Autumn - Metal element.

I know that this week in Ireland definitely has more of a late summer / Earth vibe to it, but last week was definitely autumnal. And I’m fairly certain I have covered the Earth element already.

So let’s talk metal.

The colour associated with metal is white. White in China is associated with loss or grief, it is the colour of mourning.

If the metal element is out of balance it appears under or beside the eyes.

The sounds, tones and expressions of this element are around loss and grief. As nature sheds its fruit and leaves, it’s as though we mourn the loss of summer. Which in fact many of us do, feeling the approach of the dark winter nights. Ireland would be an even split I think between lovers and haters of autumn. Many rejoice in the return of sweaters and spooky season, many mourn the loss of the long bright days.

I do both. While I love the crisp colours of autumn, and my perrimenopause loves the cooler temperatures, I don’t like the short days.

The odour associated with metal is rotten. Think of the smell of wet fallen leaves, or your compost bin.

Autumn brings decrease, as nature winds down and starts to hibernate for winter. Stillness, letting go, after the business of the harvest season.

Harvest wasn’t just about collecting crops, crops needed to be prepped and stored for winter. Weeks of preserving meat, pickling vegetables, making sauces, jams, preserves. And then the stillness after that work was done.