As we move into Autumn, you feel that gentle pull inwards.  As the days shorten, we move into a time of longer nights.  I personally enjoy this time of wrapping up in warmer clothes, walking through dry and crisp leaves while breathing in the cooler air.  A time of inward reflection, lighting fires, and enjoying soups and stews.  The sun is lower in the sky, so it streams in a mystical way through the trees, while their leaves are dropping to the earth.

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Autumn and the Metal Element are the season for letting go of the old, to make way for the new.  It's time to be strong and clear about things, cutting through what no longer serves us.  When we cull what we don't require, we appreciate the treasures we keep even more, as these become the most valuable.  Nature is the best teacher; watch how trees shed their leaves to create mulch on the ground, feeding the ground for next year's growth. Fields fall fallow after the last harvest; still and spacious until the following Spring. So let go of negative emotions, beliefs or belongings that no longer serve you to create space in your life.

 

The emotion associated with the Metal Element is grief, if your Metal is out of balance, you may have difficulty expressing grief, so you suppress the emotions, and they are held in the chest, and when they try to release, they may come out as a croaking sound; this can be harmful to the lungs.  Grief is a natural part of life that should ease as life continues; obviously, the loss of a loved one will take longer to adjust to than the loss of belongings.  When there is difficulty accepting a loss, and it continues for a long period of time, this can be damaging to health.  But at the same time grief should not be rushed; it needs space and reassurance to play out through the body, breath, and tears.

 

The organs associated with the Metal Element are the Lungs and the Large Intestine. We need to breathe in clean, fresh air and expel waste - anything we don't need, physically and emotionally. The lungs govern Qi (our vital energy) and breathing, sending Qi and fluids downwards and outwards, descending to the Large Intestine to let go of impurities.  They assist each other in the movement of Qi, bringing in the new and removing the old.

 

How can I help myself?

Take full, deep breaths to benefit mental and physical well-being. Take walks in nature, practice Qigong and Meditation, and receive Shiatsu of course! These practices play a big role in balancing the Metal Element, strengthening the immune system, cleansing our emotions like grief, and helping to let go and slow down physically. This also helps prepare us for the Winter months ahead and the Water Element.  The Lungs have the function of producing and moving our Defensive Qi (Wei Qi) throughout the body; the Wei Qi lies just underneath the skin to protect us from Wind, Cold and Damp.  Those with weaker Wei Qi are more likely to catch frequent coughs and colds, have shortness of breath, reduced sense of smell, fatigue, or achy joints.  Those who keep their Wei Qi strong will be less likely to get ill and have nourished, glowing skin.

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How to recognise a Metal type​

Some signs a person is a Metal type are -

• A weeping sound to the voice, perhaps sounding like they may begin crying, and the voice tails off at the end of a sentence.

• A white, shiny colour to the face, particularly around the eyes, but also around the mouth and laughter lines.

• A dense body odour that can penetrate the nostrils.  Described as rotten or meat going off.

• A collapsed chest.​