Fall | Metal Season
The seasons of the year can be considered as the movement of energy through different phases and directions in the natural world. We observe the processes of gathering, ripening, dispersing, and storing in the living things around us. To live in harmony with the season, we can align our actions to the energy of the season we are in.
The organ system in focus in the season of Autumn is the Lung / Large Intestine, the metal element. Metal is the element of that rules discernment and precision. Energy is beginning to turn inward. We sort through the harvest of Summer, letting go of what no longer serves us. This is a time processing of old grief and building courage for the darker days of winter.
Practices:
Letting Go. Purging of old/outdated objects, clothes. A great time to clean closets and cabinets.
Breath work and deep breathing to strengthen the Lungs.
Quick exercise: Sit or lie or stand in a comfortable position, one hand on lower belly, one hand over the heart. Take a deep, slow breath in through the nose, making sure that the lower belly is rising and filling first. Hold the breath at the top for 4 counts. Exhale slowly through the mouth while making the sound, “SSSSSSSSSSSSS” until all air is exhaled. Repeat.
Journaling. Processing of stuck emotional energy, particularly grief and sadness. What am I holding onto that I no longer need?
Protect the neck with a scarf/high collars to protect from wind, especially as the temperatures get cooler and/or in air-conditioned spaces.
Foods that Support the Lungs and Large Intestine:
White foods relate to the Metal Element: Apples, Pears, Daikon Radish, Burdock Root
Pungent foods cleanse are protect: Onion and Garlic, Cabbage, Ginger, Horseradish, Turnip
Beta-carotene rich foods protect the mucous membranes of the body: Carrot, Winter Squash, Pumpkin, Broccoli
Green foods rich in chlorophyll strengthen the immune system and improve digestion: Kale, Nettles, Micro-algaes, Watercress