The Seasons, the Elements and Ourselves

TCM and the meaning of the seasonal changes & the elements

When we first dip our toes into the huge shimmering ocean of Qi awareness, there are many things that at first are tricky to comprehend. When we talk about the seasons and the elements, what do we actually mean, in relation to ourselves and our qigong practice?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) derives from nature, like all the wisest embodied energy practices and for obvious reasons;  we are just as much a part of the cycle of nature as the animals and plants and lands we inhabit. Our bodies are made up of these elements and respond to the call of the sap rising in Spring and the call to cosy down and sleep in during the dark Winter months. Every one of us knows the divine feeling of warm sun on the skin after the dark Winter… just as the plants do, just as the birds know it is time to line their nests and the four leggeds instinctively know when to mate. This perfect rhythm, our rhythm of life is not only felt in our bodies but in specific organs in TCM. With a little attention we can easily tune in to this. 

 Qigong For Winter: Water Element: The kidneys/ house of the Jing/ seat of fear/ courage

 Qigong For Spring: Wood Element: The liver/ green - seat of anger/ patience & compassion

 Qigong For Summer: Fire Element: The heart/small intestine/ red- joy/ growth/ warmth/ laughter

 Qigong for late Summer: Earth Element: Stomach/ Spleen /yellow -  overthinking - worry

 Qigong For Autumn: Metal Element: The lungs/ white -  grief - sadness - acceptance

The Water element is ever present in the Winter, watering our lands, replenishing the lakes and dusting the hills with snow. Water nourishes life and teaches us about flow and humility. Water does not worry about obstacles; she flows around them or drops below them without a sound. Water connects; the water in our bodies with the waters in the ocean - micro to macro; without any noise, without any ego.

And the Water element is directly connected to the kidneys and the bladder; when this element is out of balance, the emotion of fear may govern us, but when in balance, we can feel bold, confident, courageous. Qigong classes can help bring about this balance with a series of gentle exercises in which we flow like water; whether practising Sea Kelp or Cloud Hands or pitter-patter massage techniques, we can tune in to this element and help soothe the kidney meridian along with the deep nervous system reset that the practice promotes via breath work and movement together. The kidneys are also the seat of the Jing - the home of our finite vital energy, our life force - so when we are focussed on recovery and restoring our energy after surgery or illness, it is vital to activate the kidneys which we do in a variety of ways. 

And as of 21st March, here in the UK, we transition into Spring and the element of Wood - connected to the Liver channel. In TCM, the liver houses anger, resentment, frustration, but in balance, it houses joy, peace and happiness. Our practice is filled with exercises based on trees, pushing upwards towards the sky and rooting downwards to open the liver channel. This is the season of deep detoxification, and as the sap rises all around us, we feel a new sense of liveliness in our practice. This is also the time we feel motivation increase and think about bikini bodies! Our expression becomes more yang and outwards looking, just as the flowers burst into bloom. 

The Wood element is also symbolic of growth, flexibility, and vision. As the trees begin to bud and stretch toward the sun, so do our ambitions and creativity. The liver and its partner organ, the gallbladder, are linked with decision-making and direction. When this element is in disharmony, we may feel stuck or indecisive, like a tree that cannot bend in the wind. But when balanced, we experience clarity, motivation, and the courage to act. Incorporating twisting motions, spirals, and expansive stretches into our qigong helps open this pathway and support the body's natural urge to renew and regenerate.

As the year unfolds and we move into Summer, we come into relationship with the Fire element – the most yang of all. The Fire element governs the heart and small intestine and is associated with the emotion of joy, as well as the qualities of warmth, connection, and spiritual consciousness. In TCM, the heart is known as the “emperor” of the body – the ruler of all emotions and the home of the Shen, our spirit or mind.

When the Fire element is balanced, we feel expansive, generous, joyful, and open to deep connection with others. We feel more able to laugh and express ourselves freely. When out of balance, however, we may feel anxious, restless, or emotionally overwhelmed. Qigong practices for Summer often focus on opening the chest, encouraging gentle bouncing and expressive movement, and harmonising the heart rhythm with calm, cooling breath. 

Then comes the late Summer, often overlooked in Western seasonal thinking but deeply honoured in TCM. This is the time of the Earth element, which connects to the stomach and spleen – the organs of digestion, both physical and emotional. Earth represents nourishment, stability, and the centre. It is the season of harvest, when we reap what we've sown. In balance, Earth offers groundedness, generosity, and empathy. Out of balance, it can lead to overthinking, worry, and obsession.

Earth qigong is about returning to the centre, cultivating presence, and grounding our energy. Movements like “Spinning the Ball” or “Harvesting Qi” can harmonise this element. We focus on the lower dantian, the body's energy centre, to rebuild strength and cultivate inner calm. Earth also teaches us to give and receive nourishment – not just food, but love, care, and attention.

And finally, we circle into Autumn, ruled by the Metal element, associated with the lungs and large intestine. Metal teaches us about letting go – of grief, old patterns, and what no longer serves. It’s a time of refinement, of breathing deeply, of releasing the excess to prepare for stillness and the inward turn of Winter once more. The lungs govern breath, inspiration, and the immune system. When Metal is balanced, we feel clear, resilient, and able to process life’s losses with grace. When imbalanced, we may feel sadness, rigidity, or stuck in the past.

Qigong for Autumn may include movements like Archer Dao Yin with an emphasis on breathwork, opening the chest, and lengthening the exhale to release stagnant energy. The colour white, associated with this season, symbolises purity and clarity – qualities we invite in as we honour our own cycles of grief and healing.

But these are just words. To really experience the blending of our being with the larger force of nature, it is helpful to join a class. When breath and movement combine with intention, something miraculous happens and we feel aligned, clear, purposeful and happy. Qigong is one of those rare discoveries; like a recipe in which the mundane ingredients combine to create a sensational dish; the sum of the parts is much greater than an individual exercise. When we practice Qigong, maybe we enter an alternative realm. 

Bibliography

Kaptchuk, T. J. (2000). The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. McGraw-Hill. – A foundational text that explores the philosophy and theory behind TCM, including the Five Elements.

Maciocia, G. (2005). The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Churchill Livingstone. – A comprehensive reference for TCM principles, including meridians, seasonal influences, and organ-emotion relationships.

Frantzis, B. K. (2007). Opening the Energy Gates of Your Body: Qigong for Lifelong Health. North Atlantic Books. – A practical guide to Qigong and the internal practices that harmonize with the Five Element cycle.

Ni, M. (1995). The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine: A New Translation of the Neijing Suwen with Commentary. Shambhala. – This classic TCM text lays the philosophical foundation of the Five Elements, Yin-Yang theory, and seasonal alignment.

Reid, D. (1998). A Complete Guide to Chi-Gung: The Principles and Practice of the Ancient Chinese Path to Health, Vitality, and Longevity. Shambhala. – Covers Qigong philosophy, exercises, and how they relate to elemental theory and seasonal energy.

Chung, H. C. (1996). Chinese Natural Cures: Traditional Methods of Remedy and Prevention. Houghton Mifflin. – Offers practical and holistic TCM-based approaches to seasonal wellness.

Keown, D. (2005). The Spark in the Machine: How the Science of Acupuncture Explains the Mysteries of Western Medicine. Singing Dragon. – Bridges modern medicine and traditional Chinese perspectives, especially around meridians and energy flow.