After a long, dark winter, the arrival of Spring brings a welcome return of light and warmth. It renews us both inside and out. It gets us moving again. In the Five Element cycle, Spring is the season of the Wood Element. Here’s an overview of the essential qualities that Wood energy brings to nature and spirit:
Hope and Faith
Planting seeds in a garden in Spring is an act of hope and faith that requires belief in the future. The sprouting of seeds always seems nothing short of miraculous. Hope, the spirit of the Wood Element, gives us a sense of purpose. We can make plans and start something, knowing that we have the ability to move forward. Hope is what makes life worth living. Without it, we would fall into despair.
Purpose and Destiny
Every living thing has a destiny. Growth happens according to a plan. The acorn grows into an oak, if it survives. It can’t grow into a pine or an apple tree. When we are in touch with the inner blueprint of our lives, we live authentically. The spirit of the Wood Element gives us the inner vision we need to live in harmony with our own destiny. Without it, our lives would be scattered and fruitlessly wasted.
Flexibility and Adaptation
Living things grow according to the inner blueprint, yet they also adapt to circumstances. Healthy Wood energy has flexibility. Like a green limb on a tree, it bends and is not easily broken. Without it, we would be stiff and rigid in attitude, unable to adapt to changing times.
Vigor and Growth
After the dormancy of Winter (the Water Element), growth in Spring can be astonishing. The activity of Spring is purposeful and directed, outward and upward. At times, it can be bursting and violent, as the seed breaks forth from its shell, or the baby emerges from the birth canal. The Wood Element floods us with vigor. It tells us “Let’s get moving!”
Five Element Acupuncture restores health by addressing imbalances in the Five Elements within the human body, mind and spirit. For more information or to make an appointment, call Inner Works Acupuncture in northwest Portland at 503-227-2127.
