Mother Nature is a wise teacher.  She is flexible and loving, and through her actions shows us the beauty of going with the flow of  life.

Outwardly, it may appear that there is reckless abandon, but an order of universal intelligence lies at her core.  The basis of feng shui is to harmonize with nature by reverently and respectfully tapping into that universal intelligence.

Merging taoism, astronomy, alchemy, astrology and shamanism, feng shui is the system of living in harmony with the natural elements and forces of nature.  It is about the flow of energy (chi) and how it affects the human energy field.

The literal translation of feng shui is wind and water.  In order for all living things to survive, air (wind) and water are crucial.  Envision the movement of chi like wind and water over your landscape and how the blending of these qualities correlates to the rhythms of nature.  With every changing season, new energy is brought in.

Metal:  The Element of Autumn

In feng shui, the world is defined by the following five elements:  wood, fire, earth, metal and water.  Each element has its own characteristics and can be described in terms of season, direction, color and shape.

Metal is the element that is associated with autumn.  During this time, cooler weather comes in and vegetation starts to wane and withdraw in preparation for winter.  Concurrently, humans do the same thing as we modify our wardrobe, eat different foods, and get ourselves ready for shorter days and longer nights.

Coming away from the fire of summer, a very active (yang) time of year, we begin the transition into a more relaxed (yin) environment through the cyclical contraction of metal.

The direction associated with metal is west, where the sun sets and daylight ends.  It is a time of letting go.  Just as trees begin to shed their leaves, we can de-clutter and discard the things that no longer serve us. Clutter in the home equates to clutter in the mind, and having stagnant chi causes stagnation in our lives.  Associated with order and clarity, now is the time to pay attention to detail and really take inventory of our lives to see what areas need change.

Metal is represented by anything shiny or metallic and is expressed through the colors of white, gray or silver.  Round in shape, metal energetically symbolizes completion or endings as things come full circle.

Along with spring, autumn represents a significant cycle change in nature.  It is a time to release any unwanted items, behaviors or thoughts, allowing us to concentrate, get creative and achieve new goals.

Trust and follow the rhythms of nature.  Drawing on metal energy, tune into feng shui’s elemental cycle and use this period of transition to get focused and clear out any clutter from your mind and life. 

Learn to simply.  Letting go of the old only opens the space for the new.