Cultivating the air element to bring balance in spring.
air-inspired rituals for creativity, nourishment and renewal.
“With your fragrance in the air, I give my love to the wind.” Rumi.
In my earlier post about the air element, I referred to spring as being a ‘kapha’ season according to the ancient Indian health system, Ayurveda, i.e. it is the time of year that is governed by the earth and water elements as the ground begins to warm and thaw. The weather here in the UK this spring has been decidedly ‘up and down’, and at times has not felt as though it is getting incrementally warmer at all, with lots of grey, windy, inclement days.
I spoke with Margherita Dal Pra, yoga teacher and self-care coach, who explained that the seasons in the UK are mutable and undefined, with us often experiencing multiple seasons in a day. It is certainly not as straight-forward as putting away our winter clothes on the first day of meterological spring on 1st March..!
Accordingly, Margherita suggests adapting to the unpredictable UK climate using the wisdom of Ayurveda by always practising opposites to create balance; to foster a gentle, nurturing feeling that she describes as the “hugging mother”, thus promoting ‘ojas’ (luscious abundant energy within us).
For example, open the windows but keep a blanket or warm socks handy; light candles to keep a sense of cosiness even as the days lengthen; have a green smoothie (if you want!) but add coconut oil.
Now we have reached mid-May, I am finding that there is something softer about the combination of rain and sunshine. The downpours are heavy, but there is a warmth to the sun when it appears between cool cloudbursts and the outside world is surging with life.
I felt the heaviness of the dense, moist earth squelch beneath my feet during my trips to woods this week, where the layered green canopy stencils a soft, dappled light on the ground. We made it through the muddy pathways to the wisteria-laden cafe, a breathtaking sight dripping in purple blooms and a welcome, dry pitstop from the oozy mud under foot.
The warming earth is providing the perfect grounding for the opening of petals, the unfurling of fern tendrils, the sprouting of leaves and the budding of roses. It feels verdant, rich and alive out there.
And although I am of course, fully on board with the vibrancy of the season, I recognise that there is a need to find balance, and perhaps a sense of lightness amongst the weighty, lush fecundity in order to grow upwards towards the light, and bloom.
Here are some simple air-inspired rituals you can do at home to bring balance this spring…
touch | I spoke to Katie Robinson, friend, architect and co-creator at THE | here THREAD. for her thoughts on harnessing the air element at home. Katie suggests airing the house by opening windows and doors to intentionally invite the breeze in and let stagnant air out, to allow ventilation through house, even on colder days. I love the idea of this almost daily refresh of our living spaces, combined with Margherita’s advice of staying warm and cosy, so I aim to have a hot drink in hand and my sheepskin gilet, a brilliant (requested!) Mother’s Day gift never far away.
smell | burn essential oils to bring an invigorating, purifying scent to your home. I am enjoying a refreshing blend of myrrh, pine and lime at the moment which feels fresh and spring-like. Katie mentioned her lavender room spray which sounds both cleansing and grounding. Try Join for beautiful natural soy wax candles and room sprays handmade with pure essential oils. Each one has a distinctive fragrance without being overpowering and they are all, of course, natural with no synthetics; my favourite is Hedgerow. I also love to bring fresh seasonal flowers into the house when I can (as detailed in my recent post on daffodils and fragrant varieties of Narcissus). Last week, I picked up a few branches of what I think is mock orange (Philadelphus), its delicate orange blossom scent seems to float lightly along our entrance hall.
Mock orange in the entrance hall. sound | sound travels through air. Play your favourite song or entire playlist to inspire the desired feel in your home. Two of my favourites that I always return to are Slow Spring Days by Emma Ross and Spring by Bridget Luff. Bridget is also my go-to for guided meditations to bring a calm quality to my space (much-needed in the mornings with little ones I find…) I especially love the hope and feathers meditation which feels apt for air, but there are plenty of grounding ones too.
Cultivating calm at home taste | you may have found that you are leaning towards slightly lighter foods than the heavier fare that our bodies need over winter. Margherita recommends adding activating spices like ginger and pepper to ignite our digestion. Despite advocating lighter foods as the weather warms, it is important not to lose the nurturing energy of ojas. Bitter tastes (including most greens, asparagus and cruciferous vegetables, amongst others…) are key to spring eating in Ayurveda as they are said to purify and cleanse organs like the liver to reduce toxins and sluggishness. To maintain balance, Margherita advises cooking bitter foods in oil, or steaming to soften them, and avoiding eating any of these raw. Coffee (also bitter and drying) should be balanced by adding ghee or oil. I also aim to eat seasonally as much as possible and like to refer to The Almanac by fellow ‘Substacker’ Lia Leendertz for a list of foods in season in the UK, as well as much more seasonal wisdom.
see | the air element relates to the mind and creativity. I wrote recently about how spring this year has signalled a slow reemergence of creativity after a long hibernation where my energies have been focused on growing and nurturing two little ones. It can be enough to surround yourself with things that feel beautiful and seasonal as an anchor and visual reminder of where we are (and how far we have come) in the year.
