The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.
And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

Dylan Thomas

On first glance this poem speaks of youth, hope and strength, a force for growth, like the arrival of spring, energising nature to re-emerge after winter. The poem expresses how this insistence toward growth may sometimes be matched with a resistance, or a sense of being stuck. When this arises, gently orienting towards yielding and flexibility allows the path toward growth to unfold and be revealed in it’s own time.

Springtime energy needs to flow, to get moving after the winter of stillness, and this may cause us to feel stiffness or tension in our bodies more keenly. Or, we may be inspired to take positive, renewing action in our life, but feel blocked, uncertain how to follow through. We can then experience frustration or fatigue in the face of these difficulties that seem to hold back progress.

This is the energy of the liver and gall bladder meridians in Shiatsu. Spring is the time to promote the smooth flowing of these powerfully creative and decisive energies. Gentle stretching, flexibility of mind, and opening of the heart can help. Eastern bodywork such as Shiatsu and Thai Massage include stretches and acupressure, which help to promote ease and flow, and bring us back to our natural inclination to growth and renewal in this season.

Lucy Trend 08/03/22