Growth, Expansion + Flexibility: Welcoming the Lunar New Year of the Wood Dragon
Feb 08, 2024Episode 57
Sheri Davidson
Happy Lunar New Year!!! Lunar New Year is Saturday, February 10. The Spring festivals are celebratory as we welcome the transformative energy of the Wood Dragon in 2024. In this special episode of The Wellness Inspired Podcast, I will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of Eastern culture, exploring the profound connection between the five-element theory, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the auspicious Year of the Wood Dragon. Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!
Happy Lunar New Year!!! Lunar New Year is Saturday, February 10. The Spring festivals are celebratory as we welcome the transformative energy of the Wood Dragon in 2024. In this special episode of The Wellness Inspired Podcast, I will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of Eastern culture, exploring the profound connection between the five-element theory, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the auspicious Year of the Wood Dragon. Gong Xi Fa Cai!!!
Hi Wellness Warriors. Welcome back to another episode of the Wellness Inspired Podcast, a place where you can find inspiration, motivation and empowerment in the pursuit of a wellness lifestyle. I'm your host, sherri Davidson. I'm a wellness coach and acupuncturist in Houston, texas, and I am deeply passionate about health and well-being. And, as always, I'm here with my co-host, finn. And if you're new to the podcast, finn is my terrier, mixed rescue dog, trail runner and loyal companion. He is also a therapy dog and greeter at Element 5 acupuncture and wellness.
Speaker 1:
I want to start this episode by saying Happy Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year is this Saturday, february the 10th, and today is another celebration as we welcome the transformative energy of the Wood Dragon in 2024. So in this special episode of the Wellness Inspired Podcast, I will take you on a journey through the rich tapestry of Eastern culture, exploring the profound connection between five element theory, traditional Chinese medicine and the auspicious year of the Wood Dragon. We'll discover the intricate dance of wood, fire, earth and metal as they weave through the fabric of nature, seasons and the human experience. We'll uncover the unique characteristics of each element and their impact on our well-being. So, as we dive into the essence of the Wood Dragon, I will talk about the symbolism behind the celestial force, merging the dragon's power with the nurturing qualities of wood, learning how this combination sets the stage for growth, resilience and positive transformation in our lives. Also, we'll explore practical insights on how to cultivate personal growth, nourish your mind, body and spirit and foster harmonious connections. During this auspicious time, I will provide valuable guidance on integrating Eastern medicine principles into your daily life, emphasizing the balance of energy, cultivating Yin and Yang and embracing seasonal vitality. This episode is a holistic experience, blending the ancient wisdom with modern insights, offering you the tools to navigate life's challenges with grace and embrace the flourishing possibilities of the Wood Dragon near.
Speaker 1:
But first, before we get started, I want to tell you about a European Riverboat cruise in 2025 now. So if you've been listening to the podcast, I have been talking about this for a while. The Riverboat cruise was supposed to happen in 2024, the end of 2024. But unfortunately, the dates I picked are already booked, so I have to go back to the drawing board and pick some new dates. So unfortunately, we have to push it to 2025, but it's going to be in the spring. So I am going to jump on that really quickly and let you know the dates and the river will be on. I still think it's going to be the Danube River, but I will let you know. For those of you that are new to the podcast, this Wellness Riverboat cruise. There will be active sightseeing, so hiking, biking, maybe some running. There will also be yoga, wellness talks, relaxing and locally sourced cuisine. So stay tuned for more details. I already have many people interested, so get ready to grab your spot. Okay, let's do this.
