Element of Metal: Letting Go
The Metal Element -Lungs and Large Intestines
As the air grows crisp and the light softens, autumn whispers a gentle truth: it’s time to let go.
This is the season of the Metal element in the Taoist Philosophy — the energy of clarity, breath, and release.
It’s nature’s invitation to pause, exhale, and trust the cycles of change.
Metal teaches us refinement — how to distil what’s essential and let go of what’s not.
It’s the sparkle of morning frost, the sharp breath of cool air, the quiet after the leaves have fallen.
In the body, Metal governs the lungs and large intestine — organs that help us receive and release.
Breath in, breath out. Taking in what nourishes, letting go of what no longer serves.
When Metal energy flows freely, we feel clear, calm, and connected.
When it’s blocked, we may feel grief, rigidity, or overwhelm — as if we’re clinging too tightly to what’s already meant to fall away.
Metal reminds us to be bright and shiny, which means to be smart and project a loving, light-hearted attitude.
Yin Yoga for the Metal Element
In Yin Yoga, we honour Metal through poses where we can add an arm position to it or one that compromise our neck. All the Wing postures are great to involve the lung and large intestine meridian, that free the lungs and soften the breath. Autumn isn’t about doing more — it’s about softening into stillness.
A few beautiful shapes for this season:
Closed Wing
Cat Pulling its Tail
Camel
Cow Face Arms
As you hold each pose, focus on the exhale — the quiet, steady rhythm of release.
Ask yourself:
. What am I ready to let go of?
. What can I soften into today?
Nourishment for the Metal Season
Autumn’s energy is dry and cooling — so our bodies crave warmth, moisture, and gentle support.
Think soups, stews, teas, and seasonal fruits that keep the lungs and digestion happy. But nourishment in the Metal season isn’t just about food — it’s about intention. It’s how you prepare, breathe, and bless what you’re receiving.
Here are a few simple, soulful recipes for your autumn table:
🍐 Roasted Pears with White Sesame & Vanilla
A deeply Yin, heart-softening dish that combines the moist sweetness of pears with the refined fragrance of vanilla. White sesame seeds — a Metal-aligned ingredient — nourish Yin energy and the lungs, while the aroma of vanilla invites ease and emotional softness.
Ingredients
2 ripe pears, halved and cored
1 tsp coconut oil or ghee
1 tbsp honey or brown rice syrup
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp white sesame seeds, lightly toasted
Method
Brush pears with melted coconut oil and honey.
Roast at 180°C (350°F) for about 20 minutes, until tender and golden.
Sprinkle with vanilla and toasted sesame just before serving.
Enjoy warm — a dessert for the soul. Sweet, grounding, and gently awakening.
🥣 Miso Root Soup
Comfort in a bowl — earthy, grounding, and deeply nourishing.
You’ll need:
4 cups vegetable broth
1 tbsp miso paste
1 carrot, 1 parsnip, ½ daikon radish (chopped)
A handful of kale or bok choy
A few slices of ginger
Simmer until the vegetables are tender, then stir in miso paste at the end.
Eat slowly. Feel your breath deepen with each spoonful.
🌿 Silver Breath Tea (Lung Clarity Infusion)
Inspired by the refined clarity of Metal, this tea blend clears the lungs, soothes the throat, and encourages a deep, clean exhale. It’s cooling yet comforting — perfect before meditation or a Yin practice.
Ingredients
1 tsp dried mullein leaf (clears and opens the lungs)
½ tsp liquorice root (harmonizes and moistens)
1 tsp fresh pear slices or dried apple peel
A few white chrysanthemum petals (optional, for clarity and peace)
Method
Steep all ingredients in just-boiled water for 8–10 minutes.
Strain gently; breathe in the aroma before sipping.
A tea to inhale before you drink — honouring the breath as medicine.
Returning to the Essence
In nature, letting go isn’t a loss — it’s renewal.
The trees don’t mourn their falling leaves; they trust the cycle.
In our practice, release is the exhale after holding on.
It’s the gentle moment after effort, the quiet after emotion, the stillness that makes space for something new.
You might take a few minutes each evening to journal or breathe with this reflection:
. What am I ready to release?
. What has served its purpose and can now fall away?
. What space could open if I let go?
No need to force an answer — just breathe and allow what arises.
The Beauty of Release
Autumn is the Metal season — a time for clarity, honesty, and simplicity.
A time to breathe deeply, let go gently, and trust that in releasing, we make room for renewal.
So take a breath.
Let the leaves fall.
Trust the unfolding.
In the softness of Yin, there is strength.
In the art of letting go, there is freedom.
So much love to you this Autumn and may you release what no longer serves you and find clarity and strength. Serina Sunshine xxx