The forces of Autumn create dryness in Heaven and metal on Earth; they create the lung organ and the skin upon the body... and the nose, and the white colour, and the pungent flavour...the emotion of grief, and the ability to make a weeping sound.
- Inner Classic
The autumn is the time to be more focused on preparation of food to obtain the energy required for the cooler months ahead. Soups, grains and loads of earthy vegetables come in play, hotpots, roasts... Play with the vegetables and fruits in season: apples, damsons, pears, plums, chestnuts, elderberries,blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celery, courgette, fennel, garlic, kale, leeks, onions, potatoes, turnips, watercress, celeriac, kohlrabi, pumpkin, jerusalem artichoke, parsnips, chicory, beetroot, cauliflower.
In Chinese medicine Autumn is the season of the metal element and the organ represented are the lungs and the large intestine. Here are a few words associated with the Autumn/Metal. Take a look at them and observe yourself and the others around you! Can you recognize any symptoms? This may indicate balance and/or imbalance
Reflective Spiritual and mental nourishment Heavenly father providing the chi the ability to let go - to grief life or someone
Colours Pure Cold Blocked
Valuable Perfectionism Precise Congestion
Sharp Strength Structure Materialism
Hard Shiny Connection/Network within our body
connectedness in a spiritual level - if imbalanced, feeling of disconnection
colour: white-pure/ high expectations
lungs: the way we take in pure chi energy and are connected to the Universe and each other.
large intestine: the way we get rid of what we don't need.
illnesses: asthma, skin issues like eczema. IBS, constipation, a flamy cough/ mucous, weeping eyes...
Let's explore Autumn and the Metal element. Here are some ways you can start exploring:
* Keep observing what is happening in nature. How does the first day you felt Autumn make you feel or made you feel?
* Notice how connected you feel, are you in touch with how your body feels in relation to seasonal changes, the planets and the food you eat? Are you aware of what you need to give quality and meaning to your life emotionally and spiritually? The metal element gives us the clarity and strength we need to see these so we can begin to get the best for ourselves. Maybe use your favourite meditation or piece of music to spend some time connecting with the wonderful essence that is within you.
* Explore the emotion of grief, remember or imagine a loss, this could be the loss of a person, a relationship, a dream, leaving a job, moving houses... anything that involves reflecting, moving on and saying goodbye. When you feel you grasped the emotion reflect on where you feel on your body, how your energy feels and what helps you moving out of the emotion.
* Enhance your minerals - notice how many vegetables you eat and if possible increase your intake of vegetables. Ahhh!!! This is a great time of the year to introduce sea vegetables into your soups, hot pots - they are full of minerals!
Health & Love,
Carolyne
