 - The Bone Of Fresh Innocent Eyes or Pupil Foramen (Tongzilao) can help with issues of the eyes and vision, headaches, heat and wind. On another level, here is where we can support looking inward and outward at plans, with fresh and innocent eyes. It is where the Gallbladder primary channel begins. The Gallbladder Official "empowers the creative growth of our inner plans into the world ", Jarrett.
On a larger scale, we are in a season of protesting, standing up against injustices and pushing against oppression, and it is intense energy. Once stagnant energy that has been building gets moving, it is powerful and shows up as a lot of emotions. The emotion of wood is anger, while its gift is benevolence. Appropriate anger can be moved into positive action. Yet, stuck and unexpressed anger can cause irritability, frustration, tension, stress and foster disease. When we stay in these emotions, we often cannot see a clear way out. Step back, take deep breaths, get grounded and come back with fresh eyes.
Liver 3 - Supreme Surge Forward, Supreme Rushing, Happy Return (Taichong) is a commonly used point. It eases constraint and thus helps with tense stuck energy throughout the body. It also addresses headaches, menstrual cramps, muscle cramps, shoulder tension and overall stress. It is nourishing and grounding at the same time.
Located in the flesh below the meeting of the 1st two metatarsals. Often tender, gently apply pressure for 20-30 seconds, repeat a few times, both feet.
