the art of falling: autumn in Chinese Medicine

Written by Emily Sferra, DACM, L.Ac

One of the many gifts this medicine has to offer is its observation of and reverence for the seasons. Seasons are not just the passing of time, but rather a soft yet steady reminder to pause, observe and reflect. To acknowledge the shift that is happening in every living thing around us, to witness the changes taking place in our external environment, and what lessons or suggestions those changes might offer for our internal environment — mind, body and spirit.

In Chinese Medicine, the season of fall is associated with the Lung and Large Intestine meridians and officials embedded within each of us. The physiology of these internal systems are responsible for the functions of taking in and excreting on a physical, mental, and spiritual level. We exhale the expired, so that we can inhale the inspired. We release waste to make space. Take a peek, or better yet a step, outside and you’ll see these dynamics unfolding at large. Trees are quite literally releasing their leaves, plants are dropping whatever can not or will not be harvested. The weather turns colder and the feel of the air on our skin shifts as the growing season closes. Autumn is the inevitable season where life withers … and the earth is there to soak it all up, and use it as fertilizer for seasons and harvests to come. Our bodies, minds and spirits are primed to release and reap the future benefits of this season as well.

So often we feel pressured to “keep it together”, to “hold tight” and “stand strong”. It can be hard to let go, and even harder to discern what to let go of. We commonly associate the concept of letting go, or the emotional experience of “falling [apart]” as scary, uncontrolled, dangerous and to be avoided at all costs. And while any of these associations may be rooted in real and lived experiences, I urge you to consider the alternative…

Consider the risks involved with not letting yourself “fall”, at least every once in awhile. With gripping life so tightly you leave no room for growth, for change, for a shift in perspective. No room for anything to get in or out.

Consider the curious and wobbly toddler who trips and falls over and over. How else would they possibly learn to walk? Learn how to navigate the world around them? Learn how to fall, catch your breath, and redirect? It seems to me, they’ve got it figured out: to be human, is to fall.

And so, we use this season to practice what I’m calling the art of falling: letting go, to let in. Knowing that receiving gifts to come requires making room, creating space and releasing that which no longer serves us. Fall is also associated with the Metal element; this element’s energy helps us refine what is valuable to us, allowing us to simultaneously let life in and fully detach when necessary.

You may sense a heaviness, a downward energy and a reflective state in fall. This is the time we deepen within ourselves. We drop in, tune out, pare down. And what happens after we fall? We take a breath. This beauty of this season is its offering of these dualistic and balancing energies. The autumn air is crisp, sharp and invigorating; the views open up as the trees bare their leaves. This is where community can come in; where we can lean on others to help support us in times of need. This is an ideal time to seek out an acupuncture treatment, particularly if you are struggling to find balance within the energies of the season.

“By letting go, we can see clearly again, and with new vision.” - DK

May this autumn season find you falling into new views.

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My references for this work include Debra Kaatz’s text Characters of Wisdom.

DISCLAIMER: This information is for general health education and not meant to diagnose or treat any disease or condition. For more information, please call the clinic at 805-534-3241 or schedule a free consultation.