The leaves are blowing through the air, the milky sky occasionally allows the sun to break through and reminds us of the warmer days. Pumpkins of all shapes and sizes fill the shop shelves and cooler air lets us know it's time to start slowing down. It's undeniably autumn. But it's not all doom and gloom. Autumn is actually one of my favourite seasons. The season holds the depth in the air, grounding the energy of summer buzz to the quietness of winter.
The autumn within
From a Chinese medicine perspective, autumn is a season of metal, cutting through the outer layer into the depth of refinement and essence. In its significance, it represents the clearing of the outer noise, the feeling of the loss we sense through the process and recognition of our core wants and needs.
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What do I feel I would like to take with me into spring, packing lightly?
It encourages cleansing through our inner house without judgement and with clarity. The season of grounding into our body, reconnecting to awareness, and animal wit.
Autumn relates to the simplified and more animalistic part of the brain focusing on survival and primitive touch responses. Sensory and visceral. Breath, movement, balance, coordination, recognition of terrain through senses, stress responses and emptying.
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In Chinese medicine, the autumn connects to the lungs and large intestine systems. Manifesting in the skin, regulating and refining the Qi, dispersing fluids and opening into the nose. It also protects us from colds and flu and the large intestine rules elimination.
What it may look like when metal is out of balance
Here is a little view into acupuncturists' way of thinking when we ask you about your health and observe your body.
Extreme sensitivity - mentally, emotionally, physically, somatically
Low immune system
Troubles with bowel
Stress-related skin issues
Somatised stuckness - chronic tension and pain for no obvious reason
Impaired balance and coordination of movements
Lack of connection and cloudiness, a sense of dullness and withdrawal
Chronic restlessness during the day
Asthma
Inability to move with life - being frozen, panicky or continuously running away
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Now with all that said, these are just some examples of presentations and the whole picture is often rather complex, usually involving other systems and patterns and it's always important to look at the whole picture.
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In nature
We move under the surface in natural surroundings too. The metal element connects to not only actual metal but also minerals, stones, gems and caves.
How to connect more to Autumn?
Start to notice nature more and the seasonal change
Walks in the fresh air help us adapt to the changing weather and boost our immune system
Breathing exercises help us expand and realise our lungs' potential
Qi gong promoting the Lung energy
Abdominal self-massage to get to know the terrain of your gut, connecting to the primal touch of the body and
Adjusting the elimination position to a more relaxed squatting motion can help release the bowel pressure
Promote your immune system through the introduction of pungent spices such as cinnamon, anise, fennel and foods that we peel - onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, citruses.
Support your healthy gut bacteria through variety in your meals, fibre and drinking enough water
Feed your senses - pet animals, touch your body, massage it, brush it, stretch, dance, touch the elements around you (water, earth, air, sunlight), smell enticing aromas, listen to beautiful music)
Connect to your gut feeling and what you need and crave at the moment (rest, walk, a glass of water)
Think about what you put your energy into and reassess whether that's in line with what you'd like to grow further ​
Keep well, ​
References:
Curtis, S. et al. (2018) Complete wellness. New York, NY: DK Publishing.
Dechar, L. (2006) Five spirits: Alchemical acupuncture for psychological and spiritual healing. New York: Chiron Publications/Lantern Books.
Kirkwood, J. (2016) The way of the five seasons. London: Singing Dragon.
Reichstein, G. (2018) Wood becomes water: Chinese medicine in Everyday Life. New York, NY: Kodansha USA, Inc.