Spring resurgence : why the spring season inspires change and new beginnings

Spring is all about re-birth and renewal.

With the arrival of the spring season, we are all given the opportunity to take nature’s cue, emerge from our winter slumber and seek out new beginnings. The entrance of this new season means it’s about time for our hibernation cycle to end, a signal to peel ourselves off the sofa and tidy away the winter blankets.

Ever so slowly, nature is waking up and everything around us begins anew—the flowers bloom, trees put on their green spring wardrobe and the volume of birdsong rises steadily each day. It’s a perfect time to think about our own intentions or goals for the year ahead and dust off the cobwebs on any plans we side-lined during the past few months of stillness and duvet days.

The Vernal/Spring Equinox is a time of balance which brings a significant turning point, the herald of a fresh energy entering, when you can really feel the earth awakening, bursting with energy and raring to go. Our minds and bodies benefit from this seasonal shift too and begin adjusting to align with the longer days and extra sunlight hours. After a long winter though, it can take some time to adapt, sometimes we just need to hit the snooze button a few times along the way!

Spring is the season of new beginnings.

Spring is known as “the season of hope” because it symbolises the resurgence of life after the inevitable challenges of winter. This rising energy generally helps us feel more optimistic and driven to make the most out of our days.

January may bring a new calendar year, but it’s really not the optimum time to force ourselves into full action mode. But in spring, as the weather warms up and we begin to bloom, it’s just that much easier to move plans forward from the dreaming phase to the action phase and feel more passion and purpose flowing in our veins.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, springtime is associated with the element of wood, this element is represented within our physical bodies by the liver and the gall bladder. These organs and meridians are known as the ultimate architects in our decision making and future planning, so it makes sense that we feel more able to plan and create change at this time of year.

The liver function is called the Official of Strategic Planning, the grand architect for our vision of the future; this official sees the directions we must take to live our lives in harmony with nature. Its companion, the Gall Bladder Official, gives the ability to make decisions and judge wisely. Making a decision is not a matter of choosing between equal alternatives. Through these officials we can see both new possibilities and the wisdom of the past, and thus see the clear and appropriate course to take

Acupuncture Pathways

Learning about our natural energy patterns and tapping into ancient wisdom such as TCM can be hugely supportive for our mental and physical wellbeing. Digging deeper into why we feel the way we feel each season gives us a stronger connection to the natural world, a blueprint to follow and a rhythm to live by, in each cycle of the year.

This year we are beginning the spring season with the new moon in Aries. This astrological occurrence indicates an even more powerful spark for new beginnings, fresh starts, and taking action towards our goals. Aries is a fire sign and is considered to be the leader of the zodiac. This new moon is a super charged opportunity to feel inspired, motivated, and courageous to pursue our passions, dreams, and goals.

Here are a few ways to harness the energy of the spring season:

We are all unique and find fulfilment in such different ways, but I’ve gathered together a few simple suggestions for aligning with the seasonal energy shift and hitching a ride on the energy surge that spring delivers.

Make plans to spend time outdoors.

A rather obvious one to begin with, but it’s so easy to side-line our basic wellbeing needs. Take advantage of the longer days by spending more time outside. This time of year it gets a little easier to squeeze in time outside before or after our working hours. Whether it’s gardening, a cuppa in the garden or simply enjoying a local walk, being in nature can support us to feel calmer, refreshed and energized.

What positive collective change can we contribute to?

Political “spring” is a term popularized in the late twentieth century to refer to any of a number of student protests, revolutionary political movements or revolutionary waves. This time of year is always associated with mass protests, uprisings and collective action, if there is a cause close to your heart which you can support, the spring season is an opportune time to get involved in any way you can.

Let’s direct our attention to where we want to see change in our lives.

Spring is a great time to focus on our daily habits and make adjustments where we feel we need to. I recently checked out my average weekly phone usage and was pretty dismayed by the amount of time my attention and energy is being whipped away and driven in directions I don’t purposefully want to go. So that habit is on my list to change – let me know what’s on yours…