Autumn (aka Fall) is associated with the element of metal, where nature lets go of the old to make way for the new.
Think of the cooling of fire, the falling of leaves and growth slowing as we head towards even cooler weather.
The metal element represents the process of moving from activity and growth to dormancy, and from yang to yin. Metal also governs organisation, order, communication, the mind, setting limits, and protecting boundaries.
Autumn is a season of transition, and preparing to let go of what no longer serves us. Turning inwards for meditation and introspection to review our season of growth and production and begin to conserve our energy as we move towards the stillness of Winter.
In Autumn it’s also important to boost your immune system as we move to cooler weather.
The associated meridians are Lung and Large Intestine
Lungs offer us inspiration (inhale) and exhalation (letting go), and Large Intestine is similarly about the digesting of nutrients and releasing of what our body can’t use.
Some correlations include:
- Orientation: West
- Season: Autumn
- Climate: Dryness
- Sensory organ: Nose
- Tissues: Skin and hair
- Emotions: Grief
- Colour: White
- Taste: Pungent
- Voice: Cry
Metal is also closely connected to the emotions of grief and sadness
Not tending to our grief can impact our physical health, so it’s important to feel your feels and seek support where you need it.
Meeting and dealing with grief and loss is one of our great challenges as humans. We excel at holding on to the past, especially to our trauma and suffering. Which also has a lot to do with our fear of death and loss.
There’s a false program in play that suggests if we can only hold on to what is/has been, we can somehow avoid change and the eventual truth of death.
When we don’t acknowledge the truth of our emotions, we can divert into depression and/or disassociation.
This is a time to find acceptance for what has been and what is, and choosing to embrace our feelings and experiences, releasing them into our internal compost.
Which allows us to create fertile soil for the future, and for new growth to occur.
Autumn is also a good time to audit your life and cull what no longer serves you – just as leaves fall from the trees, what else needs to fall away in your life?
Self-care in Autumn
- Eat and drink warmer foods and liquids, including soups and stews
- Autumn vegetables: sweet potatoes, squash, beetroot, broccoli
- Pungent foods (onion, garlic, turnip, ginger, horseradish) help build defensive qi (immunity) and disperse mucus
- Take naps, slow down
- Go to bed earlier, as the daylight hours grow shorter
- Dress in layers, and keep your neck warm
- Get plenty of fresh air, to assist with lung health
- Cull what no longer serves you in all aspects of your life
- Meditate, appreciate slowness
- Take plenty of naps, slow down (less rushing)
- Use eucalyptus essential oil for your lungs/respiratory issues
- Use a foam roller for achy body parts, exercise to work up a sweat, and/or use infrared saunas
Happy Monday, dear souls!
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Ambha Amanda Roberts is a Kinesiologist, Intuitive Healer, educator and facilitator based on the Sunshine Coast, Australia. She offers Kinesiology sessions both in-person and via Skype/Zoom all over the world. Ambha Amanda is the co-creator of Adventures of Staria, which includes a series of Staria cards, and an upcoming book for children (including inner children). |
