It’s happening, I can see the first shoots of green poking up from the earth, so it’s time to give the Wood phase a proper introduction. I’ve mentioned its association with growth; it is also linked with individual expression, communication, and collaboration. Each of the Five Phases has its own sound and emotion as well: the sound of Wood is shouting and its emotion is anger.
I grew up in an environment where anger was one of the only emotions men were allowed to express, so it took me some time to find a healthy relationship with it. A proper amount of anger can help us assert ourselves, argue our viewpoint, or even open a conversation we might fear will be confrontational. I sometimes think of it as courage, gumption, or wherewithal. In these cases, our “shouting” may not be a question of volume, but of conviction.
Of course, too much anger can present as irritability, volatility, and quickly escalate into violence. In the past, I have had an impulse to shove this feeling down and cover it up; like most emotions, this only leads to a more explosive and uncontrollable display down the line. Wood wants to move upward and resists being pushed down, so a different outlet is required: creative pursuits, physical activity, or even shouting into a pillow.
What does anger feel like inside you? Is it a frightening force your fear to lose control of, or is it a source of internal strength that you can draw upon? What activities and circumstances influence how you relate to your own anger? What can you change to better facilitate a healthy balance of Wood energy within you, to provide healthy outlets when it is in excess, or to boost it when it is depleted?
Next I’ll introduce the Wood meridians, Liver and Gallbladder, as well as their paths up and down the body. They zigzag and curve from the face to the scalp, to the sides of the body and the legs, then up through the groin to end between two ribs. Give them a stretch with a seated side bend, legs straight and apart. Then come into a forward bend and support yourself with your hands or forearms.
As we adjust to spring and enter the Wood phase, I invite you to recentre yourself in my space. Whether you’re looking for a table session or to balance your ki with shiatsu, use code SPRING24 for 50% off your next appointment if you book before April 1st.
NB regarding promo codes: my new system will only allow you to apply a code at the time of payment. If you prefer to pay in person, I will gladly apply the discount on the day of your appointment.