Spring and Wood - Part 2 - Primavera e Legno - Parte 2

In my last posts, I have often talked about spring in particular from the point of view of the Theory of the 5 Taoist movements. Spring is the season of Wood, "mù" 木, which also indicates a tree or in general what grows.

One of the most fascinating features of ideograms is their way of representing an infinity of meanings with a few signs and also in this case we can read many interesting things from this elegant set of traits.

For example, the horizontal line is placed rather high above the entire character, making us perceive the importance of the underlying part, i.e. the roots of the tree that are below the earth line.

The small vertical section at the top, on the other hand, already comes out of the earth to get closer to the sun and feed on its heat, timidly curious about what happens outside that protected and well-rooted world from which it is rising.

Of course, it takes a lot of determination and courage to make that momentum that frees us from the abyss to climb upwards and for this reason, our most vital and powerful energy awakens during this season.

The lower part of the ideogram represents our roots and their solidity which depends a lot on how we spend the winter season and therefore on our relationship with the movement of water.

Too much water tends to rot plants, too little water dries them up and prevents them from growing strong and healthy, once again determining how important it is to seek balance at all stages of our life.

On the other hand, such a small and fragile bud cannot be expected to be totally exposed to the sun, because it would dry out, or rather it would burn immediately, quickly consuming itself due to the haste to grow and want to do everything immediately.

The thing I love about this season is its desire to move in all directions, just like a young plant would do in search of nourishment and renewal; this expansion without judgment is a great lesson for me: there is no attitude or capacity more important than another because everything is equally important for inner growth and overall well-being.

This idea that everything in life can be useful to us and that we should not negatively judge an event that has overwhelmed us or one of our characteristics is helping me a lot to overcome my limits and accept my failures.

And so, especially in this season, I try to practice outdoors to be able to feel rooted, strong, flexible, and always listening, open to the experiences and opportunities that life can offer to those who come with an accepting heart and empty hands.

Primavera e Legno - Spring and Wood

Per la Teoria dei Cinque Movimenti la primavera è la stagione del Legno.

La prima immagine che potrebbe venirci in mente quando pensiamo al legno sono i grandi abeti, i principi della montagna, i pini che si appigliano agli scogli per poter crescere vicino al mare, le querce secolari che si impongono come custodi delle foreste o le distese di castagni che forano il terreno con i loro ricci spinosi. 

Eppure, non c'è niente di meglio del movimento di una piccola piantina che buca il terreno per poter crescere per rappresentare al meglio questo movimento.

In primavera la forza vitale della natura si espande in ogni direzione, espandendosi coraggiosamente verso ogni fonte di nutrimento e di apprendimento. 

La curiosità e la ricerca spingono tutti gli esseri viventi ad uscire, a sperimentare, a ricercare nuovi stimoli ed obiettivi e proprio per questo, una delle caratteristiche più interessanti di questa stagione sono il coraggio e la creatività.

Si dice così che non ci sia momento migliore per sciogliere i capelli al vento, assaporare le novità portate dal nuovo ciclo nascente e buttarsi in nuove avventure, lasciandosi guidare dal proprio istinto, nutrito dalla saggezza e dalla visione dell'acqua e illuminato dal desiderio profondo del fuoco.

In questa stagione la bellezza è al suo culmine tra i fiori coloratissimi e profumatissimi, i prati verdi che sanno di abbondanza, l'acqua trasparente che scorre per ripulire le ultime foglie secche e il sole che invita tutti ad uscire allo scoperto ed accendersi di nuovo dopo il torpore invernale.

Certo vi sono anche degli aspetti non propriamente positivi riguardo al legno e alla primavera, ma per ora preferisco concentrarmi su questo senso di rinnovamento e rigenerazione, che quest'anno io sento quanto mai necessario e benefico.

Nei prossimi post vi parlerò ancora delle caratteristiche di questa stagione e degli altri suoi aspetti (non dico negativi perché non sono soggetti a giudizio!)

Buona primavera, buon rinnovamento! 

For the Theory of the Five Movements, spring is the season of Wood.

The first image that could come to mind when we think of wood is the large fir trees, the princes of the mountains, the pines that cling to the rocks to be able to grow near the sea, the centuries-old oaks that impose themselves as guardians of the forests or the expanses of chestnut trees that pierce the ground with their thorny hedgehogs.

Yet, there is nothing better than the movement of a small seedling that pierces the ground to grow to best represent this movement.

In spring the life force of nature expands in every direction, boldly dilating to every source of nourishment and learning. 

Curiosity and research push all living beings to go out, to experiment, to seek new stimuli and goals and for this reason, one of the most interesting features of this season is courage and creativity.

It is said that there is no better time to unleash your hair in the wind, savor the novelties brought by the new nascent cycle and throw yourself into new adventures, letting yourself be guided by your instincts, nourished by the wisdom and vision of water and illuminated by the deep desire of fire.

In this season, beauty is at its peak among the colorful and fragrant flowers, the green meadows that smell of abundance, the transparent water that flows to clean up the last dry leaves, and the sun that invites everyone to come out and light up again after the winter numbness.

Of course, there are also some not exactly positive aspects about wood and spring, but for now, I prefer to focus on this sense of renewal and regeneration, which this year I feel very necessary and beneficial.

In the next posts, I will tell you more about the characteristics of this season and its other aspects (I do not say negative because they are not subject to judgment!)

Happy spring, happy renewal!