4 Tips For Nurturing Self-Worth and Forgiveness During Autumn
Just as the trees drop their leaves in the fall, we too let go of what has died within us to make space for the next cycle of growth.
Grief is the emotion connected with Metal & with autumn.
It’s reflected in the seasonal dying away of the natural world and extends to feeling all that is temporal or vulnerable, whether inevitably or avoidable.
One quality of balanced Metal energy is the ability to move with grace, resilience - through the grief that comes from letting go or loss. We neither overly identify with it, nor are we numb to it.
The rituals that hold us steady during times of turbulence are another expression of this element. Metal provides structure. You may find yourself now wanting to create or restore the routines that give an order, a rhythm, to your days.
The shining mental clarity that lets us envision possibilities, new ways forward, is also a property of well-nourished Metal.
As always, eat seasonally: Such a clear or white color corresponds to the foods that temper the Metal within us (cauliflower, onions, daikon, turnips), many of which have the pungent flavor that is equally medicinal.
Breathwork & Meditation: Metal is also nourished by deep breathwork. The organs this element expresses itself through are our Lungs & Large Intestine, with their relevant actions of respiration and elimination, taking in and letting go.
Self-reflection (journaling is recommended): As we follow the inner-focused energy of autumn, and undertake the work of self-inquiry, balanced Metal energy is essential. We need it to examine our personal harvest with a healthy detachment that leaves room for self-forgiveness. It also ensures that the boundaries we set - the structures that honor & reflect our sense of self-worth - can be flexible without losing their integrity, and allow us space to breathe.
Be flexible and open-minded: The wisdom of the Metal element, and of fall, guides us to temper our routines with spontaneity, to balance our solitude with connection. It reminds us to sweep away the clutter that hides who we are, the debris that stills the fresh air of inspiration, so that you may see what next wants to be born within you.
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