Autumn, the transitional season transforming summer to winter
Metal is the pivot between ultimate Yang and ultimate Yin, the transitional autumn season between summer and winter. The direction of Metal is the West, it’s colour is white and it’s represented by the White Tiger, or Bai Hu the most powerful and deadly land animal on Earth.
Metal is said to be firm, rigid, strong and persistent. Those who possess a dominant Metal constitution are thought to be self-reliant and independent, excellent at organization, who are strong-willed yet patient. Metal can conduct electricity with such power, Metal people are said to possess a similar transformative effect upon the projects or people who encounter them.
Considered the Somber Season, autumn is attached to the emotion of grief. We slowly watch as the nature around us either dies and decays or collects its energy inward.
The Metal spirit is known as the Po or the Corporeal soul.
It is thought that when the body dies, so does the Po; it does not transcend the physical world. The Po lives in that space of nothingness; that moment when you breath out before you take a breath in.
The organs associated with Metal are the Lung and Large Intestines because they mimic the contraction of energy which is associated with this season. Contraction is required for both: the Lungs exhales as well as inhales, letting go of toxins in the process while the Large Intestine absorbs fluids, while eliminating waste. The metal organs dynamic relationship is all about receiving and letting go.
Housed in the chest, the lungs are known as the delicate viscera or fragile organ and considered to be the most external. If air- borne pollutants or harsh climatic conditions are breathed in, these go directly to the lungs, hence, the fragility of this organ. The Lung helps us to breath and shares this task with the Kidneys, which is said to 'grasp the Qi' and hold it down when we breathe in. Strong Lung Qi enables people to naturally breathe deeply and make use of the air they take in.
The Lung also has the function of spreading or dispersing what is called 'Defensive' or 'Protective' Wei qi all over the body.
This Defensive Qi is a subcategory of our overall Qi lying just under the skin, protecting us from climatic conditions such as Wind, Cold and Damp. This space is known as the Couli. A person with weak Defensive Qi (through weak Lung Qi) will frequently catch colds and flus and be more likely to have allergic reactions.
Both organs open to the external environment; the lungs via the mouth and nose, the large intestines via the anus. The Large Intestine is the final stage in the digestive process, allowing what we’ve alleviated to go back to the Earth. The Large Intestine is known as the 'drainer of the dregs', by eliminating physical matter and fluids from the body as faeces. It receives transformed food and drink from the Small Intestine for the final stage of processing. It absorbs the remaining pure food and nourishment then it excretes the turbid waste
The Large Intestines can be compared to garbage collectors who regularly empty people's bins. The garbage collectors need to be recognized for the important work that they do. Imagine a large intestine garbage strike; if this waste isn't cleared quickly, it becomes a health hazard, creating illness and disease. Hence the importance of proper and daily elimination to maintain good health.
This next series of blog posts will be dedicated to the Metal season, imparting knowledge and tips on how to keep these organs healthy all autumn long.