As the days lengthen and the air softens, we can feel nature stirring from her winter rest.
The scent of jasmine and wattle flowers is, for me, the unmistakable sign that the turning of the seasons has
begun and the world is moving from inward stillness to outward expression.
In Chinese Medicine, this shift mirrors the movement of qi (life force energy) in our bodies: rising, expanding, and flowing outward.
By following the rhythms of nature, we allow ourselves to feel more in harmony with the great flow of life.
In the southern hemisphere, we are emerging into spring, the season of the wood element and its paired organs:
the liver (yin) and gallbladder (yang).
Just as sap rises in the trees, wood energy in us surges upward, supporting growth, creativity, and fresh vision.
The Energy of Spring
Spring’s energy is naturally upward and outward, like a seed pushing through the soil to find the light.
It is a season of renewal, fresh projects, and new perspectives, the opposite movement to the quiet,
restorative stillness of autumn and winter.
The liver and gallbladder thrive on movement, so physical activity, stretching, and time outdoors are especially beneficial.
It’s time to head outside, shake off the winter stillness, and let our bodies be part of the season’s unfolding.
The emotion associated with the liver is anger, not as something to fear, but as a potent form of energy.
In balance, it fuels healthy boundaries, courage, and purposeful action.
Out of balance, it can stagnate into resentment or turn inward into self-criticism and shame, which stifles growth.
Spring is the perfect time to notice how we relate to anger: can we channel it into constructive action and authentic self-expression?
The Green Dragon: Fierce Compassion
In Taoist tradition, the spirit animal of the liver is the green dragon, a symbol of creativity, vision, and fierce compassion.
The dragon rises with the sun in the east, protecting new life and encouraging us to stand strong in our truth.
In qigong and energy healing practices, we can work with the green dragon’s energy to support the liver and
gallbladder, clearing stagnation, awakening creativity, and aligning action with purpose.
Facing the sunrise while moving, breathing deeply, and imagining green light flowing through the body can be especially potent in spring.
The Liver:
More Than a Filter, Supported by the Gallbladder.
Often thought of only as a filter for life’s excesses, the liver in Chinese Medicine is far more than a workhorse organ.
It stores blood, regulates the smooth flow of qi, and plays a central role in our emotional and spiritual balance.
In Taoist philosophy, the liver is home to the Hun, the “ethereal soul” or beautiful spirit.
The Hun carries our dreams, vision, and sense of purpose. It sees beyond the immediate, guiding us towards our fullest expression.
When nourished, the Hun fills us with hope, inspires creativity, and helps us see the bigger picture, always wishing us the best life has to offer.
Together, the liver and gallbladder help us see the path ahead and take the steps to walk it.
The gallbladder brings the strength, decisiveness, and “get-up-and-go” to act on the Hun’s vision, giving us, quite
literally, the gall to achieve our dreams.
Nourishing Your Liver and Hun This Spring
Knowing how these organs support us in visioning and achieving our dreams, it makes sense to keep them in balance
so they can operate at their best.
Here are some simple ways to work with spring’s flow: Move your body daily: walking, qigong, stretching, or dance all help qi flow.
Eat green: leafy greens and fresh sprouts resonate with wood element energy.
Make space for your dreams: journal, vision board, or spend quiet time imagining what you want to create.
Express emotions in healthy ways: speak your truth kindly, practice forgiveness, and release resentment.
Spend time in nature: especially in the morning light, to harmonise with the season’s rising yang energy.
Try an energy clearing visualisation: close your eyes, breathe into your liver area, and imagine emerald green light
washing through, carrying away anything stagnant and filling you with renewed vitality.
A Season of Fresh Beginnings
This is a season for planting seeds, both in the garden and in your life.
What new ideas, projects, or habits would you like to nurture?
Just as you would tend a young seedling with care, patience, and the right conditions, you can support your
dreams by creating space for them to grow.
Spring is not a race to bloom overnight. It is an invitation to stretch, to unfurl, and to trust that your inner
growth will unfold in its own perfect time.
By Claire McLennan