In Harmony With the Seasons:Understanding Autumn & The Lung/Metal Element within your body

Autumn is upon us, and with it comes the time to let go of what no longer serves our minds and our bodies. Autumn is embodied in nature as a time of release and reflection, personified by the cooling and condensing of energy. Like the leaves being released from their lifeline of the tree, and the decay of Spring and Summer’s blooms, nature shows us, elegantly and beautifully, how to let go.

Reflection

What in your life, from your last season or cycle, are you ready to release? If we are in tune, as all ancient people were with the rhythms of nature, we will heed the call to harmonise with her cycles and begin the process of letting go. We celebrate another successful spin of nature’s cycles in Autumn and feel gratitude for another Spring-SummerHarvest cycle. Autumn allows us to rest now in stillness and receptivity. The peak of expression will come around again; the Yang will always follow the Yin.

But notice how collectively we struggle to yield to the Yin, to the darker, slower, less externally-focused aspects of life. The Autumn season is aligned with the Lung and Large Intestine organ-meridian pairs (note how they personify release, purification and refinement), and is governed by the Metal element.

Autumn in Chinese Medicine

Ancient Daoists noticed that condensation would be captured at the bottom of their copper pots, before it would coalesce and later release. The Metal element attracts the water, purifies it and then releases the water into our Seat of Wisdom, getting us ready for the Winter Water months where we need an accumulation of Water (Yin) so we can resonate with this ultimate season of Yin, stillness and rest.

We hope to share with you the ways to connect to nature, to the trees and the moon, and information to help you transition smoothly through Autumn, and find your own rhythm with the seasons and cycles of nature.

Lifestyle Practices for Autumn

By supporting the Lungs and their function with breathing practices and gentle movement, we support their ability to let go of the gripes and judgements from the previous year, and invigorate the body with new energy.

These are some of our favourite practices to transition into the descending Yin movement of Autumn, and embrace the transformative energy of this special season as it accumulates in the Lung system.

• Yin Yoga

• Breathwork

• Pranayama

• Qi Gong

• Journaling and reflection

• Cardiovascular activities

• Dry body-brushing

• Meditation (We love the Daoist 6 Healing Sounds)

• Reorganise, clean and donate anything you no longer need in your home etc.

• Slow walks out in nature

It’s also important to begin cultivating strong and resilient immunity as we begin our descent into the Winter. Ensuring that we are keeping rugged up and warm, protecting the neck, feet and lower back (our Kidneys) with cosy socks and slippers, scarves and long shirts and sweaters.

Nourishing foods

Our Large Intestine also plays a vital role in the Lung Season, so it is important that we look after our digestion. Nourished Lungs also mean a nourished colon, and if we eat well, include fibre, good quality protein and nourishing foods, then we can further let go of anything we no longer need.

The colour of Autumn is white, so white foods are your friends. The food suggestions below are intended to support digestion, immune health and general wellbeing. They are mostly easy to digest foods. It’s important that we really take the time to nourish ourselves now, because if we don’t, we are leaving ourselves more vulnerable to sickness and feeling depleted in Winter.

Chinese Herbs

TREMELLA

• Nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin

• Soothes the Stomach

• Stimulates hyaluronic acid production, maintaining moisture in the skin & body

• Supports immune function

• Promotes longevity

TURKEY TAIL

• Reduces stress and fatigue

• Improves gut health

• Enhances immunity

• Qi tonic

• Nourishes the Liver, Lungs & Spleen

REISHI

• Reduces stress

• Improves energy & immunity

• Supports gut health

• Jing, Qi & Shen tonic

• Improves sleep

• Nourishes the Heart, Liver & Lungs

These herbs tone, nourish and maintain the health of our Lungs/Large Intestine system, they fortify a strong and resilient immune system, and prevent cold/dry/Wind invasion, ensuring the body maintains its fluids and remains lubricated throughout the cooler months.

With a deep inhale, welcome introspection, be with nature, breathe, let the herbs guide you, and release that which no longer serves you.