The third phase of the Chinese seasonal calendar, Awakening of Insects (Jingzhe), starts as the sun crosses 345° Longitude (15° Pisces). Awakening of Insects is the third stage of Spring. The theme of springtime is new possibilities and the excitement they generate, and over the next fifteen days, as this seasonal phase unfolds, nature will undergo changes and reveal new qualities that you can awaken in yourself and use to align with the movement of life.   

In the prior seasonal phase, Rain Water, we awakened deep receptivity and quested for a guiding vision to manifest this Spring. By now, hopefully, you “conceived” that vision. Maybe you intuited the possibility of a new job, a new relationship, or some other expression of forward movement. You are now poised to transmute this inner spark into a fire by charging it with enthusiasm.

According to Five Element Theory, Spring is associated with the color green, the wood element, the liver, excitement, and anger. The connection between the color green and springtime may be self-evident, but what do we make of the other associations?

Begin by recalling that springtime is the season of new beginnings. Anytime a new project begins, a mood of vibrancy and excitement arises naturally. Picture the energy surrounding a start-up venture. The entrepreneurs are cheerful, buoyant, and high-spirited. They exude irrepressible optimism. They reflect the mood of Spring. When the energies of Spring are in a state of healthy flow, we naturally witness growth and productivity. The wood element is the only one of the five elements (fire, water, earth, metal, and wood) that actually grows. In fact, the tree rings that make up a piece of wood are a testament to the number of springtimes that the tree has seen. It follows that wood, the most productive element, is associated with Spring, the season of new beginnings.

How does the liver fit into the picture? It turns out that the mood of springtime tends to stimulate the liver. According to Chinese medicine, excitement, growth, and productivity activate the liver. If you were to track the Qi energy generated by the livers of a group of entrepreneurs, you would detect heightened activity amidst their exuberance. Consequently, the Qi energy of Spring naturally supports activities oriented towards new possibilities that generate excitement.

Now let’s imagine those same entrepreneurs experiencing a setback and growth is interrupted. Productivity is quashed. What do they feel? Irritability, anger, perhaps even rage. These are the negative emotional qualities associated with the liver, and during Spring, when our livers are processing extra Qi, we are prone to bursts of outrage and vexation.

Now that we understand the connection between Spring, green, wood, the liver, excitement, and anger, I’d like to share a technique you can use to empower your springtime vision. Simply become aware of the new prospect that excites you. Inhale that excitement into your liver, hold your breath and become aware of your vision, and then, as you exhale, direct that Qi energy into your vision. Repeat this sequence for nine cycles and then nourish your Qi. This exercise will charge your vision with the productive energies of Spring.