Beginning of Spring: 1st Seasonal Node (February 4 – February 18, 2026)
February 4, 2026 marks the Beginning of Spring, the 1st of the 24 seasonal nodes and the start of Spring.
The beginning of Spring season brings an energetic shift. After months of rest and stillness, the energy is waking up. The life force, the qi of growth and renewal is beginning to stir under the surface and move upward. Spring isn’t in full bloom yet, but the direction shifted.
Beginning of Spring is the first of six stages that make up the full season of spring. Over the next 90 days, nature will completely transform. Right now, deep inside the earth the tree sap is just beginning to make its way upward.
The next two weeks theme is awakening.
Psycho-emotional
Spring is an expansive, life-affirming season. In nature, it's a time of new beginnings. Since what happens in nature happens in us, we may feel small sparks of ideas, motivation or inspiration.
This is the time to allow your mind to wander into infinite possibilities.
As spring unfolds, ideas and motivations will begin to take shape. For now, you don’t have to know or act on anything, just allow yourself to daydream where anything is possible.
Lifestyle adjustments:
Wake earlier
Add a little more gentle movement and stretching
Allow emotions to lighten
Explore creativity
Declutter a little at a time, freshen your space
Foods for the season (Five Element Nutrition)
In early Spring our body is slowly waking up after winter. Continue with warm cooked foods. Here’s what you can add to your diet to help your body adjust to the changing environment.
What to add into your diet:
Lightly cooked leafy greens: baby bok choy, dandelion, kale, spinach, scallions
Soups with lots of veggies: still warm, but lighter than heavy winter stews
Lighter proteins: chicken, turkey, fish (less red meat)
Warm, easy-to-digest grains: brown rice, barley, millet, oats
Sprouted foods: mung beans, microgreens
Sour flavors: lemon water, vinegar, pickled vegetables
Tea: Roasted Dandelion Root - this gently supports digestion and nourishes the Liver, great for early spring when both are adjusting to the seasonal shift.
Avoid: Cold smoothies and raw food, salads
Cut back on heavy meats (like beef, pork or lamb every day)
Self care:
Combing therapy (combing the hair) is an ancient self-care practice used in Chinese medicine.
The head is the most yang part of the body. Spring is when yang energy begins to expand. Gently stimulating the scalp is especially beneficial to the entire body this time of year.
In Chinese medicine, the scalp is seen as a microsystem of the whole body. Combing stimulates the channels of the head, helping mobilize qi and blood to circulate through the body. This practice also helps release “wind,” which is associated with many common springtime ailments.
In the evening, before bed is an especially good time for this practice.
You can use any comb that’s gentle on the scalp and doesn’t pull the hair. Wide-tooth combs work well.
Personally, I love this 28 Finger Head / Scalp Massager. I use it every night. It’s inexpensive, easy and really effective!
Closing
The beginning of spring is the quiet turning of the wheel. The world may appear inactive but beneath the surface, something is stirring. The energy is shifting. Over the next two weeks you may begin to notice this change in nature and in yourself. See if you can sense subtle shifts in you, like sparks of motivation or creativity.
Next season: Rain Water – February 18 to March 5, 2026
