AUTUMN

THE METAL ELEMENT

Archetype: The Alchemist

This is the season of autumn—the air turns crisp, the light softens, and nature lets go of what is complete. It’s a time to simplify, to breathe deeply, and to recognize what remains precious.

As the leaves fall, we are invited to release what’s ready to go, breathe in what truly sustains, and reclaim the quiet brilliance at our core.

The Metal Element in TCM represents clarity, refinement, and the sacred art of letting go, transforming what is heavy into something pure and essential. It is the element of discernment and breath, where we distill wisdom from our own unique experience and find beauty in simplicity.

Associated with the lungs and large intestine, Metal governs how we take in what nourishes us and release what no longer serves. It reminds us that exhale and inhale, inspiration and release, are two sides of the same rhythm—each making room for the other.

When Metal energy is balanced, we feel clear, inspired, and self-respecting; able to release the past, honor our values, and move through life with strength.

When out of balance, it can appear as rigidity, perfectionism, grief, or disconnection from one’s inner worth.

Seasonal Tips

BREATHE + RELEASE

Metal energy thrives on clarity, simplicity, and the spaciousness that comes from letting go.
Move in ways that open the chest and free your breath.
Exhale fully. Feel the release that comes with each breath out.

HONOR YOUR BREATH + BOUNDARIES

Practice saying no with kindness.
Protect your energy the way the lungs protect your body—through clear, conscious boundaries.
Let quiet become sacred.

SIMPLIFY YOUR PLATE

Support your Lungs and Large Intestine with clean, light, and gently warming foods.
Think pears, daikon, white beans, rice, miso, and soups that moisten and clear.
Eat slowly and in calm spaces—less variety, more intention.

FIND BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITY

Metal teaches reverence.
Take time to notice the clean lines of bare branches, the crisp air, the stillness between sounds.
Let appreciation be your meditation.

CLEAR YOUR SPACE

The falling leaves remind us to make room for what truly matters.
Declutter a corner, inbox, or schedule.
Notice how clearing your environment clears your mind.