After the Late Summer comes Fall, the season of the Metal Element. The seeds we planted in the spring, grew and blossomed in the summer and then were harvested in the late summer. The warm humid air of late summer turns cool and crisp and dry. Now nature lets go. The fruits that were not gathered in fall to the ground and enrich the soil. The trees let go of their leaves, making room for new growth in the spring. Nature turns inward. 
The earth contains metals and it is these metals within the soil that give it value. Precious metals are used to recognize value in others: gold medals and diamond engagement rings, for example. Metal goes with the father who represents authority and wisdom and is a guide that we trust. We give our respect to and acknowledge that which is valuable in him. But Metal also reminds us of our own essential value. And at our essence is our connection to the Divine, that which is of highest value. Metal gives us the ability to perceive what is special and valuable both around us and within us, that divine spark. Metal helps us see our higher purpose and gives us self-esteem.
The colon goes with Metal. It lets go of the waste on all levels. We have to let go of the past, of old food, old ideas, old beliefs. And when the colon doesn’t work, we become full of crap and crappy ideas and old beliefs that suffocate us. We may lose our self-respect and respect for others. Part of our work as human beings is to let go of what gets in the way of our connection to our essential self.
But just as we have to let go, we need to take in. The lungs also go with metal. After we exhale, we inhale. We breathe in cool, clean air in the fall. We breathe in inspiration all the time. We have ”light-bulb” moments. Aha! Eureka! We take in moments of meditational bliss when we feel connected to the Divinity of life. But when our lung system isn’t working well, we may feel a lack of inspiration. Life becomes mundane, lacking in spark. When this occurs, one way to reconnect is to breathe slowly and deeply. All spiritual practices recognize breathing as a way of getting in touch with our spirits, our essential selves.
The emotion of Grief goes with Metal. We grieve over the loss of someone or something or over the loss of connection to our essential self. At times it is natural to grieve. Grief cleanses us of what is no longer needed in our lives. And when we let go, we create the space for something new.
How is your Metal?