The Upheaval of Spring
Ohhhh Spring ….
The smells, the freshness, the sunshine … and that moment when the hard crust breaks and new life emerges. A daffodil breaking through the soil, a chick hatching out, you & me growing beyond our old limitations.
It takes a lot of energy to break through the ground, the egg, the glass ceiling and spring is the perfect season to do just that. It’s the season of STRENGTH. It’s time to direct the energy in a useful way towards fulfilling our desires, whether that’s cleaning out a closet or starting a new career path.
Spring relates to the Wood Element. The emotion associated with this season is anger.
Anger on its own is a valuable emotion for it initiates the needed strength for forward movement and navigating the obstacles we encounter. Without it, nothing would get accomplished. It may show up as irritation or frustration too - it doesn’t need to reach the full blown anger stage.
The key, perhaps obvious, is to not use it as a weapon to harm our self or others.
What draws it forth? Anger arises from resisting the way things are unfolding in our lives. The more we resist what is happening, the greater is the emotional impact. We make a judgment that this event is not right. We may feel irritated or frustrated at first and that may be all the motivation we need. Or it could develop into anger or rage.
And the question is, what then?
When turned outward, we blame others for our problems, being aggressive or passively aggressive. When turned inwards, we develop a strong inner critic or go into depression, resigned and apathetic to the situation at hand. And neither serves you or anyone else as you are causing some degree of harm and are more a part of the problem than the solution.
The chemicals released into your body during anger need to be released out via movement of some sort so that your nervous system can calm down and you can work with it. Then you can decide how to respond.
When spring wood is healthy, we know what we want and need, we make plans to get those things and we set out to achieve those ends. Obstacles arise and we use our curiosity and creativity to consider our options. Think - healthy assertion, alternative times/routes and collaboration. If it’s not healthy we respond to constraints and limitations with frustration, anger and rage.
It’s gifts of vision, clarity and perspective provide us with the tools to know our direction and purpose. Guidance comes as a simple knowing. This is a time that is active, dynamic and it MUST MOVE. Gifts include:
Ability to see clearly, which is not the same as looking, just as hearing is not necessarily listening. Seeing includes imagining future possibilities, having foresight and insight. And with clarity comes objectivity.
Planning & creativity, which goes hand-in-hand with seeing possibilities. How will we create that which we desire?
Decision making & good judgement, which leads to making the necessary decisions to move forward in a healthy way.
We are totally supported and set up by the energy of spring to move forward with all the dreams and desires we incubated through the winter, the time of dreaming.
Wondering how to nurture yourself now? Here are a few ideas to get you going:
Move: Get outside and take long walks in nature, observe the changes going on all around you and invite change in. Join an exercise or yoga class.
Recreate Order Out of Chaos: Spring clean! Let go, make space and allow new things into your life. Find ways to actuate your dreams and desires.
As Without, So Within: Start a healthier diet and flush out the toxins. Don’t overeat. Eat slowly, savoring the flavors. Drink plenty of water. Enjoy the abundance of fresh foods that are coming into season.
Let Go of Old Resentments and Start Fresh: Grudges and resentments are indigestible, are a constant energy drain and feed into systemic inflammation. Practice forgiveness.
Take a Risk and Try Something New: Think of something you would like to try, even if it seems silly or scary. Begin sprouting and be playful!
Consider an Energetic Spring Cleaning to assist your process. EMF Balancing will spring clean your systems.
I encourage you to notice your spring energy, your wood element, and as you do that notice how you tap into your strength. True Strength offers greater expansiveness, aliveness and vitality.
If we stay present with our feelings of irritation, frustration and anger, inquire into and explore the nature of that anger, it’s sensation and feelings, its history and origins, we find the anger dissolves and transforms into True Strength with us. We then realize we are not just feeling strength but that we ARE the strength.
In my book, Calmly Centered, we explore the emotional (energy in motion) aspects of life and the superpowers that are available to us.
Wishing you True Strength,
Suzanne