The Autumnal Equinox marks the transition into the four months that constitute the season of Fall. Autumn is the time to harvest the nutritional gifts of the crops and gardens while the natural world redirects its energies back into its core of roots, seeds, bulbs and soil.
By no longer sending energy outward to expand, mature, fruit or flower, the natural world contracts as it shifts into the season of reserve and rest. One obvious example is how trees pull back nutrition from the leaves and send out the chemical, auxin, to cause the leaves to release and drop. Attempting to maintain foliage through the colder months would be waste of precious resources and could even be the demise of the tree. The release is necessary for self-preservation. Fall and winter provide the time for all to be nourished by the minerals and moisture in the soils and gather a reservoir of energy so the cycle of life can unfold again the following year.
According to ancient Chinese medicine, from which acupuncture arose, Autumn has a physical and symbolic relationships with the organs of the Lungs and Large Intestine as well as the element of Metal. Physically the lungs regulate the body’s energy through the quality of breath. Each inhalation filters, assimilates, and enriches the blood with oxygen that is ushered to the heart. Every beat of the heart circulates oxygenated blood to organs, cells, tissues. Exhalation discards carbon dioxide and metabolic waste to protect and preserve the quality of life within. The large intestine is responsible for absorbing and storing water and eliminating solid waste. This organ functions to cleanse and detoxify on many levels protecting vitality through the excretion of toxic matter.
Although these two organs do not physically connect, they are co-regulating each other and govern the skin. In utero, the lungs and large intestine develop and mature simultaneously. This is one primary reason as why it is desirable for a fetus to continue gestating to the 36-40 week point. During that essential time time the lungs and large intestine complete their development and fat begins to fill out the skin. One challenge of a premature birth is potential breathing and elimination problems. Conversely, a risk of going overdue is that the large intestine will finish development and have a meconium stool, a bowel movement, that is “breathed” into the lungs. It's a delicate, and miraculous balance.
Throughout our lifetime the lungs and large intestine work together to regulate the pores of the skin, sense of smell, and are intimately connected to the immune system, ultimately protect the body from illnesses. Much like Autumn, the lungs are responsible for pulling life force energy deep into our system while the large intestine releases what no longer is useful to sustain the body’s health.
In Five Element philosophy, Autumn and its corresponding organs relate to the element of Metal. Metal is a product of the earth’s depth like iron, copper, nickel, gold and other minerals in the soil and stone. Metal is a conductor of energy. Oxygen interacts with metal and the quality of our breath aids in the binding of iron in the blood. Like the precious stones and gems, metal is associated with courage and reverence, symbolizing strength, value, endurance. The element of metal corresponds to the spiritual dimension of life’s mystery and corresponds how we process the emotion of grief that transforms to reveal the preciousness of life.
When relating to the body anytime of the year, we must remember that the body has a voice but it does not speak to us through logical words but rather through emotions, cravings, sleep and eating cycles, sounds, and when weak or over-burdened, speaks to us with pain or disease symptoms.
When Lungs, Large Intestines or their energy need support, the body communicates with any lung, skin, or large intestine challenge like chronic colds, asthma, bowel disturbances, and skin disorders like acne or eczema, cloudy, restless mind, or stubborn aches and pains that cannot be detected or explained by physical exams or blood tests.
When too much is being held onto emotionally, one isn’t having life-affirming experiences, or the to-do list is overwhelming, the body tends to make the sound of excessive sighing. Waking up with anxious or obsessive thoughts between the hours of 3-7AM are calls for attention from these organs. The early hours are the time that Lungs (3-5am) and Large Intestine (5-7am) are renewing within the cycle of each day. While these challenges can occur anytime during the year, one may witness an amplification or “rebellion” of symptoms in the Fall when the organs are detoxing and rejuvenating.
Support for these organs are many, but the most meaningful resource is the breath. Taking pause to follow the depth of a slow inhalation until the lungs feel comfortably filled and then allowing the exhalation to gently fall out to its empty base can nourish the blood and expand lung capacity, overtime. Consciously elongating the exhalation is a key to calming and regulating the nervous system, ushering the body/mind to a more restful space.
A useful breath technique consists of inhaling to the count of 4 and exhaling to a count of 6, encouraging the the out-breath to be slightly longer than the in-breath. Conscious breathing is especially beneficial to usher one back to sleep in the middle of the night or to calm and anxious mind or heart.
As a symbolic mentor, the archetype of the Sage can be a meaningful persona to reflect upon or cultivate to navigate the energy of Autumn and the well-being of the Lungs and Large Intestine. The Sage is the steward of the sacred space and revolves around knowledge and truth. Therefore, this seeker regards life experiences as a means of learning, wisdom and making sound judgement. We can cultivate our inner Sage by reviewing aspects of our life that need simplifying or shifting of attention order to protect our vitality.
Autumn is a perfect time to sort through clutter in our homes and in our psyche. As the season demonstrates a preservation of energy, we can review our commitments to others in order to shed unnecessary obligations. Becoming guardians of our personal time, refining our attention to the people and projects that are most close to our hearts, and devoting time resting and seeking life-giving opportunities can draw our emotional energies closer to what matters most to us.
Other simple supports are to feed your senses with natural air, spending time with animals, and eating seasonally ripe and fibrous fruits and vegetables like pears, cauliflower, turnip, kohlrabi, kale, spinach, arugula, to name a few. Herbs and spices like cinnamon, tarragon, rosemary, time, fennel, parsley, dill, horseradish, basil+ promote energy circulation and a homey, warming sense.
Also take time for tending the skin with massage, baths, or essential oils. Sesame oil is a great choice for most skin and energy types that can enhanced with rosemary, geranium, marjoram, orange, or cedar wood essential oils.
A simple daily movement to stimulate and support the these organs and the flow of their energetic pathways comes from the Japanese tradition of Shiatsu in movements called the Makko-ho for the Lung and Large Intestine. This synchronized flow of breath and movement is a beneficial way to waken at the start of the day and to quiet the body and mind in preparation for bed.
Lung/Large Intestine Makko Ho
Exercise: Inhale arms overhead, exhale interlace the thumbs behind the back and fold forward.
Intention: Harmonizing the life force through what is drawn in and what is released. Transforming grief to reveal the preciousness of life.
Repeat for 6+ breaths.
Wishing you a blessed transition at this Autumn season. Crossing this threshold, may we reflect upon those aspects of our year that we have sown, watered, nurtured to maturity and harvested at fruition.
May we also begin to slow the pace to look inside with gentleness as we step into the season that reminds us to soften the hold and step into spirit through rest and renewal.
Wishing you release that reveals the preciousness of life this Autumn season.