Refinement Over Release: Notes on Fall
We often think of fall as a season of letting go—leaves gracefully drifting to the earth, harvests complete, sunlight beginning to contract. But in Chinese Medicine, autumn belongs to the element of Metal. All metal comes from the earth and is refined and polished into its beauty, strength, and usefulness. A release without refinement is an action without intention. The path of metal teaches us to see what is essential, to polish what remains, and to discover value in what we already hold.
Spiritually, this season invites us to sift through thoughts, experiences, knowledge, and perceptions and tease out what is invaluable - the True Self underneath all of the labels, ideas, and roles. It is in the distillation that we find truth, clarity, and contentment.
In short, fall invites us into the alchemical practice of quieting, releasing, and refining. If you want to bring the practice of refinement into your life this season:
Practice the physiological sigh - take a deep belly breath in. At the top of the breath, bring in just a little more inhale. Let the breath go with a sigh. Notice what has been released, what has shifted, and finally, what remains. What remains is your next step...
Dry brush your skin and practice Ayurvedic abhyanga, self-massage with sesame or coconut oil. Think of this as literal refinement of your skin!
Try Neti Neti, a Vedic meditation practice intended to disidentify with the body, mind, thoughts, experiences, emotions, and other concepts that reduce us. You can learn more about Neti Neti HERE. Neti Neti leads us to the step after release: refinement. This is where the magic lives.
Write down only a small handful of the most essential things in your life - relationships, values, practices. Choose one a day as a journaling prompt over the next few days. What is the essence of each? How can you bring that essence into other parts of your life?