The Movement from Spring to Summer
We are now moving from spring, the beginning of yang, into summer, the fullest expression of yang. If we are looking at the Taiji Symbol, this is represented in the growing white aspect that sits opposite the black (yin) side.
In this movement, things naturally begin to expand and come into fruition. Qi moves outward in the body, and this is evident in the desire to be outdoors more, connecting with nature and people. The element of summer is fire, and the nature of fire is to spread. So, if you’re feeling generally more energized and inclined to take on new projects or be more social, this is the yang energetic of the season showing up.
To ensure that we move from spring to summer gracefully and are able to reap the full benefits of the summer growth, this can be a good time to deal with any lingering issues related to the spring season:
Allergies: Coming from winter, the most yin time, into spring (rising yang) can sometimes be overwhelming to our sensory orifices because our Wei qi, which is the outermost layer of qi, the one that first encounters and interacts with the outside world, has been less active. In general, we have turned inward in many ways, and so the movement to the outdoors, which as begun to come to life, can create conflict. This is a good time to harmonize the interaction between your Wei qi and the outside world with acupuncture. Not only will you feel better in the moment, but it will also set you up for taking in the Summer more fully. This will allow for greater expansion into yang expression, which can look like anything from your visions and projects being realized to your social interactions being more fulfilling.
Injuries to joints/tendons/ligaments: Each season has a particular body part that becomes more active in that time. The Spring season, governed by the wood element, corresponds with the tendons. The tendons connect our muscles to bone and it is the joints that allow our bodies to move. The wood element is significant here because wood that contains moisture can be flexible, whereas wood that is dry will be stiff, brittle, and can break more easily. The same is true of our joints. Without lubrication they become stiff and we are unable to move freely. Freeing up our joints now ensures that the yang movement toward summer will be unimpeded.
Vision and execution of plans: Spring often comes with the desire to move in a new direction. The impulse is often there, and in order to avoid frustration of that energy, we have to envision the future we are trying to create and, in time, begin taking steps toward our goal. If this rising yang energy is not anchored in some way with a strategy, we will likely squander it by moving from one thing to the next, not really being productive, and creating some measure of chaos in our minds and bodies. As summer comes, the spreading nature of the fire element can increase the chaos. But, if we anchor our yang energy now with things like regular meditation practices, movement practices, and achievable schedules for realizing our plans, this yang movement will support us in our goals, and ultimately help us to realize our plans.
With any of these issues or something else that seems be impeding the forward and expansive movement of qi, tune into your own self, your story. These are larger movements that look very different from person to person. The healing is in the nuance. On both personal and global levels these movements have looked very different each of the past three years. Growth and expansion is relative and the specific areas that are addressed are constantly changing, yet we can look to these patterns of nature as guides for how to navigate gracefully and sustainably.