Autumn. Season of the Metal element.
Autumn.
It’s the transition between the Yang; active energy of summer, to the Yin; introverted season of winter.
And so here we are, well and truly in the depth of autumn. The soft warming colours of reds, burnt oranges and deep yellows fill our worlds as the trees turn and begin to shed. The rain sets in but we are always delighted by those surprising sunny days even with the chill. As the days become shorter, and the nights even colder, it see’s us naturally turning inwards wanting to reflect and retreat.
Autumn is our season for renewal, as we begin to prepare to completely turn inwards for nurturing and nourishment.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Taoist Traditions, Autumn is the season of the Metal element and is associated to the Lung and Large Intestine. Both these organs related to the process of ‘letting go’. Autumn is the perfect time to let go of anything that is no longer serving you; anything you may be holding onto that creates stagnation in your life. We do this in order to create space for the new - new experiences, new growth, new opportunity.
Metal reflects our core issues, the most refined part of ourselves. Our core issues are those dealing with existential reality, with questions such as, “Who am I?” “What is my lifework?” “What remains constant in a forever changing world?” “What is my purpose?” People who have an affinity to the Metal element are drawn to examine these core issues, essential structures, and the guiding principles of life. Even if we do not personally have a particular affinity to Metal, during autumn, the season of Metal, we are all called to deal with these core issues.
The energy connected with Metal is drawn to beauty, pleased with symmetry, and inspired by purity. As we are taken with the purity and beauty all around us, we are more highly attuned and sensitive to our surroundings. We are more concerned with deeper issues, and small talk becomes annoying. The majestic, snow-capped mountain is the image that best captures the power of Metal; it is broad-based and firmly grounded in the earth, but reaches with power and authority toward the heavens.
As with all the elements, each comes with its own set of affinities, which give us information on how best to support ourselves during this season.
The Lungs are the organs of respiration, responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to every organ of the body and eliminating the waste matter from the cells through our expiration. The word used for breathing in is “inspiration,” which is the main function of the Lung, both physically and spiritually. To be properly “inspired,” we must create space by getting the old stale air out, along with old, preconceived notions of reality.
In emotional and spiritual terms, the Lungs balance the ability to yield and demand, give and take, hold on and let go. When the Lung (Metal) energy is out of balance, order and discipline are rigidly maintained, the emotions are kept under tight control, rules and routines become inflexible, and the body begins to stiffen up. Physically we are more prone to bronchial infections and sinusitis. Our allergies are amplified and issues like asthma and heaviness of the chest can appear.
It is common for people to be more vulnerable to colds, bronchial infection and allergies in the cooler days of autumn. The pollens and mould in the air, as well as the cold winds of autumn, stress our immune reserves, making it a good time to support the immune system with some herbs and supplements.
The lungs can be strengthen by practising pranayama (breathing) techniques or simply taking a walk outside in nature, soaking up the magnificent autumn colours and breathing in the crisp, cold air.
How to Keep Healthy and Joyful During the Autumn
Organise your Life: As you work to organise your life, try to focus on what you have accomplished rather than fretting about all the work that remains to be done. Give yourself a task that you can finish in less than an hour, and then clip away at the mess and clutter one step at a time.
Write it Down: Make a list: a list is a great tool for clearing away clutter. When you make daily to-do lists don’t expect to cross off every item by the end of the day. Congratulate yourself for finishing three or four items on your list. For myself, if I write a list at bedtime for the next day, it does propel me to be more productive: “Do it!”
Practice Letting Go: Autumn is the season to unburden ourselves of old hurts and resentments. A good exercise is to write down the hurts and resentments we feel lingering from the previous year. Write each incident or event on a separate piece of paper. Realise that each of these pieces of paper weighs you down, and that the old resentments prevent the new from coming in. Then, tear up or shred the papers and throw them in the wastepaper basket or put them in your fireplace and burn them, watching the smoke dissipate.
Create a Time for Meditation and Relaxation: Sometimes our lives appear to get crazy, and when autumn comes and we get back to our old routines, they often seem to hit us like a fast moving train. There is never enough time in the day to get everything done, so . . . take a few minutes to do NOTHING. Traditional Chinese Medicine says that this is the time of year when spirit is more accessible. If you have learned a meditation technique, use it, possibly in the morning before getting out of bed, or at a time during the day when you can close the door, hang a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door, and for ten or fifteen minutes do your meditation. It makes a difference. If you have never learned to meditate, don’t worry, just put on relaxing music, close your eyes and breathe, trying not to get caught up in your thoughts, but watch them as if you are an outside observer. Try it, you’ll like it.
Cleanse Your Body: As you move into autumn, do a gentle cleanse by fasting to give the body time to eliminate toxins; this will help your immune system be available for the colds and flus associated with the coming seasons. Don’t fast for long, but rather eat healthy fruits, vegetables, and only complex carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates such as sugars and white flour products clog up the bowels and lead to constipation; so avoid them.
Drink Plenty of Water: As autumn is associated with dryness, it is very important to hydrate by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of fresh water daily. Water also bulks the foods in our Large Intestine and promotes healthier bowel movements.
Breathe and Smell the Scents of Nature: Pranayama or Breathing exercises—which strengthen the Lungs, increase energy, still the mind, and lift the spirits—are particularly appropriate for this time of year. In all breathing exercises, make sure that you focus on exhalation; when you exhale completely, the inhalation phase of breathing will occur naturally and spontaneously.
Practice Abhyanga: use warming and soothing oils such as sweet almond oil to ensure the skin and tissues are well nourished, supple and moist. Heat the oil first and apply to entire body from head to toes. Abhyanga can assist in the process of lymphatic drainage through the body and encourage the removal of any built up toxins beneath the skin. Herbs and essential oils can be used to add to your abhyanga practice for extra healing benefits.
