The First Month of Summer - from shade into the Light

The beginning of May marks the entry into the season of Summer, the Fire Element, according to the Su Wen classic. This year, it is a particularly chilly welcome for the Fire Element. The temperatures seems to be behind a bit as it surely doesn't feel summery as yet. This is partly due to Water Tiger year we are in. Both Water Element and Tiger are Yin in nature (considering Tiger is associated with Metal), so Yang excesses are likely to be dampened down this year.

Fire represents, among other, expansion from ourselves towards others, i.e. socialising, mating. So, we may also feel it socially. Although the beginning of Summer definitely brings out our innate need to connect with others, we still kind of wait off with some social engagements. Coming out of the stagnant post-pandemic scenario does not help either. In any case, that's just because we are right at the beginning of the first month of Summer. It will, I promise, get better. We will feel that buzz of getting together soon, it may only be a bit delayed this year.

I have also noticed some of the heat loving plants are growing somehow timidly. So, we are all in it together. Let's flow with that which the Nature dictates. Perhaps it is teaching us some patients.

Another aspect of the Summer is the sunlight reaching its peak (in the second month) and illuminating our Hearts and Souls. With Summer temperatures and the light rising, our whole being absorbs more light. This year we may notice it happening more suddenly rather than gradually, like shifting from shade into light. The mix of Water as the annual element and Fire as the seasonal element will produce the effect of the light reaching and illuminating the Water depths. So, watch out for your own inner "illuminations" that may start already this month. Let the light in and shine on some more darker aspects of your Soul that hold you in and down too much. In other words, with the sunlight coming into its peak, you may experience illuminating thoughts or ideas about yourself (your thoughts, behaviours), your work (smart solutions), your creations (new inspirations and ideas). Holding those ideas and sharing them with the right people or partners will help you expand on them. That would be one example of how to utilise the energy mix of this coming season.

It is good to be aware that although Water Element dampens the Fire of the Summer, we can still utilise that energetic combination to our fertile use. To remind me of that are the little yellow flowers of Buttercup (Ranunculus). I notice they are particularly wide spread this year. Thinking about it, this plant is merging so well together the light of the sunshine with the wet soil it grows in. What can we do to be like a Buttercup? I leave it to your own interpretation. If you feel like sharing it, feel free to leave a comment.

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The Third Month of Spring - Putting it all into action

The beginning of April marks the start of the third month of Spring according to the Su Wen classics. This month is called "Pure Light and Cereal Rain" by the ancients, marking it full of activity for new cultivations and new life in general. This year particularly the Spring activity ruptures with energy already from the 1st April, as we not only have the Sun in the sign of Aries but also the New Moon in Aries on that day. As it is an action oriented sign, we are likely to feel that in a definite way.

We need to be aware though of that newly reborn energy beam influencing our physical, emotional and Spiritual selves. All of these aspects of ourselves will receive a surge in energy. We will definitely welcome it at our physical level. For the first time after the Winter, this month, we will feel stronger and more capable to endure more physical exertion.

At the emotional level we might need to bring more awareness and put more Light onto our unconscious emotions. The surge in energy for our unconscious emotions may mean getting into conflicts with others or with self. We may get triggered by people or events in an unstoppable way. If we cannot shine the Light and bring emotions to the consciousness, we may help ourselves with grounding, nature walking and meditation.

The rush of energy will be felt at our Spiritual level too. We will somehow feel "newly born" at the deep level. It will help us engage in our spiritual activities in more "palpable" way. The aspect to be aware of is when we "get on a high horse" and loose contact with the daily reality. As with all things, the right balance is needed.

The most appropriate way of utilising the gush of new energy of April is to put it all into action: implementing your plans made previously, materialising your dreams step by step, coming "outside" and be seen for who you truly are. Be like a child who sees no boundaries to its growth but keeps its innocence and sensitivity towards others.

For keeping yourself centred and grounded, feel free to sign up (at the bottom of the page) and join my weekly Hearfulness meditations:

https://www.dorotakowal.com

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The Second Month of Spring - Creating your vision

March, the second month of Spring according to Su Wen classics, has started a few days ago but it is not palpable equally in all parts of the northern hemisphere. It is actually snowing whilst I am sitting and writing it in Poland. Even in the sunny Italy we still get night frosts. All that makes us feel as if the Winter is not going away and the Spring is still so far away.

First of all, it is not surprising the cold is holding strong in the year of the Water element, which is associated with Winter. Secondly, the apparent delay of Spring is the extra time given to us to prepare some plans.

Whilst it is true that Spring is the most active and life thrusting season of the year, even the Spring has its Yin aspect, it is planning and strategy making. A good plan precedes a fruitful outcome. All the energy is here to help us make plans for the remaining months of the year and further. We are surrounded by the renewed energy; our eyes are waking up from the Winter sleep; we have a fresh outlook on the world and a better capacity to perceive our way forward.

Indisputably, many of us are living through significant life changes right now. The world-scene changes are impacting more and more people in their daily lives. It may be the jobs we do, places we live in or more subtly the atmosphere and the energy we are surrounded by. Therefore, envisioning and planning our way through it is essential for building the future. There is no better month for it than March.

The act of planning itself is nourishing our hopes; it contextualises and concretises our hopes into physical actions. Even envisaging our future concretises our hopes in images and feelings. Let's take some time off to focus on creating some fundamental aims and objectives we wish to strive for.

If the future seems bleak to you and you do not know where to begin creating your vision, it may be a sign of hopelessness and/or a sign of lacking clarity. Acupuncture treatments are a good help in such cases. Most of the acupuncture points for it are related to the Liver and Gallbladder channel, which are associated with Spring. You can utilise herbs too. One of them is the Sweet Violet, which has Liver and Gallbladder affinity. The essencial oil of the Sweet Violet among other improves dry eyes (in diluition). The easiest kitchen-based support for the health of our eyes are green leave vegetabeles, so abundant in Spring.

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