Moving Out of Winter and Getting Ready for Spring

    Though it is cold here in the Northeast, it is so clear that winter is receding and spring is approaching. The sun is brighter and higher in the sky. Some early birds are already nesting like the ravens. On warmer days there is mud which gives birth to life.
    And though it is still cold and ice still with us we can begin to think of getting ready for spring and moving smoothly and easily into the season of birth and renewal. We can begin to plan a detox for March and there are so many ways to do that.
    We still need to nurture the Kidney/Water energy of winter (perhaps in our fast paced, over busy culture we always do) but we can begin to think about supporting the Liver/Wood spring season with hot lemon tea, or turmeric fresh in food or powdered and dried in warm Almond Milk with a little honey and oil as a drink.
    We can use Dandelion Root, one of the first plants of spring, in many forms, from extract to tea to eating them as soon as they emerge or appear at our local coop, as greens in salad and roots in a stir fry.
    Burdock also is a wonderful herb for this season as is Yellow Dock. In fact along with the Dandelion these three roots are a wonderful way to give the liver a boost and clear the way for Spring. They will clear out the heavier energy of winter eating of more meat, more fire filled cooked food and salt. Yellow Dock will create more bile flow and encourage greater elimination. Burdock clears and cleans the blood as well as nourishing the liver.
    Sprouts like fresh pea shoots or mung bean sprouts or any of the sprouts (the baby plants) add new life energy and can really perk things up.
    One of my favorite teas for this time of year is Goji Berries, Schizandra and Licorice. simmer them together for 10-15 minutes and you have a sweet and delicious drink that really lifts the spirit and nourishes us deeply.
    Try any or all of these ideas and get ready for new life and a new beginning.