“When our Wood Qi is healthy and abundant, we have clarity of mind and a high power of focus. The mental strength fed by creativity (Water feeds Wood) allows us to cover the full spectrum of possibilities, theories, and strategies, and our capacity for problem solving is acute and precise.” from 5 Elements 6 Conditions, Gilles Marin
“ To emulate the virtue of bamboo (Wood Element) would be to remain calm and unattached to momentary deviations from our course while maintaining a steady view of the big picture. As the wind subsides, bamboo immediately springs up to reassert its purpose and pursue its path. Exibiting the virtue of benevolence, bamboo carries no grudge toward the wind that temporarily waylaid its progress. It continues unencumbered in its journey toward heaven.” from Nourishing Destiny, Lonny Jarrett
The Theme for the month is simplification for our liver health and integrity for wood element support.
Our livers, detoxification systems, immune systems, and nervous systems have A LOT to process. Most of us are consuming all day long; food, drink, supplements, medications, information, media, opinions, entertainment, and more. Stimulation in all it’s forms has to be processed and integrated into our lives and bodies. Most of our bodies are overwhelmed yet our brains are addicted to complexity and stimulation. Even when it causes chronic stress, anxiety, disregulation, and disconnection from our innate inner knowing of what is healthy and enough for us. It’s hard to unwind from that and I’d like to support a small group of people to do this, or at least turn in this direction of simplification and integrity.
I’ve been offering ongoing weekly practice classes (somatic meditation and movement) based on the 5 Elements in Chinese Medicine. Spring is Wood Element and the associated organs are the Liver and Gallbladder. Wood Element has a lot to do with our mind, intelligence, the clarity with which we think, and our central nervous system - the brain and spinal cord.
This cleanse will not involve juicing or fasting or adding in detox supplements or herbs. Fasting, unless you are sick or have a strong spiritual purpose for doing it, is too stressful for most people. The 4 weeks will include a 1 hr support group and a 90 min practice class on each Sunday afternoon with an hour break in between. You will receive homework for the week and then we will check in about how it’s going each week in the following group.