The Vernal Equinox was this week, Sunday, March 20th and marks the time of equality between day and night, light and darkness and the astrological shift to Spring. Depending on your latitude, the evidence of Spring's emergence is evident or about to come. While there can still be erratic days of warmth, cold, and warmth again, there is no denying that the shift from the rest and quietude of Winter spouting into the the initial growth and blooms of Spring is happening all around us.
I teach yoga from a psychological lens that is greatly informed by Five Element Theory, born out of Taoism and ancient Chinese medicine from which acupuncture arose. This wisdom teaching states that the basic substances of the material world are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. All things are made of a single, or a combination, of the Five Elements. The elements are equally important and ultimately work together to create balance as all things constantly move through the cycles - like the hours of the day, seasons of the year, or phases of one's life.
Each element is associated with an organ pair (Lung/Large Intestine as Metal, Kidney/Urinary Bladder as Water, Liver/Gall Bladder as Wood, Heart/Small Intestine as Fire, and Stomach/Spleen as Earth. Each organ is said to be a “Minister” of the Kingdom of YOU and serves the Sovereign One on the Throne, Your Heart.
The foundations of Taoism demonstrate that we can find greater physical and psychological health when we align ourselves with the teachings of the natural world with the seasons. The Wood element is associated with the organs of the Liver and Gall Bladder and we are encouraged to lighten the body/mind through rhythmic active movement like yoga, walking, dancing, riding a bike, through creative expression that uniquely aligns with our interests and passions, introducing more fresh raw and sautéed greens and bitter foods to our diet, and making space for both dreaming and making choices for action in service of our own growth and what feels aligned with our heart.
Archetypally, the Liver is considered to be the Conscious Warrior, the Minister of Strategic Planning or the General of the internal Army. It is tasked, both physically and psychologically with keeping the kingdom within running smoothly by clearing toxins, defending the realm through immune and hormonal support, and thus cultivating clear vision for one’s life moving forward.
The season of Spring is represented by the element of Wood and the symbol of the tree is often used to demonstrate the qualities of the Wood element. As mentor, the trees teach us how to be deeply rooted and stable yet flexible enough to sway with the breezes of change. This time of year, there is a rising of growth, drawing life up from the reservoirs collected through the winter, and bringing that creative energy out into the lite through spouting green leaves and celebratory blooms.
The last few weeks in practice at Roots & River Yoga, we have been visiting the themes of the Wood Element, Liver/Gall Bladder, and how to support ourselves physically, psychologically, and even utilizing the archetypes and stories to guide us. If you missed those classes and would like to register for a recording - drop me a note.
The classes I have to share are:
Yin Yoga and the Physical Associations of Liver and Gall Bladder - Wood Element
Yin Yoga and the Psychological Associations of Liver and Gall Bladder - Wood Element
Yin Yoga and the Archetypal Associations of Liver and Gall Bladder - Wood Element
This coming week I will reading poems inspiring us in the transition into Spring, especially in the Yin Yoga practices that I lead.
This is a broad subject but here are some interesting associations about the the Spring, Liver/Gall Bladder and the element of Wood.
THE HUN ~ THE ETHEREAL SOUL
Organs: Liver and Gall Bladder
Element: Wood
Season: Spring
Weather: Wind (can soothe or irritate -stirs movement to shake off and to simulate growth)
Color: Green
Voice Quality: Shouting
Sense Organ: Eyes
Secretion: Tears
Tissue: Tendons, ligaments, connective tissues, nervous system
Taste Craving/Dietary Support: Bitter and Sour (leafy and bitter greens like parsley, arugula, kale, lemons, limes)
Developmental Stage: Birth, new beginnings
Emotion: Transforming anger/frustration into compassion
Archetype: Warrior (think disciplined Samurai) Qualities of thoughtful action and defender of the realm
Alchemical Virtues: Benevolence, Justice, Inspiration
Chakra: sixth, third eye - Perception
Essential Oil: Bergamot, orange, mandarin, grapefruit, chamomile, lavender, neroli.
Movement: Rhythmic movement or sway, active enough to stir heat and a little sweat, but not exhausting. Here is a nice Yin Yoga pose, Dragonfly, that stimulates the Liver Chi through acu-tension.
Makko Ho for Liver/Gall Bladder Chi - Illustration by Amy Lefebvre
I will share more in the coming posts, but in closing for now you might enjoy this poem entitled
Vernus by Jesse Vice:
Equinox
Today most especially
we hover in the balance.
Day meets dark in
equal parts,
but we —
we are tipping into the light.
2. Winter’s End
Out of a season
of pruning, pause, prudence,
of waiting waiting waiting,
we emerge:
bony, ashen creatures
lapping at dregs
weary of cold
hungry for light,
wringing gray flake from our creaking limbs.
3. Below
I want to plunge deep roots
putting out blind tendrils that grope for more
to entwine and bind —
with you —
together holding our dear Earth.
We will weave her a shining net,
gold in the broken places.
4. Above
I want to spread my fingers into the sun
to cup it into the pale curved leaf of my body
swallow down the liquid light
course it through my secret channels
and greedily nourish each twining limb.
Draw the ancient promise deep
into my tree heart.
The light is coming.