AUTUMN: The season of letting go
Honouring the shift from Yang into Yin
There is something unmistakable about the arrival of autumn. The mornings become cooler. The light begins to change. Leaves turn colour and eventually release themselves from the trees. Nature begins drawing her energy inward and whether we realize it or not, our bodies are being asked to make that transition too.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn marks an important movement away from the expansive, outward energy of summer and toward the quieter, more restorative Yin energy of winter. Summer is movement, connection, activity and abundance. Autumn begins the return inward.
A lot of the time, this transition can feel surprisingly taxing.
You may notice yourself feeling more tired, reflective or emotional. Your motivation may shift. You might crave more sleep, warmth, quiet or time alone. Old memories or feelings may unexpectedly surface. Rather than seeing this as something that needs to be fixed, Chinese Medicine reminds us that we are seasonal beings.
Nature isn't asking us to maintain summer energy all year long. It is asking us to change with it.
THE WISDOM OF THE METAL ELEMENT
In Five Element theory, autumn belongs to the Metal Element. Metal is associated with:
Yin Organ: Lung
Yang Organ: Large Intestine
Emotion: Grief + sadness
Climate: Dryness
Colour: White
Taste: Pungent
Sense Organ: Nose
Tissue: Skin
Energetic Movement: Inward + downward
Theme: Discernment, boundaries, release and letting go
Autumn teaches us something incredibly important:
We cannot carry everything with us into the next season. Just as a tree doesn't desperately hold onto every leaf, there are times when our bodies and lives ask us to release what has completed its cycle.
Old expectations.
Relationships or patterns that have changed.
Commitments that are draining us.
Grief we've never fully allowed ourselves to feel.
Even versions of ourselves that we have outgrown.
Metal asks: What is precious enough to keep?
And equally important: What are you finally ready to put down?
THE LUNG MERIDIAN: Receiving what nourishes us
The Lung is the Yin organ of the Metal element. In TCM, the Lungs govern respiration and play an important role in the movement of Qi throughout the body. They are also associated with the skin, nose and our protective or defensive Qi.
Energetically, the Lung represents our ability to receive. Every breath is an exchange with the world: ‘I receive what I need. I release what I no longer need’.
This is why autumn can be a beautiful time to pay attention to your breath.
Try placing one hand over your chest and another over your belly.
Slowly breathe in through your nose.
Allow your ribs and abdomen to gently expand.
Pause.
Then slowly exhale.
As you exhale, imagine releasing tension, expectations or anything you've been carrying that no longer belongs to you. Even five intentional breaths can become a small autumn ritual.
THE LARGE INTESTINE MERIDIAN: The art of letting go
The Large Intestine is the Yang partner of the Lung. Physically, its role involves elimination. From a TCM perspective, this makes it a beautiful metaphor for something much larger: our capacity to release and let go.
Sometimes we know something is finished but continue holding onto it anyway.
An old hurt.
A relationship.
A belief.
A responsibility.
An identity.
Autumn gently asks us to notice where we are gripping. Consider asking yourself: What am I carrying simply because I have become accustomed to carrying it?
You don't necessarily have to force yourself to let it go. Sometimes simply acknowledging what you're carrying is the beginning of the release.
GRIEF HAS A SEASON TOO
The emotion associated with the Lung and Metal element is grief.
But grief isn't limited to losing someone we love. We can grieve relationships, our younger selves, our children growing older, changes in our bodies, dreams that unfolded differently than we imagined; we can even grieve beautiful chapters of our lives simply because they have ended.
There is nothing inherently wrong with feeling grief. Sometimes grief is simply love acknowledging change. Instead of immediately trying to move through it, autumn invites us to sit beside it.
Journal.
Cry.
Walk amongst the changing trees.
Talk with someone you trust.
Breathe deeply.
Create a small ritual honouring something or someone you have lost.
The goal isn't to live inside grief forever. It is to allow grief enough space that it can eventually move.
FROM YANG INTO YIN: Why you may be feeling more tired right now…
Summer carries some of the most Yang energy of the year; long days, warmth, social activity, movement and expansion. Winter represents the exact opposite; deep Yin, rest, stillness, darkness, conservation. Autumn is the bridge between these two energetic states, and this transition requires the most energy.
Many of us continue expecting our bodies to perform at the same pace year-round; the same workouts, schedules, productivity and social commitments. Nature doesn't do that. Neither should we.
This season, experiment with allowing yourself to:
Go to bed a little earlier.
Leave more space between commitments.
Choose warm meals instead of constantly eating cold/raw foods.
Spend more time at home.
Reduce unnecessary stimulation.
Protect yourself from cold and wind.
Prioritize regular meals and sleep.
Allow quiet moments without needing to fill them.
Say no when your body is asking for rest
Your energy isn't necessarily disappearing. It's simply transitioning to go inward.
AUTUMN SELF-CARE
Protect your neck: From a TCM perspective, wind is considered an external pathogenic influence, and the neck and upper back are areas we often encourage patients to protect as the weather cools.
Support moisture: Autumn is associated with dryness, which is why we often see more dry skin, dry throat, dry cough, constipation and irritation as the weather changes.
Think nourishing foods such as:
Pears • apples • sesame • almonds • honey • squash • oats • soups • broths • cooked root vegetables
Transition away from summer foods. You don't necessarily have to abandon salads and smoothies altogether, but think warming herbs in the salathis is a beautiful time to begin shifting toward:
Soups • Stews • Roasted vegetables • Congee • Slow-cooked meats • Warm breakfasts • Stewed fruit • Broths
Create some structure and rhythm, The Metal element appreciates structure. Try waking, eating and sleeping at relatively consistent times. Our nervous systems often feel safer when the body knows what to expect.
Practice intentional letting go:
Donate clothing. Finish something you've been avoiding. Write down something you're ready to release and burn the paper safely.
Autumn doesn't require a dramatic transformation. Small acts of release create space too.
Acupuncture can be a beautiful way to honour the transition between the seasons. Moving with the energy of Qi from meridian to meridian, treatment can help support a balanced flow of energy throughout the body as our internal rhythms adjust to the changing world around us.
Seasonal acupuncture invites us to work with these natural cycles rather than against them; supporting the body as it shifts from the expansive Yang energy of summer toward the quieter, more restorative Yin energy of fall and winter. By tending to the meridians and organ systems associated with each season, we can create space for greater balance, grounding and ease through times of transition.
Book with us here https://youracupuncturecommunity.janeapp.com
We look forward to supporting you in your wellness journey!
Much gratitude,
Your Acupuncture Community Team