Little buds and sprouts are starting to show their faces in the PNW (at least here, in the lowlands). We’re in a liminal time between seasons, from Winter to Spring. Yang energy, the vital life force that animates all things, is slowly rising out of a long Winter’s restful and nourishing Yin. The little shoots (Wood) are rising from their underground winter slumber.
Brilliant Medicine is a seasonal medicine and works in the context of the natural world and always considers the effects the seasons have on us. When we watch and listen to nature’s patterns and cycles, we can learn to support our own health and set ourselves up for vitality and well-being with each new season.
I’ll be sharing a lot more this year as we move through the five seasons. Spring, Summer, Late Summer, Fall and Winter.
Spring embodies both the element of Wood and the Liver & Gallbladder organs. Which means that when our bodies are out of alignment with the energy of the seasons, in spring, Liver and Gallbladder type symptoms may intensify, like stress and anxiety, allergies, headaches, insomnia, dizziness, among others.
We can tread lightly into this rebirth of Spring. Bring with us the nourishment of the slowness of Winter’s water, while like a sprout (slowly) starting to reach towards the light. It’s a great time to anchor into self-care practices. Every seed shoots out a root and descends into the soil first, then the sprout ascends from the seed to break through the surface. We can learn from this, first… take the grounding offered to us by wintertime, remain rooted in the body, and then begin to ascend as the energy of spring rises. Without the root, the shoots of spring fall over. And for our bodies, without the rootedness and centeredness of a winter well spent, the ascending energy of spring may stir up more than we want it to.
You can feel it, right? Look at the daffodils about to open, the current bush about to pop. The daphne, first harbinger of spring is fiercely protected by the hummingbirds in my garden ~ they are waiting for the first nectar of the season. The feel of spring is in the air. It is vitalizing!
Stay rooted and tend to your body in ways that are aligned with the season…
Eat sprouts.
Care for your eyes, with a cool wash of chrysanthemum tea, and many breaks from screen time. Look at green things, like the salmonberry leaves and the first rising buds of the native plum.
Open your windows, air out your home at least once per day, for 30 minutes or more.
Focus on green foods. Let kale, spinach, nettles, and chard be a part of your every meal.
Consider taking a nettle supplement, like a tincture or a tea — this one from Traditional Medicines is delicious. We harvest the new shoots of nettle and make pesto and dry the leaves for tea. If you are interested, ask me about it.
The weather is variable, so dress in layers. Keep the wind off the nape of your neck and don’t forget your jacket, even when the sun is out.
Gentle cleansing with chlorophyll, seaweed and green powders is a good spring practice. Leave the more intense raw food or juice cleanses for the warmth of summer.
💦And always, drink lots of clean, clear water! And offer gratitude for the water you drink. No greater way to align with nature. Water is Life! Thank you Water. 💦
We cannot separate ourselves from the natural world around us.
Air is nature, water is nature. Our bodies are made of the same minerals and star dust as the earth. We can never be separate but we can believe that we are, and that is very unhealthy. We can never be separate, but we can forget to align. Very simple things, like the things I have mentioned above are powerful practices for aligning to the turning of the season. Choose a few to invite into your life, and your body will thank you!
With love,
Reya
