Welcome to Metal: Breathing Deeply, Honoring Sadness & Letting Go

Angie K Love
Aug 30
4 min read

Updated: Sep 1

Series: Tending to the Five Elements

In Chinese medicine, the Metal element is about refinement, discernment, and the clarity that comes through release. It governs the Lungs and Large Intestine, inviting us to breathe fully, let go of what no longer serves, and create room for healing—even when that means sitting with grief.

Metal corresponds with autumn, a season of crisp air, waning light, and falling leaves. Nature mirrors our inner process of surrender and renewal, asking us to honor both the sadness and the wisdom that come with letting go.

autumn mountain scenery with morning mist

Recognizing When Metal Needs Care

You may be Metal-dominant or experiencing a Metal imbalance if you:

Hold onto sadness or grief long after a loss
Struggle with shallow breathing or tightness in the chest
Experience frequent dry skin, cough, or constipation
Have difficulty loosening old patterns, perfectionism, or rigidity

The Lungs and Large Intestine work in tandem in the Metal element: the Lungs draw in fresh Qi and inspiration, while the Large Intestine clears out what the body and spirit no longer need. When one is blocked, the other often suffers. Deep breathing nourishes Lung Qi and creates the movement necessary for healthy elimination—physically and emotionally.

When grief lingers, it can weaken Lung Qi and dim our inner light. The Metal element encourages us to let sadness move through—like leaves drifting from the trees—so we can breathe freely again.

Foods & Practices to Nurture the Metal Element

Choose light, airy, subtly sweet or slightly pungent foods to moisten the lungs and support the intestines. White and pale-colored foods often carry this energy.

Metal-supportive foods include:

Pear, apple, daikon, jicama, turnip, white fungus (snow ear mushroom)
Soft whole grains such as white rice congee, oats, millet
Cooling, moistening soups or broths (e.g., with ginger + pumpkin + pear)
Mild herbs and spices like ginger, fennel, white pepper

Avoid overly dry, heavy, or greasy foods; they can further constrict the Lung energy.

Metal-supportive practices include:

Breathwork or gentle meditation to strengthen Lung Qi and move grief with compassion
Spending time in nature—walking among falling leaves is a simple, powerful ritual of release
Journaling or allowing tears to flow, giving yourself permission to honor sadness rather than resist it

How Healing Therapies Can Help

In the autumn season, therapies that open the chest, support elimination, and encourage emotional release are especially beneficial:

Acupuncture strengthens Lung Qi, relieves pressure in the chest, and supports the Large Intestine’s natural role of letting go. It also helps ease the emotional burden of unresolved grief.
Moxibustion (Moxa) warms and nourishes, soothing coughs, loosening chest discomfort, and lifting the heaviness grief can leave behind. It grounds and replenishes vitality, which is especially helpful as the weather cools and energy turns inward.
Spiritual Coaching & Reiki — Spiritual Coaching helps you voice and process what feels difficult to carry. Reiki continues that release through the body, calming the nervous system and anchoring the shift. Offered together, individually, or combined with acupuncture or cupping & massage, they restore balance, calm, and connection.
Cupping & Massage can open the chest and upper back, clear the lungs, improve circulation, and soften the physical tightness that often accompanies held emotions.

Together, these therapies create space for both body and breath to expand, aligning you with the Metal element’s rhythm of letting go and renewal.

A Gentle Reminder for Metal Types

Metal gifts us focus and refinement, but it also asks us to soften and release. Whether it’s perfectionism, a rigid schedule, or emotional clutter, honoring Metal means clearing space for your breath—and for new life to emerge.

Visualization for Metal Element Healing

Take a few gentle breaths, resting your hands on your chest and belly.

Option 1: Falling Leaf on the Breeze Picture holding a single golden leaf. With each exhale, let it drift upward and softly float away—light, effortless, releasing.

Option 2: Clean Mountain Air Visualize yourself standing atop a silver-veiled hillside at dawn. The air is crisp, the sky vast and unburdened. Each breath flows in smoothly—and out, carrying away what no longer belongs.

Recipe: Pear, Ginger & Millet Porridge

A naturally sweet, light porridge to replenish lung moisture and support digestive release.

Ingredients

½ cup millet or oats
2 cups water + ½–1 cup unsweetened almond/coconut milk (optional)
1 ripe pear, peeled and diced
½ tsp fresh grated ginger (or ¼ tsp dried)
Pinch of salt
Optional toppings: a drizzle of honey, a sprinkle of toasted white sesame seeds, or a few slices of cooked white turnip for crispness

Instructions

In a small pot, combine millet (or oats), water (and plant milk, if using), pear, ginger, and salt.
Bring to a simmer; cook until grains are soft and creamy (~15–20 minutes). Add more liquid if needed.
Stir in optional toppings as desired. Serve warm, slowly, with care.

Metal-Nourishing Snack Ideas

Baked pear slices with a sprinkle of ginger and light honey drizzle
A warm cup of chrysanthemum or pear–ginger infusion
Light millet crackers with a touch of fennel or white sesame
Fresh apple slices with almond butter (for grounding)
A few slices of daikon or jicama with lime and a hint of sea salt

Final Thought: Deepen Into Your Breath

The Metal element reminds us to breathe deeply, let go gracefully, and trust the wisdom that arises in times of transition. Like the shift into autumn, it calls us to release, refine, and rediscover our steady core.

Your breath is both your anchor and your guide. Let each inhale ground, each exhale soften—and allow your inner light to shine with ease.

Need Support with Letting Go?

If you’re feeling stuck, weighed down, or having a hard time releasing what no longer serves you, you’re not alone.

Acupuncture, Moxa, Reiki, Spiritual Coaching, or Cupping & Massage can ease tension, support your lungs and energy, and bring a sense of lightness—especially in the reflective Metal season.

✨ Book a session with Heart Blossom Healing. Your well-being deserves space to be nurtured. Or reach out if you’re unsure where to start. Together, we’ll explore the best path forward for you.