Speaker 1:
As we step into the year of the Wood Dragon, it is a time for joyous festivities and an exceptional opportunity to synchronize our wellness practices with the vibrant energy of the season. The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, holds immense significance in Eastern culture. This auspicious occasion marks the inception of the lunar calendar, bringing forth a profound sense of renewal, hope and prosperity. So, to understand the essence of the celebration, I want to talk about the concept of five elements. It is rooted in Eastern thoughts and traditional Chinese medicine. The five elements would fire, earth and metal. Water are interconnected with the seasons, organs, colors and various aspects of the natural world. I want to go through each element and give you a brief description so you can get a feel of the energy associated with each element. So we're going to start with wood. So the wood element in Five Element Theory and TCM or Chinese Medicine is associated with the season of spring, which is the spring festival, and the energy is about growth, birth, vision, planning, and it is associated with the liver, gallbladder and traditional Chinese medicine, and the emotion attached or associated with wood is anger and frustration. The next season we step into is summer, and summer is dynamic. It is about passion, communication, it's active and it is associated with the heart and the small intestine in Chinese medicine, and the emotion associated with fire is joy.
Speaker 1:
And then we step into the earth phase. Now there are different theories on this. A lot of times, when you see a Five Element Chart, you just see the five elements in a circle, but you will also find the earth in the middle and then the other elements surrounding the earth, and the idea behind this is that the earth is the transition between the seasons. So the earth phase is about nurturing, it's about stability, grounding, harvest, and it is associated with the spleen and stomach in Chinese medicine, and the emotion associated with the spleen, stomach or the earth phase or element is associated with worry. And then we move into the metal phase. This is the fall and it is about precision. It is about clarity, strength and structure, and metal is associated with the lungs and large intestine in Chinese medicine, and the emotion associated with metal is melancholy. And then we move into the fifth phase is water, and water is winter. Winter is about stillness, it's about thought, it's about wisdom and potential, and the organ system that is associated with water in Chinese medicine it's the kidneys and the emotion. The kidneys is fear.
Speaker 1:
So I've taken you through all five elements, given you just a brief description so you can get a sense of the energy that is happening during these times and you can feel this energy as you go through the seasons. You can observe it. I want to give you a more concrete example of the elements working in a cycle, because five elements is all phenomena of life and how everything goes through these cycles. So we're going to take the building of a house. So let's say you want to build a house, the thought of you wanting to build that house, where you think about it, it's a thought in your mind, it's an idea. That's the water phase, it's the potential of what this could possibly be.
Speaker 1:
Then you go from the potential into the wood phase the spring and it is about planning, it's about the vision, it's about setting it all on paper, drawing up the plans and ready to build, and then you move into the fire phase. The fire phase is about manifestation, so it is about the action of building the house. So the structure goes up, the appliances go in, the roof goes on maybe not in that order, but it is the building of that house Then you get into the earth phase. The earth phase is about the harvest, so it is about sitting back and looking at what you have accomplished, admiring the house that you have built. That's the earth phase, it's the harvest. And then you go into the metal phase. The metal phase is the decline of that house. The minute you start building that house, it begins to decline and then it goes back into the water phase. So the metal phase is about the death of something and then it goes back to potential. So that is more of a concrete example. So I hope that that helps.
Speaker 1:
But now I want to shift our focus to the highlight of the year, which is the year of the Wood Dragon, and if you want to know more about the Wood Dragon, I suggest going to joeyyapcom. He is a very successful classical feng shui practitioner out of Malaysia. I actually took some classes from him when I was in Austin because I thought that feng shui, the classical feng shui, would work very well with my Chinese medicine, but realized that I really just wanted to focus on Chinese medicine because there was just so much for me to learn here. But every year I think it's fun to listen to his predictions of the year because he will do each animal sign. So everybody knows you have an animal sign, I'm a rat, and it all depends on the year you were born and it's all based on a batsu chart and they call it the four pillars. So really you have multiple animal signs within your chart. You have four. So I have, I believe mine is. I'm born in the year of the rat, my month is in. I think it's the rabbit and then I have the snake and the horse. I think are all my animal signs. So we only learn about the year the year you were born, your year animal from the Chinese restaurants that used to have the placemats. That's where I first learned mine. Not sure where you first learned yours, but it's how the energy of the wood dragon interacts with each one of those elements, so it gets really, really complex. But we're just going to have fun here and if you want to know more, I'll put the link to Joey Yap so you can check him out, because he knows a lot more about this than I do.
