To let go does not mean to get rid of.
To let go means to let be.
When we let be with compassion,
things come and go on their own.
– Jack Kornfield
Greetings to all my precious people!
The summer of Great Yang is officially over and we are on the edge of Autumn, a changing or liminal point in the natural cycle of the Earth. The word liminal comes from the word “limin”, which means “threshold” in Latin. Indeed, the transition of each season finds us on the threshold of change and shift, as we, along with the natural world, move from one space to another.
August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born.
The odd uneven time.
— Sylvia Plath
I read this quote by Sylvia Plath last week and it resonated in my heart space. “The odd uneven time” is exactly what Autumn feels like for me. There is a shift happening, but it is not linear. There is change occurring, but it is inside and outside and happening slowly and all at once. While Nature and the external environment is still full and ripe, the change in the air is palpable. Autumn is the season when Nature releases: the leaves are falling, the earth is receiving and the energetics of Nature are going inward preparing for winter.
These seasonal shifts are also felt deeply within our bodies, and if you pay attention, you will notice subtle changes. When we are on the threshold of change, there is anticipation and wonder, yet there is also a sense of loss and sadness. We might notice a resistance in ourselves, a “not ready yet” feeling as we acknowledge the inevitable movement of Nature in this new season, and a melancholy, as well, for all that has passed.
Metal is the element associated with Autumn in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) system. A precious substance found deep within the earth, Metal reflects the issues and opportunities within us – our core identity, purpose and self-worth, our illuminated essential nature. In order to allow our true Self to shine, we need to clear away the habits of mind and body that no longer serve us and Autumn is the most supportive time to release. Just as the trees drop their leaves in the fall, we are encouraged to make space for the next cycle of growth by letting go.
The Lungs and the Large Intestine are the organs associated with the Metal element and the season of Autumn. The Lungs are associated with sadness, sorrow and grief, and when these emotions are present in excess, they tend to weaken the Lungs. Grief and sadness can mean different things to different people, and show up in many forms. It can include grieving a loss, but it can also be the sadness and grief associated with change; changes to our relationships, lifestyles, social lives, and work situations can bring up feelings of grief and sadness. Allow yourself to process these emotions carefully as they clear the way to make more space for love, grace and compassion. Feel but don’t dwell. Trust in a higher purpose.
The Large Intestine is associated with letting go, both physically and mentally. This can relate to any emotion, but is particularly potent when working with grief/sadness. Nature reflects the letting go with the trees releasing their leaves that fall to the ground and prepare the soil for another cycle of death and rebirth. Autumn is the time to reflect on what is no longer needed in our life, and to let go of what no longer serves our greater good. This letting go can be about big things like a person, relationship or a job, or smaller things like letting go of a belief we hold about ourselves, certain emotions, or spending some time decluttering our homes.
When it comes to supporting our Lungs and Large Intestines, especially through Autumn, remember to take it easy and take it slow. It is the excess of these emotions that weakens the organs, but feeling these emotions is completely natural. To experience sadness and grief in situations is completely normal, but when the emotion controls your life, you know it is time for a change. The same with letting go – we tend to resist certain changes in our lives, but holding onto things that no longer serve us creates stagnation and obstruction.
If you find yourself overwhelmed by moodiness in the middle of these seasonal changes, give yourself the space and some grace to decompress. Temperamental feelings are often rooted in unmet needs, so take time to notice the messages your body is sending, and respond accordingly.
According to the Five Element Theory, white is the color for the Autumn season. The color white adds a crisp, clear, clean and fresh sense to the air. Allow for white space in your life as you clear corners, purge the excess, and consequently find more room to breathe.
One quality of balanced Metal energy is the ability to move with grace, resilience – with mettle – through the grief that comes from loss. We neither overly identify with it, nor are we numb to it.
Metal provides structure. You may find yourself now wanting to create or restore the routines that give an order, a rhythm, to your days. The rituals that hold us steady during times of turbulence are another expression of this Metal element. The shining mental clarity that lets us envision possibilities, new ways forward, is also a property of well-nourished Metal.
Metal is nourished by deep breathwork, which can and does support the Lung and the Large Intestine in their actions of respiration – taking in – and elimination – letting go. Diaphragmatic breathwork – also known as belly breathing – offers several benefits to your body including reducing your blood pressure and heart rate and improving relaxation.
The diaphragm is the most efficient muscle for breathing. It’s a large, dome-shaped muscle located at the base of your lungs. Your abdominal muscles help move the diaphragm and give you more power to empty your lungs.
When you first learn the diaphragmatic breathing technique, it may be easier for you to follow the instructions lying down.
