IN SEASON: May
Grow but don't force, act with intention, and lean into greens.
More than a temperature change, May is an emergence.
I’m convinced that only good things happen in May. It feels like real spring, the romanticized version of spring, the one of flowers, long walks, and everything that feels lighter and more alive.
Here in Montreal, the energy is quickly shifting after what felt like the longest winter in all of history. Trees are budding! Birds are chirping! I can finally wear nice shoes again!
April was one hell of a ride. It personally brought up a lot of limiting beliefs, internal struggles, and physical ailments. But that’s exactly the role of April: to clear. To take stock of what you are holding onto and decide what needs to leave. Out with the old. Intention-setting. Making space for what feels more aligned and true for you.
Recently, after some time off work recovering from surgery and burnout, I’ve been reintegrating into work—something that had previously kept me in an anxiety-spiral for months. My focus has been on cultivating more rhythm, support, and positive habits as I adapt to a new schedule, new energies, and new priorities. Challenges arise, sure, but by incorporating more compassion, space, and ease, difficulties don’t seem so end-of-the-world-like anymore. It wasn’t the job that changed; it was me. Life is feeling a bit more balanced.
Mid-month, I was hit with a nasty bout of strep throat, which very quickly developed into something much more aggressive. Taking time off work is something I would normally avoid, denying the fact that I needed rest (“I should be stronger than this”). If you know anything about me and the events of the last year-ish of my life, learning how to rest has been a huge theme that continues to pop up for me. This was one of those tests. With my new outlook on rest and self-care, I realized the best thing I could do for myself, and for my team, was to stay at home. No rules. No to-do lists. Just rest.
Without further ado, let’s look forward: to May’s energy shifts, to new seasonal foods, and to the practices that will help us live in harmony with this month’s natural cycles. It’s time to get in season.
Energy
Whereas April is more awakening and fragile, May brings about an emergence into fullness. Growth will likely become visible, energy moves outward, and there is a natural pull toward doing, connecting, and exploring. But tension tends to arise from trying to do too much too fast, overextending your energy, and mistaking momentum for alignment. We want to move forward, but with pace and intention. Just because your energy is returning doesn’t mean your capacity has expanded overnight.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) lens, late Spring and early Summer revolve around the Wood and Fire elements. This can feel like:
more motivation, ideas, desire to act
restlessness if energy isn’t expressed
irritability if overcommitted
a push to be seen
This can feel exciting, but also slightly destabilizing, as if your energy is suddenly everywhere at once.
The Wood element represents growth, expansion, and vision, and rules the liver and the gallbladder. Wood gets things moving, both physically (circulation and digestion) and emotionally (motivation and drive). When in balance, you feel clear, decisive, and directed, but an imbalance can look like irritability, frustration, anger, feeling stuck, physical tension, and digestive sluggishness.
The Fire element represents joy, connection and being seen, and rules the heart and small intestine. Fire is about expressing what Wood has grown, and feels joyful, creative, emotionally open, and happy to be seen. Overstimulation, anxiety, poor sleep, and scattered energy are signs of imbalance.
May asks you to remember that not everything that’s growing needs to be acted on. Instead of saying yes to everything and filling your schedule because you finally feel more energized, keep your discernment and direction in line. Expand intentionally, not impulsively.
How to support your energy:
The main theme of May is being intentional with your energy. Not using all of it, just directing it. This can look like:
making decisions before you’re overwhelmed
pausing before saying yes
clearing small things (emails, spaces, to-do lists)
socializing with intention
keeping your mornings grounded
curating an evening ritual that supports healthy sleep
staying connected to your body’s capacity, not just your mood
Other ways to support your energy shifts:
light, regular movement
let emotions move through you (don’t suppress!)
lighter meals
hydrating foods
bitter greens (arugula, dandelion, radicchio) and fresh herbs
lightly sour foods
Seasonal Foods
After months of heavier, warming meals, you might notice your body is beginning to crave lighter and fresher foods that feel more alive. This is the Wood to Fire transition happening in nature. Look out for foods that have a higher water content, that are slightly bitter or pungent, and are easier to digest. Dig into herbs.
FRUITS
strawberries
rhubarb
VEGETABLES
arugula
spinach
lettuce
swiss chard
kale
dandelion greens
mustard greens
sorrel
radishes
bok choy
napa cabbage
asparagus
green onions
leeks
fiddleheads
peas (end of May)
HERBS
parsley
dill
chives
mint
cilantro
tarragon
lemon balm
OTHER
honey
maple products
eggs
wild garlic
nettle
Fresh ingredients that are prepared simply go a long way.
Lifestyle Practices
Support your digestion
Your digestion wants lightness and ease. While a digestion reset could be useful, especially if you are working through some more stubborn digestive issues, it’s not always necessary. Simplicity is effective, too. By keeping meals simple, adding in bitters, and eating at consistent times, you’re gently supporting what’s already working.
Curate
In April, we cleared. In May, we curate.
Rather than completely purging your physical and mental space, focus on being more intentional about what you are letting in. Keep the windows open when possible, bring in elements that feel alive (flowers, herbs, light fabrics), be selective with plans, and leave space for a personal reset. Boundaries matter more than motivation. Not everything you’re being presented with needs to be accepted. Practice discernment.
Get in rhythm
As your social calendar starts to fill up, it is more important than ever to support your nervous system. By keeping mornings slow, maintaining some version of a wind-down routine, and building in small moments of stillness throughout the day, you avoid that “wired-but-tired” feeling, and keep your emotions in check.
What’s actually worth your energy this month? And what are you willing to leave behind, even if it’s tempting?
