Spring is the beginning of the seasonal cycle, a time of birth and new beginnings. It is also the energy of the element Wood.

This is the energy that brings forth new growth: brave new grass pushes through the snow, brightly coloured flowers surprise us at our feet, and light green leaves and buds, eager to burst into blossom, show us that the trees are well alive after their dormant period during the winter months, which could have fooled us.

Spring is also the time of hope and optimism. After a quiet time during the winter months, all of a sudden, there is movement and change.

Each seed and sapling is following its own part of nature’s plan. Think of Wood relentlessly manifesting new shapes and structures. And all along, invisibly, Wood produces the oxygen without which we couldn’t live.

The organs, the liver and the gallbladder, are connected with the element of Wood. When the liver is out of balance, a person can become very stubborn, literally a ‘stick in the mud,’ and find it hard to uproot themselves and adapt to changes. They can be inflexible, irritable, and nervous.

This kind of behaviour and personality indicates the onset of liver disease if the person is not ready to change and learn, and thus heal their liver.

When someone has a liver blockage or weakness, they can have problems with their eyes or eyesight, nail problems, joint problems, muscle problems, Jaundice, twitching, sharp headaches, and the right side of their bodies can have difficulties, issues, and pains that move around the body like the wind moves. They will generally be experiencing a lack of flow and smoothness in their lives.

In the past, doctors described people who were irritable as liverish, which shows that not just Eastern people were clued into these observations. However, it was in the east that a deep and complex understanding developed, which today is helping us to heal and cure sicknesses and undesirable behaviour through energy and other natural healing methods.

Wood is yang/masculine in character. The predominant attributes are considered to be strength and flexibility, similar to those of bamboo. It is also associated with qualities of generosity and idealism. One quality of the Wood element is leadership. It is the leader within us that can take charge and determine a plan of action. The Wood is always seeking to grow and expand. Wood heralds the beginning of life, springtime, buds, sensuality, and fecundity.

Wood type people are often aggressive or assertive, direct, and prone to strong tempers and a lot of drive. They are usually outgoing and socially conscious, and can be insensitive. The Wood element is associated with negative feelings of anger and positive feelings of patience and altruism.

The element of Wood relates to the person’s benevolence and gratitude. People with a good heart, a positive outlook on life, and a progressive nature have high-quality Wood elements in their chart. Those who lack kindness or compassion and are unable to make progress in life invariably have poor-quality Wood elements.

The following lifestyle, sports/activities, foods, and careers are recommended to strengthen your Wood element. If your Wood is already intense, excessive, or dominant, we would suggest avoiding these activities.