As the autumn equinox passes, the season turns. In Five Element acupuncture, autumn belongs to the Metal element.
Metal is linked to the Lungs, which take in fresh air and all we need from the world, and the Large Intestine, which lets go of what we no longer need. It's a season of breathing in and letting go. Metal is also traditionally linked to grief, which is why autumn can be a time when old losses gently resurface.
A few ways to support yourself this season
- Take a few slow, deep breaths outdoors each day.
- Let go of one thing you no longer need: a habit, an object or a worry.
- Wrap up your neck and chest as the air turns cool and dry.
- Allow sadness when it comes. It's part of letting go.
The Huangdi Neijing, the founding text of Chinese medicine, advises that in autumn we should "go to bed early and rise early, with the cockerel," and keep the mind calm and steady.