This is an updated post from some time ago, but becomes relevant each spring!

Spring is giving you energy! Are you receiving it?

Spring is a beautiful season of birth and renewal.  Nature is bursting with colour and sound.  A new cycle of growth and expansion is upon us!

I love hearing the loons calling on the water nearby, the frogs and toads are singing so loudly, and the birds are back in abundance and with vibrant colour.  We throw open our windows, clean up our yards, plant our gardens, and take in all of the beautiful green energy that is lighting up the trees and shrubs.

For those of us living in cooler climates, we cherish this season of spring.  We have said goodbye to our toques and winter boots; we are wearing shorts and sandals, even when it’s really not warm enough to do so. . . we are just so happy to be outside!  During the winter, we spent a lot of time indoors, and so the energy inside our homes is ready for a change and to be refreshed and renewed.

While all this vibrant spring energy is bursting forth outside, the same is happening within our bodies.  Our bodies are a reflection of nature.  We have more energy now, which is why we do our spring cleaning!  According to Chinese theory, spring is the season of wood energy and the colour green.  It is also the season of planning and planting.  We are starting fresh.

It is important that we work with nature and our bodies to allow the energy to flow as it should, and that way we can get the most benefits for ourselves and our families during this energy-filled season of spring.

According to the principles of Feng Shui, springtime energy also applies to our houses and yards.  Our household environment reflects what is going on in our lives and often in our bodies.  To help our homes (and ourselves) benefit and flow with springtime energy there are a few things we can do.

1. Front Door.  The entry to your house needs your attention!  Start by opening your front door.  Allow the breeze and light to come into your home.  Wash the front door with water, cleaning both the door and any glass well.  Also clean up any dead leaves, cobwebs, and dust.  The same applies to the back door, but the front door is most important.  You can help yourself by making your entry very inviting!

2. Windows.  According to Chinese medicine your windows represent your lungs.  The Lung serves as a boundary between the organism and its environment. A clear boundary enables us to know who we are and aids us in developing self-esteem and self-confidence.  Open your windows, let the energy flow into your home, wash off any winter dust (non-toxic vinegar and water work great!), rinse off your screens, and clean any window coverings.  Keep your windows open for a couple of hours: late morning is best.  Don’t worry about getting all the windows clean at once, start with the windows in your main living area.  Now the spring energy can flow into your home so much better.  Open your curtains and blinds when the sun is not too intense, and you will feel happier!  Also, don’t block your windows with plants or other objects (other than blinds or curtains), as this also blocks the outside energy.

3. Kitchen.  Scrub it down, but pay special attention to your stove.  Get all of your burners and elements clean, scrubbing off anything burnt.  Also clean inside your oven, eliminating any stale energy that is not useful anymore.  Springtime is a great time to get rid of clutter and allow the energy to flow freely inside your home.

4. Bedrooms and Living Area.  Get rid of excess clutter, which includes that stack of magazines you haven’t gotten around to reading.  This is cluttering your mind!  Get some bright spring colours in every room.  Change your bedding, replacing your sheets every week.  Do you have any dark paintings or pictures with lots of greys and browns? Any with dead leaves or snow in them?  Now is a great time to rotate in some artwork that is full of uplifting colours (think green, red, and yellow).  Your environment should reflect what is happening outside.  Your eyes will take in the bright colours, helping your body’s energy align with springtime.

5.  Eat Green!  More on this in the weeks to come, but to get you started springtime is the time for liver energy and the colour associated with the liver is green.  Green foods will nourish and support your liver during this season of accelerated growth and energy.  Think asparagus (click for recipe), kiwi, and dark leafy greens such as kale (click for recipe).

Intuitively, many of us already practice these spring cleaning activities.  Our bodies know what we need!  I also find that once the earth has warmed up a bit, I like to have my bare feet on the ground and my hands in the dirt.  It is my connection to the earth and nature that helps me receive the spring energy.

These 5 tips will get your energy flowing with the vibrant yang energy of spring.  Practising some qigong exercises will also help to balance your energy very quickly.

I would love to hear in the comments how you are receiving spring energy and what makes you feel the best during this time of the year.

Love and light,

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