Autumn the season of Metal

Autumn is the season of the Metal element in Chinese medicine.

It’s a time when nature starts to let go. The trees lose their leaves, the days get shorter and everything begins to turn inwards.

Autumn gives us a chance to ask: what am I still holding onto that I don't actually need anymore?

We spend a lot of time building layers around ourselves. Some are necessary. Some protect us. Some help us get through difficult periods. But sometimes we keep wearing those layers long after we need them.

Letting go doesn’t have to mean throwing everything away, it can be a little simpler than that. It might mean noticing an old belief, a habit, a way of behaving or a story about yourself that once served a purpose but doesn’t quite feel right anymore.

And when we create a little space, we can sometimes notice what was underneath all along.

This is one of the things I love about the Metal element. It isn’t just about loss or letting go. It’s also about recognising value.

Think about a piece of metal that has become tarnished. The value hasn’t disappeared, it just needs a little attention before you can see it again.

We can be a bit like that!

Sometimes we spend so much energy looking outside ourselves for reassurance, validation or a sense of worth that we forget to notice what is already there. Our qualities, our experience, the things we've learned, the relationships we've built, the parts of ourselves that have quietly been there all along.

Autumn naturally encourages us to slow down and turn inwards. So perhaps this season isn't about doing more or searching further. Perhaps it’s about taking some time to notice what’s already there.

That process isn't always easy. Looking honestly at ourselves can bring up things we'd rather avoid, and sometimes we need another person to help us see what we can't see for ourselves. That's where support can be really valuable.

The Metal element reminds us that letting go and recognising our value aren't separate things. Sometimes we need to release what we're carrying in order to reconnect with what matters.

Perhaps that's one of the gifts of autumn: a reminder that losing something isn't always about having less. Sometimes it's about making room to see what you already have.