24 Seasons: Coming of Spring
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Good evening.
As I promised, today we’re going to talk about food. But before we get to food itself, I want to explain the logic of where this conversation is coming from.
We’re not starting with a list of what to eat. We’re going to start from the source. First, we’ll talk about the season we are in. Then we’ll look at how this season tends to show up in the body and in health. And only after that will we talk about the principles of eating that make sense right now.
Before we talk about this specific season, it’s important to understand why it even makes sense to pay attention to seasonal timing — especially if you live in a modern Western city.
We should care about seasons because our environment has become more artificial and controlled. The more control we have over light, temperature, and food availability, the fewer natural signals the body receives about timing, recovery, and load.
The problem with modern urban life is not that it’s "evil", as purists like to say. The problem is that it has become extremely convenient. Light turns on with a switch. Temperature is regulated by a thermostat. Food is available year-round and no longer depends on the season. From the outside, it looks like seasonality has lost its importance.
Physiologically, that isn’t true. The human body still responds to changes in daylight and the solar cycle. What has changed is not biology, but awareness. People increasingly experience changes in sleep, energy, focus, mood, or stress tolerance without linking them to seasonal shifts. As a result, these changes feel random or personal — like something is wrong — when in reality the body is responding to a different seasonal context.
This is exactly where the system of the 24 Seasons, also known as the 24 Solar Terms, becomes useful. This system is not philosophy and not belief. It is based on long-term observation. For thousands of years, people observed the movement of the sun, changes in daylight, weather patterns, agricultural cycles, and how the human body responded throughout the year. Over time, these observations were organized into 24 distinct seasons. This system has been used for more than 4,000 years as a practical way to understand timing and change.
The 24 Seasons don’t just say “winter” or “spring.” They describe how energy moves and shifts through the year, and how the body tends to respond to those shifts. Some seasons emphasize conserving and storing energy. Some focus on redistribution and adjustment. Some support gradual outward movement and preparation for activity. Others are about transformation and release.
These seasons exist regardless of geography. Whether you live in Asia, Europe, or North America, the solar cycle is the same. What changes is how climate and modern city life amplify or soften the experience of these seasonal shifts. In a Western urban environment, transitions are often felt less consciously but with more internal tension — through fatigue, irritability, disrupted sleep, or emotional instability — especially when these shifts are ignored.
And now we can now talk about the first season of the annual cycle: Coming of Spring.
Coming of Spring is the point where the overall direction of energy starts to shift. It moves gradually from inward holding toward outward movement. Nothing was stuck before, and nothing suddenly starts moving now. The change is subtle and progressive. This season does not demand immediate action or acceleration. It sets the conditions for what will unfold later.
From a health perspective, the main system that comes into focus during early spring is the Liver. In simple terms, the Liver is responsible for keeping energy moving smoothly and evenly through the body. After winter, when the body has been in a more inward, storing mode, that movement often becomes tight or uneven.
When Liver support is insufficient, early spring can show up as internal tension, irritability, emotional reactivity, headaches, tightness in the neck or shoulders, bloating, or disrupted sleep. These signs don’t mean something is wrong. Most of the time, they indicate that energy is beginning to move, but the system needs support to do so smoothly.
This is why early spring is not a time to push harder. The key task of this season is to encourage smooth circulation, not forceful output. When energy begins to move after a period of storage, the body needs space and flexibility, not pressure. Overstimulating activity tends to create tension rather than support growth at this stage.
Practices that work best in this season are gentle and stabilizing. Light stretching, calm walks, easy movement, and a consistent sleep schedule help release accumulated tension and support even distribution. The goal is not to boost energy or increase productivity, but to reduce internal pressure and allow the body to adjust naturally.
Food in early spring should follow the same logic. Nutrition should support smooth movement while keeping digestion warm and steady. After winter, the digestive system is still adapting, and when digestion is strained, the Liver has a harder time keeping energy flowing freely. This is why food choices matter more than intensity right now.
This is not a detox season. It is not a fasting season. And it is not a time for drastic dietary changes. Food at this stage should provide stability.
Warm, cooked, simple meals are easier for the body to handle. Regular protein such as chicken, eggs, or white fish helps stabilize energy and mood. Cooked vegetables like carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, zucchini, or lightly cooked greens support gentle movement without irritation. Simple grains such as rice, oats, or buckwheat help prevent energy drops. Soups, broths, and warm meals are especially supportive during this period.
At the same time, early spring is not the moment for excess. Heavy or greasy meals, large amounts of sugar, alcohol, and very spicy food tend to overstimulate the Liver and increase internal tension. Cold and raw foods — especially large salads, smoothies, or iced drinks — weaken digestion and make smooth circulation harder. Detoxes, fasting, and aggressive “clean eating” plans usually create more stress than benefit during this season.
For women, early spring often affects the Liver through mood, blood balance, and circulation. When the Liver is under strain, this may show up as emotional sensitivity, fatigue, cycle discomfort, or feeling internally tight. Regular meals, sufficient protein, warm food, and moderate healthy fats help support both digestion and blood, keeping energy and emotions more stable.
For men, Liver strain in early spring often shows up as pressure, irritability, restlessness, or mental overload. Regular eating, balanced portions, and avoiding overly stimulating foods and habits help reduce internal pressure and allow energy to distribute more evenly instead of getting stuck.
Coming of Spring is a season of orientation and preparation, not a hard start. It sets the direction for the rest of the year, which is why it rewards smoothness and consistency rather than force.
Support the natural upward movement of energy without rushing the transition.
Avoid heavy meals, staying up late, and sudden intense activity.
Choose light stretching, more fresh air, regular ventilation of your living space, and calm emotional regulation.
And that is all for the first season of the Fire Horse year.
Next time (in two weeks) we’ll continue with the next season - Rain Water.
