Spring & The Wood Element

EUPHORIA METHODOS: SPRING & THE WOOD ELEMENT

You will surely remember from our previous blog posts that each of us is born with all the elements but in different percentages. Each element comes with positive qualities and associations which are diminished when the element is unbalanced. In Traditional Chinese Medicine spring is associated with the wood element, represented by the tree, ever growing and reaching out towards the sun.

So, let’s now look to spring’s wood element, and explore what having a wood constitution means and how its positive qualities can be harnessed. We all have a wood personality and this is our chance to work on it.

This kind of investigation can help you to decide which type/element you predominantly are, as well as guiding you towards better balancing your tendencies so that you can live a more harmonious life.

 

WOOD TYPES

So, how would you recognise a wood personality? Well, wood personalities have a strong mind. They are action-orientated and natural leaders who are not great at following others. When out of balance they can be too directional and forceful, imposing their way on others and stepping on people without noticing.

They are very competitive (they want to win!), can express themselves too intensely – sometimes in anger – and they can get easily bored without plans. Wood personalities can get too much in their head and ego and they can forget to tap into their internal knowing, deep inside, which is housed in the liver.

Metaphorically if the liver is said to be ‘the general’ who makes plans, then the gall bladder is ‘the decision maker’. It is the meditator between what’s happening in the world externally and what’s happening internally and it sends information to the liver which then needs to be processed and acted upon. When in flow and clear, these messages are communicated beautifully and for the general good, so that the higher frequencies of wood – kindness and generosity – can be harnessed.

Once we see beyond our own grievances and gripes, we can start to embody a vision that is not just about ourselves, but about others. This is true leadership. Yes, difficulties remain but we place our attention on that which uplifts us and emboldens our sense of purpose.

As such we foster collective inspiration and bonding so that change is effected together, rather than alone. Just as trees in the forest stand together and are stronger for it, so are we humans more powerful when we work together.