CULTIVATING SPRING ; Wood Element
5 Element Theory Diagram
Spring = Wood
In Taoism, Spring is associated with the Wood Element. Wood is the first phase of the 5 Element Theory, an ancient system of correspondences that categorizes all phenomena of the natural world into observable patterns and relationships. Understanding how these elements and their associations interact with each other teaches us about cycles of change in nature and how we might influence these same types of occurrences within our own body, mind, and life circumstances.
To engage with the natural medicine of Spring and align ourselves with the energy shifts of the season, we can explore all the associations of WOOD.
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Wood Grows
CULTIVATING ENERGY ;
Wood symbolizes growth, vitality, flexibility, and adaptability. Wood’s growth is relentless. Trees overgrow ancient temples, dandelions break through sidewalk, roots settle underwater. This season I am working on cultivating my integrity, creativity, and discipline.
There is a lot I want to set into motion this year. Well, maybe the better way to say it is I have a lot of seeds planted in the garden that I’m hoping to see sprout this year. I have no expectations on what will grow but I have a lot of faith that growth is coming. It’s already happening. Instead of feeling behind or that there is a lot that “I still need to change,” I’m really focusing on daily realignment to the vision. This idea has about a decade of momentum behind it. The new shift of 2024 is breaking through my shell to sprout my branches and roots.
I have a tendency to get lost in my own dreams and thinking. When I’m lost in my mind, I lose sight of what is happening in reality. Anything on my “to-do list” has a tendency to stay there if I hold back until things are perfect. This is not how growth works in the natural world. Nature’s way is :
FIGURING IT OUT, MOMENT BY MOMENT, GROWTH OVER TIME.
While the GROWING potential of Wood is demonstrated by its adaptability, its STRENGTH lies in its flexibility. The most iconic demonstration of Wood’s flexibility is that of bamboo. Bamboo has many joints that allow it to be both incredibly flexible and impressively strong.
How can I be like Bamboo?
“Stay flexible,
Dance with the wind.”
When I am stiff, I break.
Where can my life be more pliable?
Imbalance in WOOD ENERGY manifests in the emotion of ANGER
“Wood that cannot grow becomes angry,” is a phrase I use in the clinic a lot. What is holding you back? Whose voice is that doubt coming from? I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve been conditioned to feel and what I actually feel. What do I actually think? What is it that you really want to do? When we are stagnated, we get frustrated. There are many ways to clear our path of growth, many ways to be free. In the control cycle of the 5 element theory, WOOD is controlled by METAL. A machete chops down branches to clear a path, shears prune unhealthy branches to encourage healthy growth. Metal is both our sword and armor. To protect our Wood energy, we can strengthen our armor and sharpen our sword. What can we cut or let go of in order to flow and grow? What new boundaries do we need to draw or expand?
It is important to go easy on ourselves. It is crucial to remember what stage of growth we are at. Wood represents the beginning, or birth. At this time of the year, we are learning to crawl.
CULTIVATING BODY ;
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wood is associated with the Liver and Gallbladder. The liver’s role in the body is to detoxify. The gallbladder plays an important role in digestion — it stores and excretes bile created by the liver in order to breakdown fat. To hone the natural energy of spring within our body, we can parallel the functions of liver and gallbladder with our daily habits. In other words, Spring is the time to cleanse ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Nutritionally, spring is an excellent time to clean up the diet. Try sticking to natural, whole foods that you cook yourself in the kitchen. Limit processed food, fast food, heavy food, greasy food, sugar, and alcohol. Reduce food intake and increase water consumption.
Symbolically, “Spring Cleaning” is a cultural ritual that we’re all familiar with. Deep cleaning and organizing the home is the perfect reflection of spring/wood/liver energy.
“Detox” your body/mind/home and breakdown all the “fat” in your life. Make space for growth and renewal. Begin again.
CULTIVATING MIND ;
Wood is all about the smooth flow of energy. This means both the literal smooth function of organ systems as well as the smooth flow of our emotions.
EMOTION = Energy in MOTION.
If thoughts are manifestations of mind, perhaps emotions are manifestations of spirit. I think of our “spirit” as the LIVED EXPERIENCE of our mind and body, or how we interact and integrate with reality. Wood represents the aspect of our spirit referred to as “Hun,” or the “Ethereal Soul.” In some ways, it is considered the “General” of our mind/body. It guides our organs in their function and our mind in its ability to integrate ideas and real life. The Hun helps us be creative in our planning and courageous in our decision making, it is the bridge between ideas and form. It helps us manifest our vision.
I have an interesting relationship to planning. I can’t tell if I’m either good at it or bad at it, even if what I’m doing is actually planning or not. But I certainly have vision. This spring, I want to establish a pattern of setting aside time daily to realign with my vision in a pragmatic way. I like to make lists — not in as a way to hold myself accountable but to simply organize my mind in the moment. What is growing? How can I tend to my garden? What can I do today?
This spring, I am working on embracing my inner creativity and gaining the courage to share it. While I’m looking forward to what grows, I am focusing on being present with each moment along the way. In a way, I feel connected to my past, present, and future all at the same time. I trust in the effects of time and the momentum of moment to moment cultivation. This is the natural way.
Ancient Reflections ;
WOOD CORRESPONDENCES according to the Nei Jing
Organs: The Liver (Yin) and the Gallbladder (Yang).
Season: Spring, a time of growth and renewal, reflects the ascending and expansive nature of Wood.
Direction: East, aligning with the sunrise and the beginning of new growth.
Color: Green, which represents growth, vitality, and the flourishing of life in nature.
Emotion: Anger. When Wood energy is out of balance, it can manifest as anger, frustration, or irritability, reflecting obstructed or misdirected growth and energy.
Sense Organ: The eyes.
Taste: Sour. Sour foods are thought to have astringent properties that can help to consolidate and gather Qi, which can be beneficial for the Liver’s functioning.
Climate: Wind. Just as wind represents movement and change, the Wood element symbolizes growth and the capacity for direction and movement in life.
These associations from the Nei Jing are used in TCM diagnostics and treatments to identify imbalances within the body and to restore harmony between the individual’s internal systems and their external environment by aligning with the natural rhythms of the universe.
The Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic) is one of the oldest and most important classical texts in Chinese medicine, dating back to between the late Warring States period (475-221 BCE) and the Han Dynasty (206 BCE - 220 CE)
In the Su Wen (Simple Questions), it says —
The three months of spring, they denote effusion and spreading.
Heaven and earth together generate life; the myriad beings flourish.
Go to rest late at night and rise early.
Move through the courtyard with long strides.
Dishevel the hair and relax the physical appearance, thereby cause the mind to orient itself on life.
“Heaven and Earth together generate life” — take your ideas (mind) and bring them to life (body, action)
“Go to rest late at night and rise early” — connect with Spring energy and honor the sun by engaging with the longer days of spring.
“Move through the courtyard with long strides.” — GO FOR IT. KEEP GOING. YOU GOT THIS.
“Thereby cause the mind to orient itself on life.” — prioritize what really matters
Human beings have been aligning themselves with nature since before we could use words. Syncing our daily rhythms to the energy of spring is way less weird than not.
What are you going to grow this year?
