Spring arrives within
Deep cold. And yet bright stirrings
Rise from the Earth.

Hello Friends of Flying Needle!

Happy Beginning of Spring!

Hope this finds you well during these interesting times!

Hail Green Dragon of the East!

– totemic guardian of the season –

– artist unknown –

Seasonal Musings & Reflections

The three months of spring one calls “issuing and laying out”.
Together Heaven and Earth give life,
The myriad creatures thereby blossom.
Sleep at night and rise early,
Stroll at ease around the yard,
Loose the hair and relax the body,
Allow intent to come to life.

– from Suwen Chapter 2

Spring began on February 4^th. Days are noticeably longer. Squirrels and deer are friskier. And yet, here in Chapel Hill, it has been cold enough that Spring’s heralds, the Daffodils, have not yet burst forth. The forecast for next week suggests, at least in part, our typical wide and wild oscillation from cold to temperate, but we’ll see.

How is Spring expressing where you are?

Spring is resonant with East, beginnings, birth, movement, wind, the Wood phase, the liver and the gallbladder, sinews, and the color green amongst many others processes and dynamics. Yang’s expansive expression is unfurling as the Sun (Taiyang : Great Yang) shines for more of each passing day.

One of my first teachers of Chinese medicine, Brian Moran, used to say the liver (in this case meaning Wood Phase as expressed in and through the human body) loves inspiration and perspiration. This was his pithy way of reminding us that movement and creative expression support free flowing and coherent circulation through the body. 

As we read in the quote from the Suwen above:

Stroll at ease around the yard,
Loose the hair and relax the body,
Allow intent to come to life.

A simple way for us to harmonize with the new season is to move with as much ease as we can while we seek to relax the body and be loose and fluid. If we have creative interests, or practices that have been dormant through the Winter months, now is an ideal time to reconnect with them.

What are ways to bring, find, and invite more creative play into your life?

– artist unknown –

The Chinese calendar has both solar and lunar aspects. While the seasonal musings and reflections of this newsletter are primarily oriented to the solar aspects, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that February 17th will be the Chinese lunar New Year.

Happy Yang Fire Horse!

As I have said in years past, this is not my area of expertise, but I will share a few observations based in what I have heard and read from folks more knowledgeable than myself. 

Each of the 12 animals of the zodiac have a native phase, and a phase that changes depending on the year. 5 phases and 12 animals gives us a 60 year cycle of combinations. The Horse’s native (inherent) phase is Fire, and this year’s phase is also Fire. The Horse of this year is the Yang Fire Horse. This is Horse in its most primal expression.

In Chinese astrology (the exploration of relationship between celestial and terrestrial rhythms) the Horse is understood to be a cavalry horse. The cavalry horse was the expression of a millennia length crossbreeding project between the wild Mongolian pony, and the intensively trained and highly disciplined Arabian military horse. This union shows us two of the potential perils on offer this year – wildness to the point of chaotic destruction; and focusing on performance to the point of self-harm/burnout.

At the same time, it also teaches us about the medicine that is most suited to the Yang Fire Horse – an integrated harmony of discipline and freedom.

Horses are herd animals. In our hyper-individualistically focused society we often have negative associations with the word ‘herd’, and certainly, going along to get along is problematic. At the same time, the open sharing of the gifts that each of us has with our family, friends, neighbors, and communities are how we steward a more harmonious present, and preferred futures. This year invites us to work together even more deeply to support the welfare of the community – the herd.

The last Yang Fire Horse year was 1966. It was a year of staggering revolutionary change:

The Chicago Freedom Movement, the founding of the Black Panther Party, global anti-Vietnam war protests, the Compton Cafeteria Riots, 1966 Hong Kong Riots, and more.

Youth played a huge role in virtually all of those movements. It is a powerful time to attend to, and include their voices. The protection, and support of the children is fundamental to the present and future health of the herd.

On the level of personal practice this innocent youthful vitality resonates with Beginner’s Mind. Two of the myriad options available for exploring this resonance are — to learn something new, and to approach practices, and/or the activities of life as if they were new. 

We have the opportunity this year to receive, and lean into the Yang Fire Horse’s radiance. To allow ourselves to be nourished and fortified by it’s warmth like spring shoots coming up from the winter earth and drinking in the sun.
 

This is a year for courage, connection, and collective action.

We can shed one more layer of skin in honor of Yin Wood Snake and transform into blazing Yang Fire Horse. It’s going to be a wild ride!

If you would like to dive deeper check out:

Tiger Eye Astrology
 

forestxrei

– by the amazing dongyi @wuwei.world –

May your Spring days be filled with beauty, mystery, and friendship! 

May you and your kin feel both rooted and free!

May we walk in gratitude with our Ancestors!

May all being and becoming receive nourishment!

japanese woodblock style for chinese lunar new year

– artist unknown –

Wood Snake’s skin is shed.
Fire Horse burst forth in blazing 
Freedom. Hail New Year!

It is my sincere hope that you have found something of use in these words.

If you know folks who you feel would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it their way! Thank you!

Wishing you and all your relations wellbeing and good medicine!

With gratitude,

Taran