The arrival of Autumn and the reminder to let go

Autumn is arriving faster than I could imagine. There was a deep shift from sunny and warm days to grey and cold ones. This directly affects my mood and energy levels. My latino blood requires longer exposure to summer days, compared to what Switzerland can offer.

During the week where this shift happened, I found myself reflecting about the meaning of Autumn.

The change in seasons is so prominent in Europe compared to Latin America, that I always observe them with curious eyes. There is always beauty behind these shifts, and that was the exercise for me during this particular week.

When I think of Autumn, the first image that comes to mind is the trees changing colour and leaving a growing carpet of leaves at our feet. The leaves, once the tool for the tree to produce energy and survive, now simply disappear. The tree moves from an active phase of energy production, to a mode guided by energy saving. The sap moves to the roots and the trees play dead until Spring arrives.

This dropping of the leaves makes me think about the letting go aspect that Autumn inspires us to reflect on.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this season is related to the Metal element and to the Lung and Large Intestine.

The metal, in order to be valued, needs to go through a process of refinement, purification, where there is this this movement of selecting what stays and what needs to be released, removed. Metal blades cut through matter, separating what's good or bad, what stays and what goes. On metal we find reflection, a mirror that shows reality back to us and supports this discernment process, important for the decision making related to what remains and what should be eliminated. It's all about separating things and letting go of what is no longer needed.

This same mechanism or movement is the core action of the lungs and large intestines. The lungs are responsible for capturing the oxygen from the air and bringing it into the body for nourishment, to then release carbon dioxide. The large intestines absorb minerals, vitamins and water, and push all the rest down to be eliminated. Both of these organs need to allow the cycle of elimination to be completed, otherwise we find ourselves sick.

All of this makes me reflect about "grip". How much we tend sometimes to grip into things we judge as valuable. Everything is cyclical in life - see nature, the biggest school or inspiration to understand how we work. Something valuable is presented, it's enjoyed and at some point it has to be let go of. Cycles have a beginning and an end which leads to a new beginning. Inhale and exhale. Food intake and elimination of waste. The value is internalised, used or enjoyed, its purpose is fulfilled, to then be released and transformed into something else.

The "grip" can come in so many different situations. Ideas that we release in the world, and, once they are out there, we are no longer in control of their outcome - a teaching for us to release the grip. Relationships that are formed and might be terminated by will or not, leading us to practice grip release. Beliefs that are created and will at some point need to be reshaped or completely released for their cycle to be completed and for space to be created for new and more supportive ones. The list goes on and on.

The trees do not grip to their leaves in fear that they will no longer have energy to survive. Nature knows that everything is cyclical. Nature knows that Spring will come again, restarting the same cycle once more.

This brings up the "trust" factor. Releasing the grip means accepting that we are not in control. It's this "trust" that life has a flow of ups and downs, coming and going, growing and dying, staying and leaving and mostly, impermanence. We don't have any control over the future, but we can fully enjoy the present.

Let's take the inspiration from nature and practice the letting go of our grips. Let's practice trust. Let's enjoy what is offered to us, for as long as they are available.

My support for you...

Considering it's time to release, how about coming for a bodywork session to support yourself releasing all tension kept in body and/or mind?

The thaiyoga sessions are a great tool to provide the space for your body to relax and drop all tension down to the massage mat.

The abdominal massage sessions (Chi Nei Tsang) are also heavily connected with this energy since it supports your body to detoxify and release what no longer serves you (more details here).

Wishing you a Happy Autumn!

With love,

Tarsi.