Happy Saturday, my friends! The end of this week in Ann Arbor has felt like spring abruptly arriving after a long, cold, grey wait. In the past three days, I have seen daffodils, grape hyacinths, magnolia and cherry trees blooming, and I have heard thunder, rain, hail, and rushing winds. It’s a reminder that the shift back into a green season can be a turbulent process.
We could all use to connect with our inner stillness around this time, to that irresistible force of yin that keeps us grounded and steady. For this, I like to turn to the yin organ of the wood element, the liver! Specifically, it’s a great time to focus on your Liver 3 acupressure point.
Liver 3 is on the top of the foot, nestled between the two metatarsal bones that connect to your big toe and second toe. If you place your finger between those toes and trace it up the valley between the bones, Liver 3 is where the valley narrows and the bones come together.
Try rubbing Liver 3 (36 times, if you’re counting!) while you’re putting on your socks, or while you’re sitting reading or watching tv. It’s especially good to rub at night as you’re getting into bed, or in the middle of the night as you’re trying to get back to sleep.
Liver 3 is a calming point. Its name in Chinese translates to “Great Surge,” summoning up the image of water, a quintessentially yin element. It is a quiet tide that brings you back to a place of rest, relaxation, and stillness. It clears away stagnation and keeps your qi flowing, balanced and in harmony.
Enjoy this beautiful and changeable spring weekend!