The Spirit of Autumn: Breath, Harvest, and the Season of Letting Go
Seasonal Shifts, Emotional Insight, and Practical Care
This is a part 1 of 6 in the Autumn Health Series.
(We recommend starting with the Five Elements Series for deeper context if you haven't yet.)
The Spirit of Autumn: Breath, Harvest, and the Season of Letting Go (you are here)
Bowel Movements, Detox Myths, and the Art of Elimination (coming soon)
Nourishing the Lungs: Breath, Sadness, and Defence (coming soon)
Fall Foods and Gentle Transitions in the Kitchen (coming soon)
Menstrual Cycles, Perimenopause, and the Power of Letting Go (coming soon)
Feeling It All: The Metal Element and the Corporeal Soul in Autumn (coming soon)
Bridging from Late Summer? Read that transition HERE.
As the air crisps and the days shorten, Fall invites us to slow down, shed what we no longer need, and begin the quiet preparation for Winter. In Chinese Medicine, this is not just about warmth and blankets—but about tending to the inner landscape, so we meet the cold season with clarity and resilience. This post explores how the season of Autumn is understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine and how we can align ourselves with its rhythm.
Autumn in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), seasons are not just weather patterns. They echo throughout our lives—in the rhythms of each day, in the phases of the menstrual cycle, and in the stages of life.
Autumn, known as the season of the Metal element, is a time of reflection, refinement, and release. It’s when nature lets go of the excess—leaves fall, air dries, the world quiets. This same wisdom can be applied to our bodies and minds.
The Metal Element: Discernment and Structure
In TCM, the Metal element is associated with:
Organs: Lungs & Large Intestine (paired in function and spirit)
Colour: White
Taste: Pungent or acrid
Emotion: Sadness and grief
Bodily system: Skin, breath, elimination
Nature: Dryness
Spiritual layer: The Po, or corporeal soul (more on this in Part 6)
Metal represents discernment—the ability to refine, separate, and let go of what no longer serves, while keeping what truly matters.
Lungs & Large Intestine: The Pair of Release
In Chinese Medicine, organs are always understood as paired. For Autumn, the pair is the Lungs and the Large Intestine, both involved in the sacred process of letting go.
Lungs inhale the new and exhale the old. The first thing a newborn does is inhale—marking entry into postnatal life.
Large Intestine physically eliminates waste, but also supports emotional release. Constipation isn’t just digestive—it’s often emotional.
Letting go, whether it's a breath, a bowel movement, or an old belief, creates space for the new. It is as necessary as it is tender.
Autumn’s Emotions: Sadness and Reflection
The Metal element brings with it the emotions of grief, nostalgia, and quiet sadness. Not necessarily dramatic sorrow—but the gentle ache that accompanies change, memory, and the passing of time.
Honouring these emotions is part of health in TCM. They’re not something to fix, but something to witness—like watching leaves fall.
Seasonal Shifts and Everyday Care
Autumn calls us to slow down, protect our Lungs, and ease dryness. Here are a few ways to live in harmony with the season:
Dress in breathable layers to support your skin and breath
Use a humidifier to counteract dry indoor heat
Begin transitioning meals to cooked, warming foods
Include white-coloured foods like pear, daikon, and almonds
Gently reduce raw and cold foods like salads or smoothies
(Tune in for Part 4 for a full guide to Fall foods.)
Preparing for Winter
Fall is not only about letting go—it’s about preparing. Like animals gathering food or trees drawing energy inward, we, too, are asked to simplify, conserve, and prepare the inner soil for Winter’s stillness.
Curious about how Chinese Medicine might support you this season?
If your breathing, mood, or digestion feel out of step, this could be a seasonal message from your body.
Explore your care options from HERE.
Other posts in this Autumn Health Series:
The Spirit of Autumn: Breath, Harvest, and the Season of Letting Go (you are here)
Bowel Movements, Detox Myths, and the Art of Elimination (coming soon)
Nourishing the Lungs: Breath, Sadness, and Defence (coming soon)
Fall Foods and Gentle Transitions in the Kitchen (coming soon)
Menstrual Cycles, Perimenopause, and the Power of Letting Go (coming soon)
Feeling It All: The Metal Element and the Corporeal Soul in Autumn (coming soon)