In Your Element with Kathleen Kenneally

Spring Fire Horse: Energy, Balance, and Renewal

In this energizing episode of In Your Element, Kathleen Kenneally welcomes us into the season of Spring and the arrival of the Fire Horse year. She weaves together Chinese New Year, Imbolc, and the Wood element to paint a picture of a moment in time that is all about fresh starts, courage, and forward motion. The Fire Horse invites us to take risks, envision our dreams, and make a leap of faith even when the path ahead is not fully visible, while the Wood element brings vision, clarity, and the grounded leadership energy of “forward is the only way we can go.” Kathleen explains how Spring and the Wood element live in the body through the Liver and Gallbladder, which she likens to a general and their detail-oriented right hand. After a season of winter hibernation, the liver can feel stagnant or congested, which may show up as irritability, tension, or feeling “off.” She offers simple ways to support this transition, like starting the morning with lemon water, eating more greens and fresh foods, staying hydrated, and getting outside for a gentle 30 minute walk. Connecting with trees, birds, and the color green helps move stuck energy so the body can detox, make clearer decisions, and step into the season with more ease. Looking back at the intensity of the Snake year, Kathleen acknowledges how many people were pushed to confront what no longer works, especially old patterns of over functioning, emotional heavy lifting, and staying in dysfunctional dynamics. As we move into the Fire Horse and Wood season, she encourages listeners to honor what they can no longer “unsee,” and to focus their attention on what they love and what feels hopeful, like a tractor beam drawing in more of the good. She also invites local listeners to her Spring Seasonal Acupuncture event on March 22, a long-standing community day designed to plug people directly into the energy of the season and boost immunity and alignment as Spring fully opens. To learn more or book a session, visit kenneallyacupuncture.com [https://www.kenneallyacupuncture.com] or call (661) 252-4100.

Winter’s Cocoon: Water Element Healing & Preparing for What’s Next

Episode 11 – Winter’s Cocoon: Water Element Healing & Preparing for What’s Next In this tender, reflective episode of In Your Element, Kathleen Kenneally returns to share what it was like to move from healer to patient, as she navigated surgery and the months of recovery that followed. She revisits the energy of fall and the Metal element—the year of the Snake, a time of shedding and releasing what no longer serves—and then traces how that naturally flowed into the deep stillness of winter and the Water element. Instead of rushing back, she found herself in a true cocoon: offline, quiet, and invited to experience “just being” in a way she’d talked about for years, but never fully had to live. Kathleen shares vivid stories from her healing journey, including a slow-motion trip to Trader Joe’s that completely changed how she saw the pace of everyday life. Moving at what felt like 33 RPM instead of her usual 75, she noticed how much more she could actually see when she wasn’t rushing. She speaks honestly about resisting the need to rest, trying to add too many new practices too soon, and the emotional meltdown that followed—ultimately realizing she was still in winter, still healing, and being re-taught how to move through life with mindfulness and presence instead of overdrive. As she looks ahead to Chinese New Year and the transition from the Snake year (a 9 year of completion) into the Fire Horse year (a 1 year of fresh starts and forward motion), Kathleen invites listeners to use these final weeks of winter wisely. This is the moment, she says, to slow down, take stock, and let the Water element fortify you before spring’s outward surge begins. From her heart to yours, she offers this episode as a gentle reminder that healing has its own timing—and that moving more consciously now will allow greater joy, growth, and expansion in the season to come. To learn more or book a session, visit kenneallyacupuncture.com or call (661) 252-4100.

The Metal Element: Discernment, Release & Transformation

In this deeply resonant episode of In Your Element, Kathleen Kenneally explores the Metal Element—the energy of autumn, discernment, and letting go. She describes this as the season of refinement, a time to evaluate what still serves us and what is ready to be released. Like the trees shedding their leaves, we are invited to pare back, to cut away what has become heavy or stagnant, and to uncover what is most precious and true. Kathleen reflects on her own experience of physical and emotional transformation—facing an unexpected surgery during the fall season, where the literal knife of Metal became both a tool of healing and a symbol of release. She speaks to the paradox of this element: how the same sharpness that cuts can also clarify, refine, and restore balance. Through this lens, she invites us to see the sacred precision in letting go—how every incision, every decision, can be an act of trust in the body’s innate wisdom to transform. As she prepares for her recovery, Kathleen’s clinic remains open, continuing to offer BioMat, red and blue light therapy, BrainTap sessions, and Reiki for those seeking grounding and renewal. This episode is both a reflection and a transmission—a gentle reminder that letting go isn’t an ending, but the necessary breath before transformation begins. To learn more or book a session, visit kenneallyacupuncture.com [kenneallyacupuncture.com] or call (661) 252-4100.

Earth Element: Nourishment, Centering, and the Second Summer

In this welcoming, grounding episode, Kathleen Kenneally returns from a summer pause to explore the gentle transition from Fire to Earth—the second half of summer known as Late Summer or Indian Summer. With warmth and clarity, she invites listeners to notice the energetic shift from the bright, busy expansion of early summer into a more centered, ripening, and nourishing space. Kathleen unpacks what it means to embody the Earth element in daily life, including how this energy supports stability, digestion (on every level), and our sense of feeling nurtured and at home in ourselves. She explains how the spleen and stomach work as the central “brothers” of the Earth element, nourishing the rest of the body and supporting strong muscles, clarity, and grounded emotions. Kathleen explores the signs of Earth out of balance—overthinking, worry, digestive troubles, and craving sweetness—as well as what healthy, balanced Earth energy looks like: calm, empathy, good boundaries, and healthy attachment. Through practical wisdom, she invites listeners to reflect on what grounds and supports them, not just with food, but also in spirit, relationships, and the information we “digest” from the world. Practical tips include favoring warm foods and hydration, making time for rest, and connecting with the rhythms of the season. Kathleen closes by inviting everyone to upcoming events on seasonal eating and community acupuncture for stress and anxiety, and reminds listeners to tune in for part two—where she’ll dive deeper into Earth element foods, crystals, and lifestyle support. To learn more or book a session, visit kenneallyacupuncture.com [kenneallyacupuncture.com] or call (661) 252-4100.

Leading with Love: A Fire Season Reflection

In this special summer reflection, Kathleen Kenneally is back in the energy of Fire—but this time, not to teach, but to offer. Flowing gently from the afterglow of her seasonal acupuncture gathering, she opens a space to rest, recalibrate, and reconnect with the deeper pulse of the season. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a soft, heart-forward companion for those feeling stretched thin or low on spark. Kathleen speaks with warmth and intimacy about how Fire can both illuminate and exhaust: how the same energy that brings laughter and connection can also leave us feeling scattered, anxious, or deeply depleted. She names the subtle symptoms of burnout and extends an invitation to return to your center—not by efforting, but by receiving. Through a guided visualization and reflections on heart-centered living, she helps us refill the well from within. “Lead with love,” she reminds us. “Open your heart before you open your mouth.” Whether you’re buzzing with summer intensity or quietly burned out, this episode is a gentle medicine—a space to return to yourself and let love do the leading. To learn more or book a session, visit kenneallyacupuncture.com [https://www.kenneallyacupuncture.com].