‘Nothing is as beautiful as Spring’

Feeling the call of seeds quivering in the earth, we celebrated Spring locally planting seeds at the Fairview Seed Library. My history of planting from seeds in LA has been unsuccessful. Back in NY State, I could put seeds in the rich black moist soil and they would thrive. I hadn’t yet learned the tricks of starting seeds indoors. February new moon, I started seeds on top of my drier in small containers with soft airy soil. By the full moon, vibrant pea sprouts shined up at me. I planted them in the ground, with lettuce and spinach seeds, and committed to daily watering.

With our delicious rain this year, the garden is full of wild nettles, a nourishing Spring tonic cut without touching into a teapot. Boiled water poured upon them for a few hours brings the green tonifying energy in our bodies. The brilliant seed magic combined with earth, sun, and water provides nourishing garden food.

Spring according to Traditional Chinese Medicine is the season of becoming. The bare leafed trees differentiate to be the loquat, the avocado, the elder. We liken the Spring, the season of the Wood Element, to the individual soul. The uniqueness in every one of us. This season of new beginnings brings our attention to the East, the place of the sunrise.

The Wood Element also includes the liver and the gall bladder. We say the liver is the eyes. The liver channel begins at the nail end of the large toe and ends below the breast. An inner pathway goes into the eyes. When looking at people, we can see who they are through their eyes. The liver is the general of the body, making plans, looking ahead. When the liver is healthy, free energy flows throughout the body, we move from one emotion to another. When the liver is stagnant, we can be stuck in anger or depression, anger turned inward. The Water Element of winter feeds and nourishes the liver keeping it supple. The gallbladder channel begins at the outer corner of the eye, zigzags around the side of the head and down the sides of the body ending at the fourth toe. The gallbladder is responsible for making decisions. Ligaments and tendons are associated with the Wood Element. Drinking teas and eating Spring greens nourish the tendons.

Rest and deep dreaming in the winter nights feeds our imagination and shows itself in Spring. Creative expression, moving, singing, drawing, is an essential component to Spring health. May we commit to protection of our beautiful Earth.

*Headline is courtesy of Ned Rorem song title