- Lie on your back on a flat surface or in bed, with your knees bent and your head supported. You can use a pillow under your knees to support your legs.
- Place one hand on your upper chest and the other just below your rib cage. This will allow you to feel your diaphragm move as you breathe.
- Breathe in slowly through your nose so that your stomach moves out, causing your hand to rise. The hand on your chest should remain as still as possible.
- Tighten your stomach muscles, so that your stomach moves in, causing your hand to lower as you exhale through pursed lips. The hand on your upper chest should remain as still as possible.
As we follow the inner-focused energy of Autumn, and undertake the necessary and rewarding work of self-inquiry, balanced Metal energy is essential. We need it to examine our personal harvest with a healthy detachment that leaves room for self-forgiveness. It also ensures that the boundaries we set – the structures that honor and reflect our sense of self-worth – can be flexible without losing their integrity, and allow us space to breathe.
The wisdom of the Metal element guides us to infuse our routines with spontaneity, and to balance our solitude with connection. Metal reminds us to sweep away the clutter that hides who we are, the debris that stills the fresh air of inspiration, so that our true Self has space to expand and grow.
Life is a dynamic interplay of participation. Autumn teaches us how to “let go and go with the flow.” When we resist letting go, the result is an accumulation of acquired Qi. We can acquire external Qi from spaces, people, situations, sex and food but we also hold on to internal Qi via our beliefs, judgements, experiences, traumas and emotions. Like old leaves falling from the trees, Autumn’s energy supports letting go of what doesn’t serve us and letting go of acquired Qi, so our authentic Self can shine.
Letting go is not always easy and requires release. Breathwork, gentle exercise, dancing, singing, crying, laughing and even jumping up and down can help move and release things. Experiment with what feels right for you!!! This practice of release is meant to be a full body experience, not an intellectual endeavor.
Depending on our disposition, the season of Autumn is when the Metal element is more prone to be out of harmony. When our internal Metal element is deficient, emotional energy moves towards depression and sadness. Emotionally let us focus on transforming sadness or grief into inspiration and presence.
If our internal Metal element is excessive, we become stiff, inflexible, judgmental, and even cruel. A balanced Metal element is like a virtuous warrior full of courage, righteous, and able to act at any moment. Often emotional imbalance in the Metal element arises from resistance to the flow of life, especially at times of transition or loss. Resistance to change commonly manifests this time of year in seasonal allergies, seasonal flu and moodiness. Maintaining a daily practice of self-love through gentle movement, journaling and focused breathwork is a perfect way to remind our soul that the present moment has everything we need.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is all about reflecting the macrocosm of nature into our own microcosm. Seasonal changes are of utmost importance when it comes to aligning ourselves with the world we inhabit. Focus on respiratory health and be mindful of taking in fresh air. Drink aromatic teas like eucalyptus, thyme, and sage infusions. Use your neti pot and add a saline solution to rinse your nasal cavity regularly. Eat and/or take probiotics—kefir, sauerkraut, pickled beets, and/or supplements to boost your immunity and digestion. Eating seasonal foods is also supportive: pears, apricots, plums, persimmons, garlic, leeks, onions, sweet potato, yams, carrots, beets, ginger, cabbage, walnuts, radishes, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice, cardamom, chili, miso, almonds, walnuts, asparagus, broccoli, lemon, mustard greens, honey, sauerkraut, pickles, and olives.
Lastly, consider some clearing of your home, heart, body and mind to celebrate the Season of Autumn and support the Metal Element.
Organize.
Set limits.
Protect your boundaries.
Be open to new ideas.
Embrace a positive self-image.
Let go of negativity in your life.
Purge. Rinse and repeat.
Walk more.
Laugh more.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine are some of the tools I use to support the health and wellness of my patients, but the healing that occurs is always prompted from the inside. The answers to health and wellness reside in your heart. I help people learn how to listen to their body’s wisdom and reconnect the unconscious mind to nurture the mind-body connection. Doing this work allows people to realize their full capacity and choose to live a life aligned with their values, nourished by their dreams and desires. Together, we co-create opportunities for healing as the process unfolds.
I offer compassionate, attentive care. I see you. I hear you. I celebrate your journey. As an experienced clinician, I support patients as they come home to themselves, reconnecting the mind, body and spirit. This is my greatest passion: to serve as a facilitator, navigator and coach as you transcend old patterns and come into alignment with your best self. Are you ready to choose your Self and celebrate your gifts? Are you ready to manifest your Authentic Self that is abundant with health and vitality? Commit to being present and living your life with intention. Schedule an appointment today and begin to step into your power of self-directed practical magic.
