Some of you might have heard, or can imagine why, Autumn is considered the season of letting go. Nature transforms its vibrant green hues into rusty and golden tones before eventually shedding the leaves one by one. This occurs due to the gradual cooling of the air and the shortening of days. Nature turns inward in preparation for even colder days and the winter rest.
However, fewer people consider Autumn as a time of letting in as well. Consider trees and plants that draw their sap, rich in nutrients, from their branches into their trunks and roots. Think about the Earth's soil that absorbs the lifeless leaves that have fallen to the ground, enriching it with minerals.
How does it work in our bodies? Autumn resonates energetically with two organs: Colon and Lungs. During this season these two organs are most active. Our bodies will expel the old acumulations through the Large Intestine and take in the new through the breaths of the Lungs. There is a specific relationship between these two organs. As one lets go, the other lets in, but most interestingly this process functions both ways, like a see-saw: the Colon impacting the function of the Lungs and the Lungs having an effect on the Colon.
How can we maximise the activity of these organs during Autumn months?
Physically, for the Colon, we can make some dietary adjustments, adding more fibre from vegetables and fruits, especially cooked ones to avoid cooling off the body too much. Fruits and veg include natural prebiotics, nutrients for the good bacteria present in the gut. And if you have never tried supplementing with good microbes, probiotics such as Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus, this is definitely the time to give it a go. They naturally occur in yoghurt, kefir, or fermented vegetables. You can also supplement them with a good product. The good bacteria balance off the bad ones, the illness provoking ones. So, this preparation is essential for our seasonal immunity as well.
Emotionally and mentally, when our Large Intestine functions smoothly (ideally emptying after each meal as per ancient standards), we have more mental clarity and can better process our thoughts and emotions. Being clear and conscious of our thoughts and emotions makes it much easier to release them. This refers to the immediate or distant events in our lives. Autumn is an ideal moment to clear the past, and, most importantly, open ourselves to embrace the new.
For that matter there are Lungs, responsible for taking in air, providing us with the essential life-sustaining oxygen. For the Lungs, "letting go" actually means "letting in". Because on one hand, regularly and thoroughly emptying the bowels allows breaths to travel deeper into our abdomen. But on the other hand, the breath itself supplies the energy needed for inner downward movement to happen. Pushing down the clear breath will eventually push out the impurities. Have you observed that your elimination improves after a brisk walk? This is due to both the physical activity and the increased oxygen intake.
Autumn is an ideal season for taking walks, to invigorate your lungs and body with oxygen and to contemplate what you want to permanently let go of as you move forward with each step. The remaining leaves on the trees are a golden yellow, symbolizing the importance of holding onto only the "gold standards" in our lives: the people, events, things, and activities that are most precious to you. So simultaneously with each step and each inbreath, spread your arms wide and take in deeply the new and pure energy.
In fact, you may notice that your Lung capacity is greater or is demanding expansion these days. In Classical Chinese Medicine, there are three forms of "renewable" energy in our body: breath, food and rest. The breath is the most active form (Yang) which makes things move, making us feel instantaneously invigorated. Hence, there is such a long and rich tradition of breathing techniques within medical Qi Gong practices.
Therefore, this season in particular, I encourage you to engage in practising breathing techniques and/or Qi Gong. It is beyond healthy emptying. It is about a special autumnal alchemy that occurs when the air, in Classial Chinese Medicine called Tian Qi, "Heavenly breaths", diffuse inside our bodies. Tian Qi brings into our being a connection with that which is beyond physical and mortal, that which is divine and eternal. With each "letting in" of the "Heavenly breaths" we connect to the divine that surrounds us and the divine inside of us. There won't be a better time to do that than in Autumn.
If you desire to learn three simple breathing techniques to let in the "Heavenly breaths", I encourage you to connect to this YouTube channel for registered and live meditation sessions:
