Autumn, the Metal Element, and the Practice of Letting Go

In Five Element Acupuncture theory, each season carries its own energetic qualities and life lessons. Autumn is the season of the Metal element, a time often associated with refinement, clarity, and letting go.

Metal is understood as the most distilled and precious part of ourselves—the essence of who we are at our core. As the air turns crisp and the light softens, many of us naturally find ourselves asking deeper questions: Who am I? What is my life’s work? What truly matters most to me?

For some, fall is a beloved season precisely because it invites this kind of reflection. For others, it may feel heavy or even unsettling, as the season asks us to slow down and face more serious, inward-facing themes. Whether autumn is your favorite time of year or not, the rhythm of the season calls all of us to pause and examine what gives our lives meaning.

Each element in Five Element theory carries affinities—clues for how to best support ourselves during that season. With Metal, the associated emotion is grief. Autumn is a time of transition: we say goodbye to the warmth and expansiveness of summer and prepare for the quieter, more introspective winter months. Just as the trees release their leaves, we too are invited to release what no longer serves us. In this way, Metal teaches us the power of letting go—creating space for renewal, clarity, and the new growth that will eventually come.

Allowing ourselves to acknowledge grief, in all its forms, can be healing. Grief is not only about loss—it is also about honoring what has been meaningful and allowing ourselves to move forward with a clearer sense of purpose. By working with the energy of Metal, we connect more deeply with our ability to refine, to distill, and to align with what feels most true.

This autumn, consider what you might be ready to release, and what treasures of insight you can carry with you into the quieter months ahead. Supporting yourself through this seasonal transition might mean embracing practices of reflection, journaling, seeking acupuncture treatments, or simply making more space for stillness and quiet.

Autumn invites us all to let go, to honor what matters, and to open ourselves to the gifts that come with clarity and spaciousness.