Dear all,
How can we feel hope and possibility- and even joy- in our hearts, in our minds, in our body and soul, in the world and for our planet? Many of us are feeling a lot of fear and despair, and it can be so paralyzing. The medicine to address fear (based on my training and lived experience) is grounding, breathing, and love. Breathing in and out (lengthened exhales!), feeling the love that is always present in our hearts, connecting with the Earth (with feet, bellies, spine, hands), and feeling the nourishment and care that is right beneath our feet and all around us and within us, all the time. Just like a seed who may feel so vulnerable about sprouting, or the bud who needs courage to blossom, feeling the strength and nurturing love of the earth and life force gives us the power and vibrancy to move, to dance it all, to put down roots and leaf out in vibrant green, to open flowers to the sun, to embody the wisdom of trees and all plants.
If you've been following along, you know that on the TCM calendar we are in the season of Spring, the element is Wood (the energy of trees and all growing plants, life force, green), and the organs are Liver and Gallbladder (see Elements page for more info). The Liver is in charge of the flow of Qi (life force, energy) in our bodies, and also implicated in all emotions. When our emotions aren't expressed or given an appropriate outlet, when we aren't moving enough, when stress becomes overwhelm, and also for many other reasons, our Qi can get congested and stuck, like a plant who doesn't have room to grow. Liver is also related with vision, with our dreaming soul, and with our passion for justice, while the Gallbladder relates with courage and decisive action. We must feel all our feelings, acknowledge them (and the care and love at the root of anger, grief, fear, stress, etc), and invite breath and movement. This is how we can begin to soften the constraints of fear and despair, liberate our Livers, and invite our love and hope and courage and innate r/evolutionary joy to blossom into vision and action.
It is time for a reset. For heart healing, earth connection, nourishing and replenishing. Some time to center and ground, to renew and revitalize, to tap in to love and hope and joy and creativity. To honor the magic and possibility inherent in Spring, and to cherish this beautiful season and rhythm.
With so much love,
and blossoming blooming blessings,
Shoshana