The Magic Of The Fall Season

In Classical Five Element Acupuncture we practice our craft though the gift of the Five Elements. They are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. These elements have many associations with how we live our lives, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Learning to flow with the energy of the season helps us live to the fullest in a healthy and harmonious way.nnTHE BITTERSWEET BRILLIANCE OF FALLnnFall can be so incredibly beautiful. In some parts of the country the leaves show their brilliant colors of orange, red, and yellow. The weather can be perfect too, lots of sunshine and just cool enough temperatures. Yet, with all the beauty also comes the hardest thing I run into each fall season, and that is the pull down in my energy. It's time to start the journey inward, and I am not always ready to take that journey. For I know that "letting go" is not always easy.nnTHINGS FALL AWAY TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEWnnThe energy of fall is all about "letting go." I tell my patient’s to observe how the trees let go of their leaves this time of year. As we learn to flow with nature we also need to learn how to let go of all in our lives that no longer serve us. Examples are feelings of hurt, anger, jealousy, pain, people, or ideas that keep us stuck in the same old quagmire of life. If we don't let go of these negatives in our lives, we can't make room for the new, fresh, positive ideas that come to us in the form of inspirations. nnFall is the cycle of death. Just as trees, as I mentioned above, let go of their leaves to make room for new growth in the spring, we shed our old selves so that the new can be reborn. We need to clean our internal closets so that we have more room for the new. However, this shedding process can open the doorway to grief. It's hard to let go of old ideas and habits, even if they aren't good for us. It seems easier to hold onto them because they are familiar. There is a sadness associated with the letting go process, even though we all know from past experiences that, once we actually do let go, more room is made in our lives for the new in us to hatch.nnThe element that is associated with fall is Metal. The Metal element represents the jewel inside us. It's about finding the preciousness of who we are. How can we see that shiny, pure essence of who we are if there is too much pollution in our energy? How can we take in love? How can we feel like we are precious? How can we give to others if we can't give to ourselves because the beauty of who we are is so contaminated with garbage? It's time to let go. To throw out all that is causing us harm, so that we can excavate the diamonds inside of us.nnnTHE OFFICIALS OF METALnnThe organs that are associated with this season are the large intestines and the lungs. The large intestines are all about elimination or letting go, and the lungs are about taking in. We let go of waste on all levels of body/mind/spirit in order to take in the fresh air that nourishes us on all levels of our being.n nI realize that not everyone can go through the season of fall and let go of all they need to. Certainly I have seen patients who have gone year after year during the fall season and not being able to let go of things in their lives that they needed to. They cannot flow with the seasons. So, after many years of this inability to let go, a whole lot of trash clogs up the energy on every level of body/mind/spirit. Can you imagine what would happen to you if your bowels weren't allowed to cleanse themselves on a regular basis? Think of all the pollution and stress that blockage would cause your body. It's the same principle with ideas, thoughts, people, and the junk in your life that you can't eliminate.nnTARNISHED METAL: IMBALANCESnnIf there is an imbalance in your Lung Official (taking in) it would manifest as:nAsthmanCongestion/ BronchitisnRigidity/An inability to bendnSelf-Protective armor/DefensivenessnExcessive control/manipulationnMeticulousnessnPerfectionismnA decreased sense of self-worthnA tendency to surround oneself with valuable objectsnBeing closed to new ideas or relationshipsnAn inability to let people and/or love innnIf there is an imbalance in your Large Intestine Official (letting go) it would manifest as:nColitisnArthritisnIrritable Bowel SyndromenFatiguenNo respect for lifenUnclear, despairing thoughts:n "I'm useless"n "I'm worthless"n"I don't want to live"nHardness/BrittlenessnInability to hold on to anythingnA "loaded-down" feelingnA cutting negativitynBack painnAn inability to let gonnAction you can take to help your Metal energy:nnAllow yourself time to reflect and meditate.nRead something inspirational.nSpend some time walking outdoors and focus on your breath as you walk.nIf you are experiencing grief, allow the time to grieve and to experience your feelings.nGet a colonic. That's a great way to support your Metal element and rid your body of impurities.nEat more warming foods (curry or spicy Asian foods).nLet go of negative thinking: "if only", "could have", "should have."nAllow the space for new ways to think.nAccept compliments; take them in, experience your preciousness.nnPoint of the SeasonnnMeridian Gutter is an acupuncture point on the Lung meridian. It is located on the anterior surface of the forearm about one inch above the wrist on the radial artery.nnA gutter helps clean out and wash away debris that collects. Analogously, this point helps clean out the debris that clogs up our energy. Clean energy meridians, like clean gutters, allow things to move smoothly on all the levels of body/mind/spirit.n