Fall into Balance
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are five elements - fire, earth, wood, water, and metal. These elements help us understand how nature flows, and in turn, how our organs and emotions move through cycles of balance and change.
By learning to work in harmony with these elements, we can support both our physical health and emotional well-being.
As we move into Autumn, we enter the season of the metal element. This is a time of letting go and preparing for winter which is a season of rest and quiet reflection. Just as nature begins to draw inward, we are invited to mirror this energy in our own lives.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the metal element is connected to the lungs and large intestine. Supporting these organs in Autumn can help us stay aligned with the season.
Lungs: The lungs are associated with sadness, sorrow, and grief. When these emotions overwhelm us, they can weaken lung function. Practices that nourish the lungs help us process and release emotions in a healthy way.
Large Intestine: This organ is linked with the act of letting go. In nature, trees shed their leaves in Autumn - an act of release that makes way for winters death and then springs re-birth. We too can practice letting go of what no longer serves us.
Here are a few ways to support your body and spirit this season:
Nourish with seasonal foods
Choose warming, moistening foods that protect and strengthen the lungs. Apples, pears, root vegetables, soups, and stronger flavors like garlic, onion, ginger, and horseradish are excellent choices. Balance your meals with proteins, healthy fats, and non-starchy carbohydrates. Warm drinks such as bone broth, herbal teas, or even just warm water can also be very supportive.
Practice letting go
This can take many forms. Deep breathing exercises can help emotions rise to the surface to be acknowledge. Decluttering your home, letting go of possessions you no longer need, or releasing relationships that no longer align with your life are also powerful practices.
Stay warm and cozy
Wrap up warm when going outside. Create an evening routine that is warm, calm, cosy and screen-free.
Reflect and release
During meditation, reflect on any grief that may be present. Afterwards, write down what came up for you in a journal - which helps you to release and let go of the grief that hasn’t been able to be acknowledged or processed.
Autumn is a season of reflection, release, and preparation. By aligning with the energy of the metal element, we not only support our lungs and large intestine but also give ourselves permission to let go of what no longer serves us. Just as trees shed their leaves to make space for new growth, we too can release what is heavy or outdated in our lives. In doing so, we create balance, strengthen our resilience, and open ourselves to renewal when spring arrives.
