We have been moving through the Wintertime, where the Water Element was dominant, still and deep. Now we move towards the Springtime, with the Chi strongly moving outward and upward.

A good time to have a closer look at ourselves and check if we really are ready for Springtime.

Are we ready to dive into the powerful force of the Wood-Element, the ruler of Spring?

Spring can be divided in two parts:

– The early Spring, with its strong penetrating force which breaks through all stagnation, to create space for growth. And if there is no space, it will be created, one way or the other.
– The later Spring, where the more smooth Chi starts to flower and move free in all directions.

These two movement qualities of Wood are symbolised in nature through Thunder, and Wind.

Imagine the little plant growing through the asphalt.
There is no other way for this plant than to grow, so it will burst through, sooner or later.
Imagine the roots of a tree penetrating the mountain.
Imagine the enormous power behind these processes!!
This is the time of early Spring.

If there is no space, Wood will make space, just like a striking Thunder.
It can destroy existing structures to free its way through, to create space for itself to move, to grow.

In the second part, the later Springtime, when the strong bursts of awakening Chi gave the important starting-impulse, Wood can move much more freely, just like the Wind, in all directions. The more subtle Chi comes to the surface.

This same power works inside of us, since we are part of Nature.

That means that we have to be prepared to receive this force, to be able to embody it. To be without resistance, to feel its power on physical, emotional, mental and spiritual level and to find the space in our lives to let it show itself.
Some people are doing liver-cleansing in the early Spring, others go to a retreat and fasten for a week, to clean the body and get clear in the head.

A good thing!

Basically speaking, we try to get rid of all the physical and emotional and mental clutter inside, so we have space again to grow.
The liver really loves some attention, to be able to revitalise itself.
The muscles, joints, the tendons, the fascia, they all really love deep and soft stretching, shaking, spiralling in all directions, and movement.
Through this physical cleaning we clean the emotions as well, feeling light, friendly and less frustrated or angry.
New ideas and visions can be born, a typical quality of early Spring. In the later stage of this season the visions and ideas can be refined and decisions can be made, to start with their realisation into our live, our reality.

Let´s have a closer look at the mental level, our mindset, the way we think,
the way we find words, definitions, opinions about our body, our emotions, our lives and of other people.

What is all the liver-cleansing worth, if our opinions about ourselves and the world do not change?

What is the value of all the physical exercise, the stretching, if we believe that its very hard work and it asks a lot of discipline to do the exercises, and that we never will be really flexible and without resistance, and that we never will be strong enough and so on?

If our mindset, our mental framework, as I call it, stays as it is, there will be no long-term loving relationship with the Wood Element.

It is not possible to be flexible in all directions, to be open for new possibilities, to be a friendly and curious person, if our thinking is inflexible, heading in one direction, making rigid decisions, forcing the body to discipline, denying new visions and so on.

Wood Chi, just like in Spring, flows very easily in young children, playful, open, curious, without resistance. In adults, this Chi often is suppressed, because of a strong and constricted mental framework.

The child does not need any excuses or explanations, it is how it is and it moves how it moves and it discovers how it discovers. Perfectly in alignment with its inner space, with the individual naturalness which a child has. It does not need to be controlled or restricted nor limited.
It has a natural tendency to grow, to discover the world, to go out and learn.

I invite you to look with great attention inside of yourself, around you and into your live.

How naturally developing, curious, expanding are you?
How many limitations and controlling elements did you grow in your live?
How big can you dream, how big can your visions be?
Can you be open for discoveries, for new ideas, for new spaces, or do you need a complete overview first?
Are you flexible and open for reactions, for feedback?
Do you need to organize everything in advance, to be able to have a relaxed feeling?
Do you need a lot of time to get to know somebody before you can be spontaneous, open and friendly?
How willing are you to be without prejudices towards somebody you don´t know?
How open are you, if you find yourself in a complete new situation? Or are you resisting it, longing for the convenient situation which is no longer there?

Now: think about your mindset when you are going to do a stretching exercise. Or when you do a liver-cleaning week. Or when you are cleaning your house, wanting to make changes and adaptations.

Are you  giving the strong energy of Wood a chance?

Or is it going to be a „tamed“ Wood which is bent like a little bonsai tree, growing into the shape your mindset is forcing it to? Just to keep it nice and tidy, to keep it under control?
Or do you feel the expansive and renewing force deep inside of you?
Do you enjoy the infinite possibillities which the Wood Element carries inside?
Can you embody this force without resisting it?

Have a close look at your reactions to everything new, unexpected, and you will know!

Happy Springtime!