Transitioning from Winter To Spring
You’ve gathered yourself, on the edge of a marathon, watching those move past you with determination, grit, exhaustion and hope. Perhaps someone you know and love has been brave and entered into this challenge. It is a clear blue sky, but the wind is cold. You tuck your scarf tighter around your ears, pull your hat down further. It is the end of winter, one of the first races of the year and yet, the chill is still here.
Think of the runners, imagine that image and vision of the breathing, rhythmical thud of trainers on the tarmac, lungs working hard, the red finish tape in sight, muscles weary, bones heavy, pushing with all their might to get to the end. But they also carry with them a huge hope, an achievement, relief, transition and point of return.
This for me, is sometimes how the final stages of winter feel. It requires us to dig deep. We, like the buds and blooms that have laid dormant, are being asked to push forwards, this seasonal transition requires force, active hope, and reaching. But when the sun does shine, and the bulbs start to grow, the anticipation is palpable.
Yes, we, you and I. Might still be tired. I find this period of time fosters energy that arrives in fits and starts. At times, we might feel buoyant, cleaning, clearing… then we also might be completely exhausted, the winter being long and hard on our gentle hearts.
Like the runners, we are lunging towards the finish line “please let it be over, please let winter pass through so we can cross the finish line”. In the UK, the crossing of this seasonal finish line is never clear cut. Like a pendulum swinging; day’s can feel different, we can feel taunted by a warm afternoon, only to be greeted by a gentle shower of sleet the following morning.
So what practices can we draw on during this time? In Ayurveda, they focus on the season for cleansing, but also remaining warm. I’ve always loved the suggestion to keep a scarf on, making sure we don’t catch a chill, even when it starts to warm. Cleansing can also be about moving a little more, longer walks, little jogs, yoga and dance. Drinking a little more warm herbal tea too. This season can be more Kapha. Think tall and strong or small and sturdy. They usually act methodically and are considerate and they do not let themselves get worked up easily. They prefer a steady lifestyle as hasty decisions, rush, and spontaneity stress and overstrain them. But Kapha can be stagnant, heavy, weighted, resistant. We want to find movement and energy to foster flow during this time, to help us cross the finish line and not feel too low or tired. Think about teas containing Blackberry leaf, Lemongrass, Coriander, Fennel, Blue Cornflowers, Chilli pepper, Cardamom, Chilli pepper. Plus breath-work and visualisation meditations.
We are also moving towards the element of wood in Spring, according to TCM, The first phase is wet, watery and cooler – necessary for the growth we find in the second drier, warmer, and windy phase. In early Spring we continue to experience the water element of winter. Gradually the rains of early spring give way to more sun and warmth, nourishing the upward growth of plants, trees and flowers. The winds of Spring pollinate and populate to stimulate even more growth. It is this second phase of Spring where we tune into the wood element’s upward, expansive energy of stimulation, growth, reproduction, and creativity.
I wanted to touch on hope. I feel this emotion so much in the early stage of Spring, we are stepping out of our safe, perhaps closed off cocoon of winter, and stretching out into the sun. So, here in this moment I wanted to share some ideas of what to do:
Journalling.
What are you hopeful for this year?
Physically
Emotionally
Materially
Externally(Think community and wider world)
Spiritually
Dreaming of a beautiful life, what does this look like for you?
A beautiful day
A beautiful home
A beautiful partnership
A beautiful experience
A beautiful World
Finally. I leave you with the writings of Emily Dickinson.
“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -
And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -
I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.
—
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