Give Your Liver a Much Needed Spring Cleaning... Do the Tree Shake!

Spring is the season of renewal and though Spring officially begins on March 21 in the West, the Chinese feel that Spring energetically begins with the Chinese New Year. No matter which day we designate to launch the season of Spring, the energy is the same: new beginnings, fresh starts, rebirth, Spring cleaning and cleansing.

Spring's yin organ is Liver and the season signals it's time for a gentle liver cleanse.

Give Your Liver a Much Needed Spring Cleaning... Do the "Tree Shake" Exercise! 

On Health and Longevity

Fame or your health—which is more dear?Your health or possessions—which is worth more?
Gain or loss—in which is there harm?
If your desires are great, you’re bound to be extravagant;
If you store much away, you’re bound to lose a great deal.
Therefore, if you know contentment, you’ll not be disgraced.
If you know when to stop, you’ll suffer no harm.
And in this way you can last a very long time.

[ Lao Tzu ] 

5 Ways to Thrive with the Good Energies of the Chinese New Year of the Blue Sheep

1) Take a few moments to stop and visualize a reed bending in the wind. Affirm to yourself that you, too, are just as strong, yet flexible, able to confidently handle whatever comes your way.

2) The Blue Sheep (also known as Bharal) know how to have a still and solitary moment, literally blending into rock faces when necessary. After a hectic day, call on Blue Sheep's energy to share the feeling of stillness with you. Breathe it in and smile.

3) When a problem confronts, learn from it and then move forward. Don't belabor it. Know that you've embraced the lesson and there's no need to dwell on it any more.

4) When you've got a big task to accomplish, stay in the moment-to-moment of it. Take it just one step at a time.

5) Practice being creative. If you've forgotten how, start anywhere doing anything that's the least bit creative. Build on that activity by finding another creative action, then another. Soon your creative nature will blossom just like the Spring bringing the abundance promised by the numerology of 2015.

The Chinese New Year Begins on February 19: The Year of the Blue Sheep

For 2015, it is the Year of the Blue Sheep beginning February 19. The last time it was a year of the Blue Sheep was in 1955, the only time during the 20^th century. The next time will be 2075.

The general characteristic of a Sheep year is its yin aspect. It correlates to the Cancer sign associated with the energy of the mother, healer, and nurturer. It is a time of peace, calm and contentment. Sheep needs solitary moment to replenish her soul. At the same time, Sheep is very sociable and loves celebrations and a good party. Although calm in appearance, Sheep is strong in determination and can adapt to different environments. It accomplishes its goals with small but solid steps–one at a time. Sheep is practical and only moves forward; and does not like to go backwards or sideways.

Align with the energy of the Sheep during this time of preparation for Spring, the energy of Wood in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and also with the Chinese New Year. Get ready for good fortune and abundance because the numerology all the way around is an 8, the symbol of great prosperity.

The particular characteristic of the Blue Sheep is that of the Wood element. The yin energy of 2015 will reinforce the yin energy of the Sheep. Wood quality of boldness and creativity will add much drive to the Sheep year.

7 Ways to Energetically Prep for Spring

Our homes are like temples to us. They can be sources of refuge, sanctuary, calm or chaos, anger and frustration. We respond energetically to the energies created in a zen-like home or a chaotic home. Over time, our homes accumulate clutter and dirt if we don't tend to periodic house cleaning. The very same goes for our physical bodies! Just like we begin thinking about Spring cleaning our homes, we can begin a cleansing regimen for our bodies by doing some very simple but effective practices. 

Try some of these:

◆ Include bitter foods in your diet for a nice and simple daily cleanse for the liver and gall bladder;

◆ Nourish the liver throughout the day with hot/warm water and lemon;

◆ Take daily walks in the morning sunlight; engage in gentle exercise like swimming and walking;

◆ Make it a conscious practice to stay calm; don't let anger get the best of you; scream out loud in a benign place, not directed at anyone;

◆ Stimulate your liver meridian by tapping the insides of your thighs beginning with the ankles using a hairbrush with rounded bristles; do this for a few minutes to stimulate chi energy to flow and relax the liver;

◆ Choose drinks other than alcohol to give the liver a break.

◆ And check out Phytobiodermie's Spring/Wood line of energetic skincare products!

Find One Person to Give to Every Day

The energetic season known as Wood in Traditional Chinese Medicine and which is practiced in Phytobiodermie's lines of organic skincare products is a time for GIVING. When we give we regenerate our own selves. Find someone every day, if at all possible, to give to. That's a nice side-effect, but never our reason for giving. We give just to give. And it doesn't always have to include money. Here are some ideas:

• Send a greeting card in the mail to someone who wouldn't expect it. (Greeting cards in the mail are becoming a thing of the past, so it will be appreciated!)

• Give someone a hand massage for five minutes.

• Defer to the person behind you in the cashier line. Let him go ahead of you no matter how much he has in his cart.

• Give a few dollars to the homeless person on the street corner with no strings attached.

• Make a little extra of whatever batch of food you're about to make and give the extra to someone you care about.

• Make a phone call to someone who's been on your mind and see how they're doing.

• Let the other person have the good parking spot and just drive on.

5 Novel Ways to Break Out of Doing the Same Old Thing

The energetic season of Wood offers us the golden opportunity to renew and rebirth ourselves. It's time to break free of old habits and stuffy rote ways of going about our everyday. Here are 5 fun ways to break out!

1) Put on your clothes in opposite order.

2) Sleep in your bed in the opposite direction.

3) Invite someone else out to lunch with you.

4) Don't cook your food. Eat it raw!

5) Give five people a hand massage for about five minutes each.