Autumn is Metal: from Sept 21 to the winter solstice of December 21
During the fall a downward shift occurs; the light lessens, days grow shorter, and energy descends back into the earth for the dormant cycle. Leaves fall from the trees, the last fruits ripen, and life energy contracts. We move into a place of profound stillness, just as Persephone retreated to the underworld at the end of harvest. Grief is the emotion most frequently associated with the lung/metal element, but on a spiritual level, metal is also associated with the deep, visceral knowing of the body that comes with stillness and deep listening. The color of the metal element is white, its flavor is spicy or volatile, and the associated organs are lung and large intestine. The hours for lungs are 3 to 5 a.m.; large intestine is 5 to 7 a.m.
Foods that enhance the metal element:
Grain: White, brown, and sweet rice, mochi
Vegetables: Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, celery, daikon radish, onions, parsnips, watercress, mustard and turnip greens, turnips, garlic, cucumber, leeks
Beans and Pulses: white beans
Fruits: Banana, pear, apples
Fish: Bass, snapper, cod, haddock, herring, flounder, sole, halibut
Herbs and Seasonings: dill, fennel, thyme, ginger root, horseradish, cinnamon, cayenne, basil, and rosemary
