Smooth Out Your Spring by Finding Your Foundation! PLUS: THIS SUNDAY, Practice With Me!

Spring, in Chinese Medicine theory, is the “wood phase” (sometimes called the “wood element,” but I prefer the less-static description of “phase”–which implies movement and dynamism). Spring is the season of rebirth. 

There’s a vitality and dynamism that sometimes knocks us off our feet, as the recent winds have reminded us. Spring is a windy season, as seeds scatter in the breeze and nature carries away any stagnation left at the surface. 

As rapid as the development is in springtime, this sudden rush is also coordinated and structured.  

Plants grow towards the light. And they anchor themselves within the earth to avoid being uprooted. Trees can only bend and adapt as much as they are connected with the ground.

In the archetype of this wood phase there are two organ systems associated with this time of year: the Liver and the Gallbladder.

The Liver Official is the “Official of Planning,” sometimes labeled as the “General” or the “Architect”. The Liver channel (aka the Liver meridian/pathway) begins at the inner edge of the big toe and rises through the inner legs, through the reproductive organs, and then the primary channel ends around the diaphragm and low ribs. Internal pathways of the Liver channel run all the way up to the eyes and eventually emerge at the crown of the head. 

The Liver channel reminds us to find our foundation and our footing, to ground. And it also reminds us to work our way up and out from within the depths of our being. This channel invites us to reconnect with ourselves from within the depths of the pelvis and from within our center of gravity–the very core of our being. 

Just as a tree must grow downwards before moving up and out, so must we reconnect with ourselves deeply so that our plans might match the depths of our being. 

The Liver’s life-partner/paired organ system is the Gallbladder. The Gallbladder Official is the “Official who Excels in Decision-Making and Judgment.” Having a plan is a beautiful foundation, but the Liver needs support in figuring out how to execute its vision. 

The Gallbladder channel (aka the Gallbladder meridian/pathway) begins at the outer edge of the eye, reminding us of the springtime’s association with vision and growth. It then zigzags (twice!) across the side of the head, winds down towards the top of the shoulder, traverses the outer edge of the body, circles the reproductive organs, traverses the hip and then moves down the side of the leg to culminate at the fourth toe. 

Tha Gallbladder channel is a fairly audacious one. Not being concerned with a straight line, but going where it pleases and wherever life demands, this channel moves freely around obstacles and generally doesn’t give a damn about the most obvious path. 

This channel keeps you on its toes with its zigzags, reminding us that life is not often linear (even when we try to make it so). (You can see a decent illustration here.)

When the Gallbladder is in good health, we can easily make choices without feeling bogged down. When these organs are in balance, we know the blueprint of the Liver–our own personal vision–so innately that we can execute choices with relative ease. 

These two organ systems are most active from 11pm-1am (the Liver) and 1am-3am (the Gallbladder). That’s why I always advise patients to get to sleep by 10/10:30 if possible, because that springtime energy of the Liver provides a second wind around 11pm if you haven’t already made it to sleep! 

This timing also reminds us of the phrase needing to “sleep on it” when faced with a big choice. You can take advantage of tapping into your unconscious while you sleep and dream. This will help inform your waking vision of the life you want to live.

In my next newsletter, I will share some spring health tips to keep your Liver and Gallbladder happy. And, before I end, one last thing. Those of you who have had your literal Gallbladder removed, don’t worry! 

Chinese Medicine is most concerned with function, not the physicality of the organs themselves. You still have all the functioning of the Gallbladder Official even if your literal/actual Western Medicine Gallbladder was removed.

If you’re wanting to boost the functioning of your own capacity to vision, plan and make those dreams come true, consider coming in for acupuncture. I would love to help you realign with your own deepest wish, and to help you uncover what you truly want this spring.