Rooted & Rising
As the seasons change, so do the needs of our body, mind and energy. With the first few weeks of spring now behind us, this season invites us to slowly emerge from the restful and reflective energy of winter and embrace the movement, growth and renewal that spring has to offer.
I’ve always felt deeply connected to the natural rhythms of nature. There is something comforting about having an awareness of these rhythms and using them as a way to better understand my own ebbs and flows throughout the year.
Rather than pushing against where I am, I find it helpful to consider what the season might be inviting me into — and what might best support me during that time, and really leaning into that.
Have you ever wondered why, in summer, we can feel so full of energy and joy; in autumn, we naturally begin to let go; in winter, we often desire more rest and stillness; and in spring, we feel ready to emerge, expand and begin again?
These are the natural rhythms I’m talking about.
And as we enter spring, we enter a season associated with growth, movement and new beginnings.
The Wood Element & Spring
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season has its own energetic qualities and connections to the body, mind and spirit.
When we think about spring, we might naturally think of flowers beginning to bloom, new life emerging, rebirth, renewal, youthfulness and even the desire for a good spring clean.
This energy of growth and movement is reflected in the Wood Element, which is associated with spring.
The Wood Element is connected with two of the body’s meridian systems: the Liver and Gallbladder. In TCM, these organs are understood to have both physical and energetic roles, and their functions are closely connected with the qualities of the Wood Element.
The Liver is associated with the smooth flow of Qi throughout the body, the storage of blood, the sinews and the nails. It is also connected with the emotional experience of anger and frustration.
When the smooth flow of Qi becomes disrupted or stagnant, this can be understood within TCM as Liver Qi stagnation.
This idea of flow is something I find particularly interesting when working with the body through kinesiology. So much of what we explore in a session can come back to the idea of where there may be resistance, tension or a sense of being ‘stuck’ — and where the body may be asking for greater balance and movement.
The Gallbladder, while we often think of it simply as a digestive organ, has a much broader energetic significance within TCM. It is considered a Yang organ and is associated with courage, decisiveness, judgement and our ability to make decisions and move forward.
The Liver and Gallbladder work together within the Wood Element, supporting the smooth movement of Qi and reflecting the qualities of direction, movement, growth and expansion.
When the Wood Element feels out of balance
In TCM, an imbalance within the Wood Element may be reflected in a number of physical and emotional ways.
The Liver is said to “open into the eyes,” so the eyes are one area we may pay particular attention to. This can include changes in vision, as well as dry, itchy, irritated or red eyes.
Other physical signs traditionally associated with an imbalance in the Wood Element may include headaches and migraines, muscular stiffness or tension, tenderness or pain along the sides of the torso and legs, and menstrual or hormonal imbalances.
The Wood Element is also associated with the smooth movement of Qi, so when this flow becomes constrained, we may experience a sense of tension, stagnation or being ‘stuck’ within the body.
These physical signs are not necessarily an indication that there is a problem with the Liver or Gallbladder themselves. Rather, within the framework of TCM, they can be viewed as potential clues about how the Wood Element may be expressing itself within the body.
The emotional side of the Wood Element
The Wood Element is also closely connected to our emotional world.
When the Wood Element is considered to be out of balance, emotions such as anger, frustration and judgement may become more prominent. We may feel inflexible or resistant to change, find ourselves struggling with indecisiveness, or feel as though we are unable to move forward.
When the Wood Element is in balance, its energy is associated with clarity, direction and forward movement. We may experience a greater sense of productivity, creativity and motivation, feel more confident in our decision-making, and find it easier to move with the natural flow of life.
There is also an element of flexibility and acceptance within balanced Wood energy — the ability to have a direction or vision, while still being able to bend, adapt and respond to what life brings us.
What can the Wood Element teach us?
When I think about the Wood Element, I think about a tree.
A tree knows how to grow, but it also knows how to bend. Its roots anchor it deeply into the earth while its branches continue to reach upwards and outwards. It responds to its environment, changes with the seasons and knows when it is time to rest and when it is time to grow.
Perhaps there is something we can learn from this.
Spring doesn’t ask us to suddenly become everything we want to be. It simply invites us to begin moving again. To notice what is ready to emerge. To create space for new growth. To gently look towards where we want to go next.
And perhaps, just like the trees and plants around us, we can trust that growth doesn’t always need to be forced.
Sometimes, it simply needs the right conditions to unfold.
Listening to the cues of the body
This is where I find the connection between the seasons, TCM and kinesiology so fascinating.
Our bodies are constantly communicating with us. Sometimes those messages are subtle — a feeling of tension, a change in energy, a recurring emotion, difficulty making a decision, or simply the sense that something doesn’t feel quite right.
Kinesiology offers a way of exploring these cues through the body.
Rather than telling the body what it should be doing, kinesiology uses muscle testing as a form of biofeedback to explore how the body responds to different stresses, thoughts, emotions and areas of focus. It can help bring awareness to areas where the body may be experiencing stress or imbalance, and explore what may support a greater sense of ease and balance.
So as we move into spring, perhaps it’s worth asking yourself:
What is my body asking me to move towards?
What am I ready to let grow?
Where might I be feeling stuck, frustrated or resistant?
And where could I create a little more space, flexibility and flow?
Spring is a season of emergence.
A gentle reminder that we, too, are constantly changing — and that listening to the body can be one way of becoming more aware of what we need as we move through those changes.
