Letting go - autumn in a nutshell

This is part 5 (go to part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4) and the last part of a seasonal look into the energetics of each season and how they affect our inner and outer worlds. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), The 5 Elements Theory, invites us to live more in flow and alignment with the seasons and offers us the opportunity to link ourselves more to the natural world and to become more aware of ourselves,  the world around us and our role within it. 

The five elements through the lens of TCM - wood, fire, earth, metal, water - represent the cyclical changes of nature. The cycles we see in nature are interconnected with those we experience as humans. The flow of the cycles manifest in many ways and are reflected in our energy, creativity, emotions, ease and dis-ease, expression, foods, tastes and colours we seek and crave.

Each season is linked to an element and a set of organs that need a little more care and nourishment in that specific season. Health conditions and/or emotions related to the specific organs may also flare up but there are many things we can do to support our body through the cyclical changes that also manifest within us. Learning about each element may enable us to create more internal balance which will improve all areas of health whether physical, mental or emotional. 

Yin & Yang and autumn

The Yin and Yang theory is the underlying principle of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Philosophy, the Taoist culture. Everything is composed of opposites, relative to each other, complementary and as constantly interacting forces. One cannot exist without the other.

There is no night without day, no heaven without earth, no moon without sun, no up without down, no out without in, no cold without warmth, no youth without age, no opposition without unity, no stillness without noise, no passive without active.

Autumn! We're transitioning from Yang to Yin. Days are becoming shorter and darker, trees and changing into beautiful oranges, reds and yellows, forests are like candy to the eye at this time. Animals are preparing for winter by scrounging for food to store. Nature starts to slow down with the aim to go dormant.  As part of the natural world, humans should also in this time wind down and find nourishment in slower activities.
 
In TCM, good health is believed to come from a balance of Yin and Yang. Too much or too little of one or both will cause imbalances throughout the body and will manifest in physical, mental and/or emotional dis-eases. 

The Metal element

Autumn is related to the Metal element in TCM which governs the lungs and the large intestine.

Element: Metal
Organs: Lungs and large intestine
Colour: White, silver
Taste: Spicy, pungent - disperses stagnation, moves Qi and Blood, breaks down mucus, helps circulation, stimulates digestion. These tastes are activating, warming, tonifying.
Postive emotion: Problem solving, courage, clarity
Negative emotion: Grief, sorrow, depression

The lungs are considered the master of qi, our life force, energy or prana, and they move energy downwards.

When the Metal element is balanced we feel calm, accepting, disciplined, discerning and able to reason. There's a sense of clarity and structure and we are able to take what we need and let go of what doesn't serve us anymore. 

When the Metal element is unbalanced it can show up is different ways depending if there is an excess or a deficiency in Metal.  
We may become overly perfectionistic, strict, controlling, wanting to be right and rigid in body and mind. We can struggle to let go and also find it difficult to open up and have intimate connections, letting down our guard. It can also show up as numbness, lack of motivation, hypocrisy, resignation. On a physical level as the Metal element relates to the lungs and the large intestine, imbalances can show up as respiratory disorders, skin problems, constipation (inability to let go), dehydration and lack of lubrication in the body. Grief is related to the lungs and also results from the inability to let go. 

When there is imbalance we can directly do things to help regain or create more balance within. We can do this first of all by becoming more aware of ourselves, our bodies and minds and then actively supporting your inner ecosystem through lifestyle changes like nutrition, movement, bodywork and other holistic practices. 

Subtle changes can make huge differences and our bodies are so incredibly intelligent and resilient if only we listen and feed them what they really need. 

How to nourish your body

Food is medicine and food is a powerful vehicle for transformation!

Your daily food intake is the basis of your transformation. Your food becomes your blood, cells, organs, body, mind, emotions and thoughts. Food is nourishment. Your input will affect your output physically, mentally, emotionally. The gut and the brain are inherently connected and our food choices will have a direct effect on our brain function and our emotions.

Seasonality and energetics when talking about food is important in the way that foods that grow in summer are lighter in nature and have cooling properties to them, such as tomatoes, cucumber, berries etc., when in turn in winter, the seasonal foods are heavier and warming in nature.

Autumn brings us all those densely nutritious and warming root vegetables that work well in slow cooked dishes, which is what we're looking to make more of in this season. 

Autumn foods and cooking styles

The main theme for autumn and what in TCM is referred to as food therapy is the colour white and the taste profile is pungent. 

Autumn foods
All the root vegetables; parsnip, turnip, jerusalem artichoke, potato, carrot, sweet potato, pumpkin, Brussels sprouts, beetroot, salsify, kale, endives, apple, pear, figs, nuts and seeds, chestnuts, ginger, leek, onion, mushrooms, broths

Cooking styles
As the environment around us slows down, so should our cooking style. The cooler temperatures outdoors, reminds us that it’s time for longer cooking times at lower temperatures. Think soup and stews. At this time we also want to move away from cooling raw vegetables that help us through the summer heat. And we want to start looking towards heavier grains and pulses as well as fermenting vegetables to take us through winter.

Wellbeing practices for autumn

• Use the mantra of “letting go” - as the trees shed their leaves, maybe it’s also time for us to let go of the accumulations of summer and simplify our lives and find more structure.
• Breathwork/pranayama - mindful breathing, slow deep breaths are helpful.
• Be aware of the grief of summer (or other types of grief) that may erupt.
• Soothe the dryness that comes with autumn with comforting, nourishing, hot drinks.
• Make tea using warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, anise, clove - these spices will help protect your lungs and keep airways open and free from phlegm. Ask for help if you're not sure what you need. 
• Bake a healthy, hearty, soul-warming cake.
• ​Have a massage or reflexology. Pressure, tension and emotions get stored in the body and blocks the smooth flow of prana/qi (our life force energy). Bodywork brings us back to ourselves, allows for a short moment to reset, to move stagnant energy or ground ourselves and feel lighter mentally and emotionally. Massage and reflexology can create more balance in body and mind.
• Find something that can inspire you: a new book, learn something new, visit a museum, start a new hobby, practice yoga - anything that can uplift you through the shorter days to come.
• Don’t forget to spend time outdoors, soaking up the beautiful colours that early autumn offers us - protect your neck, wear a scarf.
• Make use of colder weather to stay in and declutter, let go of things you don’t need anymore. Create a serene space for the winter months to come. 
• Reflections: Am I able to let go when necessary? Do I allow myself to fully experience sadness and my guards to come down? Can I find inspiration around me? Am I able to grasp my own self worth?