How do you organize your life around your dreams? Start by asking yourself:
WHAT CAN I LET GO OF?
Then let the Metal Element do the work! Yes, the Metal Element could help. And, wow, if this isn’t a good time in history to get clear!
Fall has arrived, and it’s been stunningly beautiful, here in the Midwest. It just keeps going, the colors keep popping! This time of year, the Fall, is associated with the Metal Element. This element is all about refinement, letting go, knowing yourself - what you want, and don’t want. Getting clear, and making boundaries so that you can choose what’s right for YOU. It’s kinda perfect that I’m writing this today - it’s voting day here in the US, the perfect day to get clear and CAST YOUR VOTE - a very Metal activity.
What’s the Metal Element? Can you see the leaves changing colors, no longer the bright green from just a month ago? Do you notice trees that are now bare? Can you feel the cripsness in the air, almost smell it? Do you hear it in the crunching sound as you walk across the leaves scattered, having already fallen from the trees? Daylight hours are growing shorter and it’s getting dark earlier. You may be called to settle into your home or bed earlier than you did last month. Experiencing a shift in your energy. Perhaps you’re longing to make life a bit simpler. If you’re spending more time inside, you’re noticing things you no longer need or want. Maybe you’re drawn to make boundaries around your time. Wanting to get clear on what’s important to you, to prioritize your own values. Or maybe, as you slow down, you’re finally able to feel some grief.
Does any of this resonate? That’s Metal, demonstrating its nature, right in front of us! This natural process of slowing down, shedding, letting go of what’s no longer needed, keeping only the most essential parts. Maybe even dying. When I lived in California, it was more subtle, but you could sense a change, even there. If it’s not so obvious where you live, what do you notice? How do you experience this shift? This energy is different from the energy of “adventure” in spring, the “excitement” in summer, or the “calm” in late-summer. This energy is…hmm, a bit Edgar Allen Poe-ish, really. Things are decaying, right in front of us! Personally, I find some comfort in knowing that it’s in service to new growth in the Spring. Even as it’s true that not everything will return, there will always be new growth, of some kind. Grief is associated with the Metal Element, and yes, it can be super powerful to let go, it can also be hard, sad, heart wrenching. As demonstrated by nature, death is an integral part of living.
Metal is also the alchemy of experience turning into knowledge (aka maturity). Let that sink in for a moment. ALL of your experiences can be turned into knowledge. Even our collective experiences. Does this always happen? No. sometimes we keep repeating the same experiences over and over, as we develop. as we seem to be doing now, globally. But it is possible to turn those experiences into some knowledge we can keep! When you allow your experiences to alchemize into knowledge here’s what happens: you find clarity. It’s simple and clean, just like Metal. You know what’s no longer needed, and what’s essential, you know where you need to make boundaries, you’re awed by simple beauty, experiencing reverence and wonder for the world, the sun, the moon, for human life—the truest expression of joy. And this, my friend, will guide you towards what YOU value, and what’s important to YOU. When you’re clear on that, it’s so much easier to choose actions that are in alignment with who you are. What needs some clarity in your life right now? If you’re feeling clear on who you want making decisions for your neighborhood or city, go out and vote. Like I said earlier—classic Metal activity.
In the Five Elements, the Metal Element is generated by the Earth Element. The burning Fire that was summer turned to ash, which created the Earth of late summer. The Earth has now, through the process of decay, turned to Metal. In Chinese Medicine the Metal Element is associated with the lungs and the large intestines. The lungs are the first receptors of the physical world—as we breathe, making contact with the outside, breathing in oxygen and Qi (life force). Paired with the large intestine, they circulate fluids and control the metabolism of water in the body, excreting unwanted fluids from the body. Knowing what to let go of and what to keep, with an emphasis on the letting go. Everybody poops. The lungs are also thought of as the place where grief is held in the body. Ever experience the sensation where you finally stop holding your breath, and grief is allowed to pour out of you? Next time it happens, allow it to stay and sit down, offer it some tea. A transformation will happen. This is the Metal element.
Each element has it’s own vibe and personality. The vibe of Metal is all about reducing and refining, its personality is the alchemist and advocate. Metal is clear communication and discernment. Boundaries and knowledge of yourself, that come from creating limits and respecting yourself, having learned from your experiences. It thrives on order and moderation, striving for true justice. In the Elemental Values deck, some of the values associated with Metal are integrity, clarity, simplicity, boundaries, awe, completion, and grieving. As you can see from these values, Metal can be one of the trickier elements to master. It requires a certain amount of courage, fearlessness, a large dose of self respect and self knowledge, and persistence mixed with compassion…for yourself, and others. Oh, what the world needs now! If you’re looking to organize your life around your dreams, and want to find some clarity about what to let go of, this is the season where there’s an abundance of Metal energy available to support you.
There are a few ways you can work with Metal, one of them is through your space, your home. In Feng Shui the Guas associated with Metal, are Creativity/Children and Helpful People. See my previous blog to learn more about the Ba Gua. Let’s get you facing your front door from the outside of your home. Go now, in your imagination or physically. The Helpful People area is the front right corner of your home, and the Creativity/Children area is just behind this, at the midsection of your home on the right side. How do you feel in these areas of your home? What’s there? An open space, a wall, a room? Clutter? Do you feel clear in these areas of your home? Can you breathe? Clear out the clutter, sweep, dust, mop, clap your hands in the corners of the room, spray some lavender oil into those same corners. After you do that, do you feel different? Does your space feel different? I already know that it’s impossible for it not to! Look to the Metal Element to create an environment that feels clear, uncluttered, simple. This WILL support your efforts to let go.
What does this have to do with your dreams? Dreams require clarity, integrity, refinement/polishing, boundaries, breath! An exhale! They require the energy of the Metal Element. Letting go, even greiving, can allow you more space and time to pursue your dreams—to get clear on what you’re wanting to dream into being. Metal IS knowing what you value! And your dreams will reflect YOUR values. To get here, sometimes your dreams need you to stop and find some clarity. For you to make some boundaries, and let go of what’s getting in your way! To translate this into your actual life, take Metal actions. Like taking a deep breath, clearing your space or mind of clutter, making a boundary that protects your time and your dreams, or finding time to be awed by the beauty around you. In this Metal season, would you be willing to choose to take actions that are motivated by clarity, integrity, justice and awe? To choose to take actions that respect all the knowledge you’ve gained from your experiences so far, and to stand up for what you know to be true? Choose to pursue letting go, knowing that this will open up a path towards living the life of your dreams.
Here’s some ideas of how to use the Metal Element to take action:
Appreciate beauty, notice it everywhere. Breathe it in. Be in awe of your planet, of your life, your friends and family, your fellow humans. Let this positively charged Qi expand and move through your body.
Eliminate distractions, make a boundary, set a limit, protect your time and think about how you want to use it. Just notice how you’re spending your time, and where you could make some changes—that are in alignment with your values.
Clear some clutter, start with 9 items, or 9 minutes per day. Go for it, let go!
Curate your things, organize your space, get a sense of who you are, and who you want to be.
Keep things simple, simplify your stuff and your obligations, This is an important step.
Speak clearly and honestly. Notice when this is difficult, forgive yourself, then try again.
Stand up for yourself and others.
Weep, uncontrollably, freely, with all your heart.
Let go of who you think you ‘should” be, let go of thoughts that tie you up.
Work with the Elemental Values cards to connect to your own personal values. Write them down, explore them, choose them.
Remember, small moves create big changes.