‘”…everything that has the breath of life in it- I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.” Genesis 1:30
Spring Essentials: Waking Up
What is your body saying right now? What are you deeply craving?
I have spent the last two decades studying the body, mind and spirit. It hasn’t always been a pretty process. It has come with deep awakenings to the truth within. Some things I wanted to see; others not so much. But what I’ve learned is our bodies know the way. When we deeply anchor into the source of truth within, the answers are always there, waiting to be found.
I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for many years. Like many of the world’s healing practices and cultures, TCM focuses on the five elements, each corresponding to a season, taste, color, smell, foods, emotion, etc. Today, I want to discuss Spring, what this means, what we can do to access what our body naturally craves this time of year, and how we can better align with the flow of nature.
Spring relates to the wood element and the Liver. This is a time when the Liver is naturally cleansing and preparing for the year ahead. Foods relating to spring are green: kale, chard, wild greens, salad, dandelion. Eating these foods raw or slightly steamed is best. There are tons of products out there with loads of greens, for those on the go or for those who do not get enough green plant food into their diet. A great product I have found is by Health Force: VitaMineral Greens.
The Liver is a very important organ. When healthy, this meridian assists in smooth flow of energy throughout the body, balances emotions and assists the spleen in healthy digestion processes. However, when out of balance, it is related to the energy of anger and irritation. During highly stressful times and emotionally charged atmospheres, the liver meridian can become blocked or stagnated. This is like a dam in the river. You can visualize the water getting backed up, the debris clogging the system, obstructing the flow.
During spring, the liver goes through a natural cleansing process. This is a time when heated emotions are likely to surface. Understanding this concept is vital. When the emotions surface, we can realize what is going on and do the opposite to help the liver along. A few suggestions to smooth liver energy include: meditation, yoga, walking, sweating to detoxify, deep breathing and intentionally extending kindness to ourselves and others.
The more we give ourselves breathing space during this time of year, the more dams in the river of life force energy within us can be removed. This is the goal. By allowing space for energetic breakthrough, we are aligning with laws of nature and strengthening our physical and emotional bodies, paving the way for deep nourishment of the spleen and healthy digestion during late summer.
What can you do today to support your body to prepare for Spring? This is a time of rebirth, regeneration, flowering. Observe nature, realize what is happening outside of us is also occurring within. We are awakening, blooming, a deeper light beginning to shine. What green foods are you willing to add to your diet today? What can you do as you feel heated emotions arise? What new exercises can you add daily to support this process? Send me an email, tell me all about it! I would love to hear from you!
Have fun every day,
Micah
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