“Proud-pied April dressed in all his trim, hath put a spirit of youth in everything.”

William Shakespeare Sonnet 98

Isn’t that such a beautifully descriptive sentence?

I must admit that I had to look up the meaning of “Proud-pied”. Apparently it means having more than one colour; the root of the word magpie which was originally just referred to as a pie. Pied is explained as “proudly variegated or dappled” or “proudly displaying colours” referring to the vibrant beauty of April. (shakespeares-sonnets.com)

It is a beautiful month here in Ireland. The daffodils are in full sway and the bluebells are just peeping their heads out in hope that the frosty nights have left. 

The birdsong is continuous from dawn until dusk, all of the voices joining together in harmony, singing songs of invitation to new beginnings. 

Making connections

I love interweaving patterns and connecting the dots of various teachings which help us to understand our place in the flow of the seasons. 

In feng shui we associate the energy of Spring and new beginnings with the East and the rising sun. The I Ching symbol associated with this energy is Chen – thunder, the awakening. This is the energy of action, motivation and enthusiasm. 

Interestingly there is a firm connection here also to our roots/ancestry/our past and to our first teachers in life and our parental influence.

We can sprout no shoots of growth without first having deep connection to our roots for stability. 

The thunder aspect of Chen is related to our teachers who influence and guide us. Groups are essential for our progression through life, we cannot do it alone. Social interaction is vital. 

Colour

This interweaves perfectly with what we know from the study of colour psychology.

The colour we associate with new growth is green, the colour of spring shoots. 

Green has a balsamic and balancing impact on our psyche. Right in the middle of the colour spectrum, it is said to provide balance between the stimulating colours of red, orange and yellow and the calming colours of blue, indigo and violet. Green is the colour of nature, growth, youth and fertility.

In studies on our human response to colour, it has been found that those of us who favour the colour green tend to be more community oriented, reaching out and connecting with others in clubs and associations, preferring to live in “the great forest of humanity”, whereas those of us who show a dislike for green tend to resist connection and lead a more isolated or anxious existence. (Faber Birren – Color and Human response)

Wishing you a month of deep connections and rooted growth!

Happy April everyone!

To learn more about feng shui design and weaving together the patterns of the natural world, feng shui and colour into your home and life read my book “A Place to Call Home” your feng shui guidbook to design, connection and belonging.