Living in Harmony with the Seasons: Springtime Unleash the Fury Edition
/Hey YOU! Friends! Are you feeling a little restless, or antsy? Are you feeling a new surge of creativity as you dust off some old projects or imagine brand new ones? Maybe you are feeling suddenly more frustrated, annoyed and snappy? If you are you are not alone! This my friends is the energy of SPRING! And we are right in the thick of it!
“Wait, what?” you may say. “How can you tell me its spring with the cold arctic temperatures and these crazy icy winds and all this snow?”
While our culture marks spring as the time when the days were longer than the nights, other ancient cultures saw it differently. These ancient traditions noticed that there was a shift this time of year in nature. Somewhere around the time that the groundhog starts peeking out of his hole, nature starts to transition out of the quiet restful space of deep winter and into the bustling more productive space. And its a transition that packs some punch!
If you look past the snow and cold you can see this transition starting to take place. Trees are starting to emerge from dormancy and the sap is starting to rise in the trees, preparing to nourish the new growth and leaves. (This time of year marks the start of maple sugar season thanks to the upwards rising energy of spring!) If you were to dig up your daffodil and crocus bulbs, you would see green shoots beginning to push through the cold soil. Animals outside are beginning to stir and become more active—from the squirrels to the birds to the ground hogs that are waking up to check out their shadows. My crazy cats are begging to be let out to run laps around the yard despite how cold it is outside. This, the ancient told us, is spring!
The energy of Spring is a rising, punchy, “up and out” kind of energy. Just think about the kind of “umph” that the little bulbs need to have to push their tender sprouts through frozen soil. This energy is felt by all living beings (including us!) at one level or another. It’s the roar of a battle cry, the fierce kind of springing forth. When the weather (or life) doesn’t cooperate with our plans, we can feel like a little blade of grass bumping up against a rock—or like we are hitting our heads against a wall and that can produce feelings of frustration or even anger. But spring is also inventive. Nature always find a way to return, despite the frozen ground or rocky soil. Like the blades of grass that find their way to the cracks in the sidewalk, spring time energy is flexible and down right creative—solving problems and finding a way forward, channeling the energy. If you are feeling a little extra punchy these days, or if you are suddenly awash in creative problem solving well that’s just spring energy in you.
The energy of Spring is also quite windy. This time of year, the wind literally seems to be ever present. Windy can also mean shifty—gorgeous and 60 degrees out one day—freezing cold and snowy the next. We can experience this as feeling ready to go, up and Adam, creative and excited one day—and maybe not so much the next. We may also experience it as difficulty making decisions. While this feeling can be frustrating, its just par for the course during a transition time.
The ancient medical texts tell us that the best way to care for our body is to live in harmony with the seasons. Our bodies will function and heal better if we are aligned with nature, not fighting it. What does that mean for us in this crazy “spring before spring”?
- Move your body. Especially if you are feeling a bit antsy, frustrated or punchy. By moving we are allowing ourselves to go with that energy and put it to good use. Whether it’s a brisk walk around the block, or a rousing game of hockey, basketball or kick the can, movement can help us not feel like we are stuck in frozen soil.
- Get creative. Creativity comes in all flavors. Whether you are an artist, a writer, a teacher or a mechanic, a lawyer or a chef, creativity is an important part of work and play. Whether you are creating a new work of art, or trying a new strategy, allow yourself to create something different.
- Get perspective. See new possibilities. Make a plan. This is a good time of year to try new things, change it up a bit. Its also a great time to allow yourself to get out of the weeds and see the bigger picture or to develop a vision for your health, your career, your home life, or for the year ahead.
- Be patient. With yourself and with others. Just like the weather, things may be a bit up and down. Listen to your body. If you need to rest, rest. If you need to move, move. Allow yourself to oscillate between the rest of winter and the activity of spring and summer until you are ready to spring forth!
Here is a little visual representation of the energy of spring time. (It may be familiar to you Washington hockey fans.)
The spring transition can be a little tough on our bodies. If you are looking for some support, this might be a good time to try acupuncture. Contact me via the "get in touch" page and we can discuss whether acupuncture is right for you.
