Autumn - A Time To Let Go

We can see the symbolism of each of the Five Elements in nature's seasons. As we are leaving summer and entering into Autumn, we can admire the change of colours, the change in the air, the darker days inviting us to snuggle up inside.

Autumn is connected to the Metal Element in Chinese Medicine 金

Autumn is a time of contraction and withdrawal.

Just as nature pulls inward in autumn — sap returning to roots, leaves falling, animals storing energy — we are also called to:

• Turn inward after the outward movement and expression of summer (Fire)

• Reflect on the year’s experiences

• Discern what to keep and what to let go of

This is a time for self-inquiry, spiritual discipline, and emotional sorting.

Contraction invites clarity. It helps us refine what truly matters — in values, relationships, goals, and even possessions.

Nature begins to let go — leaves fall, plants die back, and Yang Qi begins to decline after its summer peak.

It is a harvest season, where what has grown is now consolidated and stored.

The environment becomes cooler and drier, preparing for the stillness of winter.

These qualities match the inward-moving, refining, and consolidating nature of the Metal element.

Autumn teaches us the wisdom of contraction: To turn inward, not as escape, but as cultivation. To mourn, not as weakness, but as renewal. To structure, not to control, but to clarify. To refine, not to reduce, but to reveal the essential.

Metal and the Capacity for Grief and Purification

The emotion of Metal is grief (悲 bēi), and the spiritual aspect is the Po (魄) — the corporeal soul connected to the body and the instinctive self.

• Grief is a form of emotional contraction — it narrows focus, slows the spirit, draws us inward.

• Metal gives us the capacity to mourn, to honour what is lost, and to purify through that process.

Healthy contraction means:

• Allowing emotions like sadness or nostalgia to arise

• Giving ourselves space to feel rather than avoiding or numbing

• Releasing attachment to what has passed

This creates space for new insight, strength, and purity — just like the dry, crisp air of autumn clears the haze of summer.

Contraction as Discipline and Structure

Metal also governs structure, boundaries, and order — qualities that emerge strongly in autumn.

Psychologically, this is a season to:

• Reorganize our internal and external worlds

• Set limits (e.g., cutting off unhealthy habits, toxic relationships)

• Establish rituals and routines to support the coming winter (Yin phase)

Think of monks or scholars withdrawing for contemplation — this withdrawal is not weakness, but refinement of spirit and will.

Essence of Autumn Psychology: Distillation

If summer is the season of abundance and flourishing, autumn is the season of:

• Distillation: extracting wisdom from experience

• Evaluation: what was fruitful? what should be shed?

• Consolidation: internalizing what is meaningful

• Restraint: refining desire, slowing stimulation

In emotional terms, autumn's contraction supports maturity, dignity, and integrity — all expressions of the Metal element when balanced.

If Out of Balance:

If the Metal element or autumnal energy is excessive or disharmonious, contraction can turn into:

Balanced Contraction	Unbalanced Contraction
Healthy introspection	Isolation, depression
Discernment and clarity	Judgment, rigidity
Letting go with grace	Clinging, attachment
Emotional processing	Repressed grief or chronic sadness

Seasonal Advice for Emotional Alignment in Autumn

Practice letting go: journaling, minimalism, forgiveness rituals

Allow grief to be expressed: crying, talking, creative outlets

Set clear boundaries: emotionally, mentally, physically

Seek clarity: refine intentions, prune unnecessary obligations

Embrace silence: meditation, nature walks, breathing exercises

Just as trees don’t fight the loss of their leaves, we too must surrender certain things to preserve inner essence.