Fall, the Metal Element, and the Practice of Letting Go
Fall trees in gold and orange in front of of rocky terrain mountains by Federica Galli @fedechanw
There is something unmistakable about the arrival of fall. The light changes, the evenings arrive a little earlier, and the nights become cooler even while the afternoons may still carry some warmth. Here in Colorado, the landscape begins its spectacular transition, with greens giving way to gold, amber, rust and red. It is a beautiful time to slow down enough to notice what is happening around us.
In Chinese medicine, fall corresponds with the Metal element, associated with the Lung and Large Intestine. Fall and the Metal phase bring us into the movement of contraction, gathering and release. Just as the trees withdraw their resources and eventually release their leaves, this season can invite us to notice what has reached completion and what we continue to carry with us. Plants that spent the spring and summer expanding outward begin drawing their resources inward. Nature becomes quieter, with less emphasis on outward growth and more movement toward gathering, conserving and eventually letting go.
The Metal element is also abundant in the mountains! So if you have the opportunity to spend some time in the mountains this fall it can be helpful to attuning to the season. Breathe in the crips air and spend some time appreciating the changing landscape. The aspens this year have been especially vibrant and I have been lucky enough to see them over the past few weeks! They seem to have a glow light all of their own.
Earth Nourishes Metal
One of the beautiful things about the Five Elements is that no season exists in isolation. In the generating cycle, Earth nourishes Metal. Late summer, the season of Earth, is traditionally associated with ripening, harvest and abundance. Before nature begins the greater contraction and release of autumn, there is a gathering of what has been cultivated. We can see this in gardens, orchards and fields, and perhaps we can feel some version of it within ourselves as well.
This is an important part of letting go that can easily be overlooked. We don't necessarily need to rush toward release. There can first be a moment of receiving and appreciating the bounty of what has come before. What has this year given you? What has grown or ripened in your life? What have you learned or experienced that you want to carry with you? Earth nourishing Metal reminds us that autumn doesn't arrive empty-handed. It is supported by everything that has been growing and gathering throughout the seasons before it.
Taking Time to Observe the Season
Fall can be an especially beautiful time to simply be outside and pay attention. Notice the changing colors, feel the cooler air against your skin, watch the angle of the afternoon light, and listen to the sound of leaves beneath your feet. These small acts of observation can help bring us into relationship with the season rather than simply moving through it.
Our modern lives don't always change very much with the seasons. The lights stay on, our schedules remain full, and food arrives from nearly every climate and season throughout the year. But our bodies are still part of nature. Taking a walk on a cool fall evening, sitting outside for a few minutes, or simply noticing the trees changing on the way to work can remind us that we are participating in these seasonal transitions too. This year I am asking the question, “How can I be closer to my more natural state of being part of nature (rather than standing apart)?”
Nourishing the Lungs as the Weather Becomes Drier
Fall also brings a shift toward cooler, drier weather. In Chinese medicine, dryness is particularly associated with the Lung, making autumn a wonderful time to bring more moist, nourishing foods into the diet. Soups, stews and broths naturally begin to sound good as the temperatures drop. They are warm and comforting, but they also offer something very practical: another way of bringing fluids into the body.
While fall may be the season when we naturally begin craving these foods, I often recommend them throughout the year. Hydration doesn't only have to come from glasses of water. Broths, soups, stews, porridges and other foods with a higher water content can be deeply nourishing ways of providing the body with both fluid and nutrition. For people who struggle to drink enough water, incorporating more "wet" foods can be particularly helpful.
As the weather cools, consider making a large pot of soup or stew that can nourish you for several meals. Seasonal root vegetables, squash, greens, beans, grains and proteins can all become part of these simple meals. There is something wonderfully appropriate about eating from a warm bowl while the air outside becomes crisp.
Allowing the Season to Change
Perhaps one of fall's quieter teachings is that change doesn't have to happen all at once. We can take in the bounty of what has grown, appreciate what has been given, spend some time outside watching the landscape transform, and nourish ourselves as the weather changes. At the same time, we can begin to notice what has reached completion and what we may be ready to release.
Nature doesn't drop all of its leaves in a single afternoon. There is a gradual turning inward, a beautiful display of color, and then, when the time is right, a release. Perhaps we can allow ourselves the same grace. Creating the space to allow nature to move us might be the perfect fall remedy for our busy minds and bodies. I encourage you to find what the might look like for you.