Speaker 1:
All right, let's step into the Lunar New Year of 2024, where the celestial presence of the wood dragon graces us. This symbol it represents growth, vitality and transformative change. The dragon, revered for its power, combines seamlessly with the nurturing qualities of wood, inviting us to prioritize personal wellbeing and embrace positive transformations. The wood dragon, a potent force, intertwines the nurturing essence of wood with the assertiveness of the dragon. This combination signifies growth, expansion, resilience and flexibility in the face of challenges. So as we go on this journey with the wood dragon, we are urged to embrace renewal and tap into the wisdom that the celestial creature brings. So, now that you are getting a feel of the energetics of the wood dragon and all of the elements, I want to talk a little bit about what this means for you and share some tips on how you can tap into this energy to optimize your health and wellbeing this year.
Speaker 1:
This unique combination of wood and dragon signifies not just strength and resilience, but also adaptability and flourishing, and ever changing environments. The wood dragon encourages us to tap into our inner vitality and navigate life's challenges with grace. This is also a great time to cultivate personal growth. The Wood Dragon year presents a golden opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Like a tree extending its branches, we are encouraged to reach new heights, explore uncharted territories and foster expansion in our lives. It's also a great time to nourish the mind, body and spirit, just as wood nourishes the earth. We are reminded to prioritize our well-being of these three treasures. So engaging in mindful practices such as meditation, yoga or nature walks and forest bathing can help ground us and foster tranquility. Also, the Wood Dragon's energy teaches us the importance of adaptability and resilience, one of my favorite words. I love the word resilience, I just. It sparks joy in me Because by learning to bend rather than break, we can navigate challenges with grace and ease.
Speaker 1:
Honestly, resilience is the number one driver for me running ultramarathons, because it's who you have to become to complete the distance. And it's not always fun. People all the time tell me that does not sound like fun. Well, you know what? There's a portion of them that it's not fun, I'll just, I'll agree it's not. But when I'm done, the satisfaction I get of accomplishing something, of pushing through something hard, either whether I make it or not make it hopefully I make it. But you push through hard times and you come out on the other side stronger, and I think that is my number one driver, because I like who I become when I'm done or not done, because if I there's been a couple of races I have not finished and I've had to pick myself up and get back out there. Yeah, it teaches me a lot, but you know what, so does life. I just like to be able to choose my suffering. Okay, let's move on.
Speaker 1:
The next thing I want to talk about, the next tip I have for you, is to talk about harmonious connections. Fostering harmonious connection is a focal point in the spirit of the wood dragon. Building meaningful relationships enhances your sense of community and well-being, creating a network of support. I love this one because we are social animals and connection is imperative for good health. And during the lunar new year, focusing on balancing the five elements through acupuncture, herbal medicine, movement and dietary choices is greatly beneficial.
Speaker 1:
You know, just go into the new year, right, you might be wondering what should I eat? That's always a big question. So I will give you a quick rule of thumb Eat within the seasons. Eat whole foods with a side of meat. If you eat meat, you know it might be fun in another episode to get into the Chinese food energetics. I think you guys might find that interesting, because cultivating yin and yang energies and embracing seasonal eating are some of the key principles in TCM for optimal well-being. But that's another episode. All right, we did it. That's a wrap. As we journey through the lunar new year of the wood dragon, let's embrace the opportunities for growth, well-being and positive transformation. Aligning ourselves with the nurturing and resilient energies of the celestial symbol, we can cultivate a life that flourishes and harmony with the ever changing rhythms of the world. May the wood dragon inspire you to nurture your growth and well-being throughout the suspicious year. Geng Shi Fa Kai, may you be happy and prosperous.