24 February, 2023

In traditional Chinese philosophy, the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) are used to describe the interactions and relationships between various phenomena in the natural world. Each Element is associated with certain properties and qualities, and is thought to influence and balance the others. In this system, the Metal Element derives from the Earth Element and is associated with qualities such as strength, determination, and rigidity, just like precious metals.

The energy of metal is Yin and it is a downward one. The Metal Element is associated with the autumn/fall season when the leaves fall to the ground and the sun is lower and less warm, as well as because of its qualities of contraction, organization, and preparation. Just as the fall season is a time of harvest and gathering of crops, the Metal Element represents the idea of collecting and gathering resources, both physically and metaphorically. This gathering and collecting to survive the next few months comes the idea of value and worth. Some of the gifts of the Metal Element are:

There is a sense of letting go in those gifts. A balanced Metal helps to distill what is really important to us and to let go of what holds us back, such as expectations or inherited values that do not serve us. We can feel less that need top control life, and be more appreciative of who we are and what we have. We would not need so much to be validated by others and to justify our value. We are enough.

The Metal Element is associated to the colour white. It is a time when we can privilege white food and wearing white clothing or jewelry. In some cultures white is the preferred colour for funerals and mourning. It is not a coincidence that the predominant emotion of Metal is grief, especially when in imbalance and letting go is difficult.

The organs associated to the Metal Element are the lung (yin) and the large intestine (yang), the sense organ is the nose, and the tissue is the skin. Here also, no coincidence that they all have filtering purposes, keeping us safe from toxins and poisons.

The lungs are said to control respiration and the circulation of Qi (life energy) throughout the body. They are also thought to be responsible for regulating the body’s defenses against disease, and for regulating the skin and body hair. In this system, the lungs are associated with the Metal Element because of the qualities of rigidity and control that the element represents.

The large intestine is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from the indigestible matter and eliminating solid waste from the body. It is associated with the Metal Element because of the qualities of gathering and collecting that the element represents. In this system, the large intestine is thought to help regulate the body’s ability to absorb the necessary nutrients and eliminate waste, much like the process of collecting and separating precious metals.

Some people may see Metal as not such a great element; downward energy, cold metal, grief, yin rather than yang. Metal is also lots of great things. We saw some of the gifts above, but there is also that image of the knife cutting off what we do not need, keeping what we value most. It is a process of distillation and elimination. Value is stronger when we go through these processes. A person with a healthy Metal will feel an inherent sense of value that does not come from the outside, such as possessions or accomplishments. It is about finding balance of what to let in and what to let go. It is not an easy task.

A little acupressure treatment can help balance our Metal Element in autumn, especially if you are told you are of a Metal Element Constitution. A little Qi Gong practice can also help keep the lung and large intestine in good form and energy. Together we can improve your health and wellbeing 🙂

Book here, or call me at 0452628810 for an appointment. We are already in the Metal season…