The Metal Element
The Metal Element
The metal element is like a minister who conducts the affairs of the state, setting limits, protecting boundaries, and instilling rhythm and order to the body.
Its archetype is that of the alchemist, who desires order, and values mastery, purity, and righteousness.
The metal element is associated with the season of fall, and represents clarity, refinement and maturity.
Just like metal itself, the metal element is both clear and cutting, allowing one to examine in detail, evaluate, and judge.
It is the mental ability to think and analyze.
It symbolizes the clear and bright, giving qualities of discernment and virtue.
It is protective, like armor.
It is associated with:
the color white,
the lung and large intestine,
the skin,
and its associated emotion is that of sadness and grief.
When the metal phase is not in balance:
We can see respiratory issues, such as certain asthmatic conditions or the tendency to frequently catch colds,
We might see bowel issues, certain skin conditions, or problems pertaining to one’s voice.
A person can be too cutting, sarcastic, judgmental, or too armored, creating barriers to relationships.
One can become obsessed with material reality (as metal symbolizes gems and currency) or too absorbed in the life of the mind (without the balance of passion, physicality, or spirituality).
Some ways to support the metal element of your body:
The expansive quality of pungent foods (the flavor associated with the metal element and lungs) can help disperse the stuck, mucus laden energy of these organs.
Pungent flavored foods of white color can be especially helpful - such as garlic, onion, radish, daikon radish, etc. (although ginger, chilies, etc are beneficial as well).
Conscious breathing, to help move the energy and revitalize the energy of the lungs.
Sufficient physical movement to support healthy respiration and elimination.
As metal’s cosmological associations are stones, gems, minerals (rocks, mountains)- spending time with these can be healing as well.
What influences the metal phase?
The metal element is nourished by the earth element (the earth forms minerals and brings them to the surface), and the fire element restrains the metal element (by burning and melting it).
Therefore when we see issues arising in the Metal Element, we will also often look to see if it is being properly nourished by its parent element (Earth), or if its is being insulted by its controlling element (Fire).
The Five Elements
The 5 Elements (Phases) are nothing but symbols to describe the different movements that transpire within the dynamics of yin & yang, and the energetics and processes that occur within our human physiology - as the forces that govern and rule the natural world, are the same forces at play within our individual bodies.
At its core, Chinese medicine is a holistic medicine that originated from looking at and observing nature.
It is a science of symbolism.
Each of the 5 elements captures a certain movement, a certain motion, observed in the natural world; and each has its own energy characteristics within us (physically, emotionally, and spiritually).
In this medicine, health is understood as a state of being in harmony with nature, and aligned with the greater natural world.
We all embody all 5 elements, and when in health they are all mutually enhancing and regulating.
When out of balance, certain elements can become destructive and insulting or deficient and stifled.
Understanding the elements can help reveal where our bodies or psyches are needing support at any given moment in time.
Curious to Learn More?
1) Check out the rest of the element summaries here. Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water. Since all the elements live within all of us, it can be helpful to understand how they each interact.
2) Want to dive deeper into your own personal patterning? Get your own personalized reading & report here.
3) Wanting to work together 1 on 1? Shoot me a note and let's see how I might be able to help you.
