springtime support.

spring is a wrecking ball dressed as beautiful fresh popped up flowers. visualize that for a second. it can be lovely. but it can be . .. a bit of a hot mess. up here on the mountain, it means MUD SEASON.. . seeding, planting, beginning to prepare & wake up sleepy garden beds. .. checking on perennials (how did they fare over the winter?), nibbling the earliest of spring greens (chives, sorrel, the tiniest of nettles, to name a few). the perpetual feeling of being behind is something we tend to experience here in the spring time. the land really goes from zero to a hundred with no delay. from the first drops of sap, the return of the geese, the first flowers, to full on spring it is so dang tempting in spring time to over-extend, over-commit, over-do your still somewhat sleepy, bear-like, winter body.

what are some ways to manage the quickening of the pulses of the land and our own inner beings? rest. don't stop resting. adequate rest enables us to work & play harder when we are adequately nurtured. our bodies as they come out of winter hibernation, a period often of (lets be real here) a lil more sedentary lifestyle, richer foods perhaps, less movement overall. .. what can help? drinking lots of h2o. a big glass of water first thing in the morning with a good squirt of lemon or lime is gently detoxifying and helps the body start to wake up and move. spring herbs & greens! most of them will be a lil while yet, spring jumps the gun in some ways in northern turtle island. but think green. .. shifting more green things into your diet, be it by herbal infusions (teas) or lymph & circulatory moving, supportive tinctures (we have a nice spring clean tonic with chickweed, stinging nettle & cleavers: https://www.blackbirdhollow.ca/shop/p/spring-clean-tonic ).

as spring unfurls, so does an abundance of edible wild greens and weeds. you might be surprised as to what is growing even in your backyard. early spring greens provide a source of nutrient and vitamin dense foods that can be easily incorporated into every day meals, or simply gobbled down on the spot.

chickweed (stellaria media) growing in the greenhouse.

food and medicine. food as medicine. still feeling a bit slow and sluggish after the long winter behind us? these spring greens help purify the blood, which can be stagnant after many months of winter dormancy. they are rich in chlorophyll, which is a great natural source of vitamins A, C, E, and K. these early greens can help alleviate fatigue, bolster the immune system, and provide small amounts of bitters to stimulate the appetite and aid in digestion.

more than ever lately i have been grateful for the medicine of the weeds, their incredibly resilient nature, and the strong but innocuous medicine that they offer, often despite their persecution and prejudice. i think of dandelion, plantain, lamb’s quarters, dock, burdock and so many other green allies who are often forgotten literally underfoot while we seek out more exotic and exciting medicinals and foods. but these weeds are plentiful, they are everywhere, from the countryside to the city, and they are absolutely packed with nutrients and minerals. the fact that they are from the land on which we walk and build our homes; it makes so much sense to make them a part of our daily lives, for food and medicine. they are here. they are healing both the land, and us, if only we let them. it is intriguing to think of eating to prevent sickness, but food is hugely comparative to medicine. to eat to stay well, rather than waiting to get sick before trying to get healthy again. when we eat the food and medicine growing wild from this land, we become the land around us, on a cellular level.

in TCM, the organ represented by spring is the liver. bitter greens can be helpful in both cooling & pacifying the rise of spring energies. .. anger is the emotion of an imbalanced liver. .. aries season can be impetuous, fiery & abrupt. .. but in balance, it can be the catalyst for literally springing forward. .. like the energy of the season. ..

i had a session with someone recently where i admitted that i was fearing aries season (im not ready!), and she mentioned that maybe instead of worrying about it i could try to ponder how to be extra supportive to myself throughout it, which is why i started writing this article, as a spring reminder to you but also myself! breathwork, meditation, walking, finding curiosity & grounding in the present moment. if you know you know. i have a lot to learn and sometimes feel like i'm only just embarking (ten years seems like a drop in the pond) on a journey of understanding and self discovery that will last me the rest of my life. so to recap, supportive spring practises can include (but certainly are not limited to!):

• adequate rest

• ample hydration

• not doing too much too fast

• deep breaths

• liver support

• spring greens

• gentle movement

• dry brushing/lymphatic drainage

• fasting (intermittent or more)

• feel your feels (yelling, running, playing can help if it feels accessible)

• getting out in the morning sun (sip a cup of tea there)

• walking barefoot on the earth

• shaking off winter (however that looks/feels for you)

happy spring mdears, we made it. i will post more about specific spring greens in the weeks to come, as they unfurl.