Spring and the energy of renewal

Beautiful spring has arrived and it has brought with it a gorgeous sense of awakening. After the stillness and inwardness of winter, I can feel a stirring—life pushing upward, outward, and forward. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, spring is guided by the Wood element: the energy of growth, vision, and fresh beginnings.

Just as seedlings push through the soil toward the light, this season invites us to stretch beyond old limitations, release what has been holding us back, and lean into new possibilities. It’s a time when nature reminds us that change isn’t only possible—it’s natural.

Spring has the energy of movement and momentum. The Wood element encourages creativity, curiosity, and action—making it the perfect time to bring forward ideas, dreams, or projects that may have been quietly germinating through winter’s rest.

When Wood energy flows, we feel flexible in our thinking, clear in our thoughts and optimistic about what lies ahead. But when this energy becomes stuck or stagnant, we may notice it in our body and emotions—frustration, irritability, restlessness, or even fatigue can come about as signs that energy wants to move.

The organs connected to Wood are the liver and gallbladder. They are the “planners” and “decision-makers” in the body, helping energy move smoothly so that mind and body stay in harmony. When these organs are supported, our ability to make choices, adapt to change, and act with clarity is strengthened.

This season invites your body to move gently but consistently. Practices like yoga, tai chi, qigong, stretching, or simply taking long walks outdoors mirror spring’s flowing, expansive energy. These movements help release tension from the body, calm the mind, and create a sense of inner space so energy can circulate with ease.

Spring also shifts what our bodies naturally crave. Heavy, grounding meals that nourished us in winter can now feel too much. Instead, spring asks for lighter, cleansing foods that refresh and uplift. Leafy greens, sprouts, fresh herbs, and sour flavours—like citrus, berries, or apple cider vinegar—nourish the liver, help release stagnation, and awaken our bodies. Turn to fresh, colourful meals that energise rather than weigh you down.

One of the simplest and most powerful ways to align with spring energy is to get yourself outside! Notice the blossoms, the brightness of the day, the different fragrance of growth in the air. Let nature remind you that you too have been made to grow, to create, to move forward.

Spring is the season of beginnings. It reminds us that renewal is always possible, that growth is a part of who we are.

So as the world blooms around you—ask yourself: What is ready to bloom within me?