The Wisdom of Fall

Embracing Metal, the Flow of Grief, and the Season of Letting Go

As the air turns crisp and the trees begin to release what no longer serves them, we’re invited to do the same. Autumn has a way of asking us to slow down. To breathe a little deeper. To soften into reflection.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), each season is tied to an element, a pair of organs, and an emotion. Fall belongs to the Metal element, which governs the lungs and the large intestine, and holds the emotional energy of grief.

But grief, in this context, isn’t something to avoid. It’s part of the natural process of clearing, just as the trees shed their leaves to prepare for new growth. We too are meant to release what’s ready to fall away. Metal teaches us about refinement, boundaries, and resilience. It reminds us that clarity often comes after letting go.

The Metal Element and the Flow of Emotion

When the lungs and large intestine are in balance, we move through life with openness and ease. We breathe deeply, speak honestly, and allow life to move through us without clinging. But when grief builds up or remains unprocessed, we may feel heavy in the chest, stuck in old patterns, or weighed down by sadness.

The lungs teach us to receive, each inhale welcoming life force and inspiration. The large intestine teaches us to release, to trust that what’s no longer needed can safely leave. Together, they help us process both the physical and emotional residues of life, guiding us toward balance.

Grief, in this sense, is sacred. It is the heart’s way of clearing space for what’s next.

Tending to the Body in the Season of Metal

Fall invites us to align our daily practices with the rhythm of the season to nurture our lungs, support our digestion, and honor the emotional body. Here are a few ways to do that gently and intentionally.

1. Breathe and Move with Awareness

Slow, grounding practices like Yin Yoga and breathwork help nourish the Metal element.

• Supported Fish Pose opens the lungs and encourages fuller breathing.

• Reclining Twist supports digestion and helps the body let go physically and energetically.

• Child’s Pose brings a sense of surrender and rest, softening the inner landscape.

Breathwork such as diaphragmatic breathing or 4-7-8 breath helps calm the nervous system and clears stagnation from the lungs.

2. Nourish from the Inside Out

Fall is not the season for restriction. It’s a time to warm, moisten, and comfort.

• Enjoy soups, stews, and broths that nourish the lungs and prevent dryness.

• Add white foods like pears, daikon radish, and mushrooms, foods that resonate with the Metal element.

• Support digestion with fiber-rich foods such as root vegetables and whole grains.

• Sip warm teas with ginger, licorice root, or astragalus to strengthen lung Qi and immunity.

3. Slow Down and Reflect

Just as nature quiets, so should we. Create space for stillness. Journal, rest, or take walks among falling leaves. Allow yourself to feel what’s ready to be felt.

Meditation and time in nature can help the heart release what it’s been holding. The process doesn’t need to be dramatic. Sometimes healing happens in the smallest pauses between breaths.

4. Herbal Allies for Fall

Herbs that harmonize this season include:

• Astragalus to fortify lung Qi and strengthen the immune system.

• Licorice Root to soothe and balance both the lungs and digestion.

• White Mulberry to moisten and clear the lungs.

• Ginger to warm, protect, and support digestion.

A Season for Letting Go

Autumn mirrors the art of release. As the trees shed their leaves, they do not mourn what’s lost. They make room for what’s to come. The same is true for us. When we soften into the natural rhythm of grief and release, we open space for renewal, for clarity, for breath.

The Metal element teaches us that boundaries can be beautiful, that endings can be sacred, and that stillness can hold incredible strength. This is the season of refinement, of choosing what remains and what must gently fall away.

Let this be your reminder:

Breathe in what nourishes you.

Exhale what no longer serves.

Trust the rhythm of your own becoming.