Make Room for Metal and Clarity with the Autumnal Equinox

Anjie Cho September 14, 2022

yellow autumn leaves on tree branch — Photo by Katie Moum on Unsplash

I can't believe it's already time to say goodbye to summer! In a few days, we will experience this year's Autumnal Equinox and feel the shift from long, warm summer days to shorter, crisper fall days before we head into winter. Many of our friends have shared incredible ways to adjust to the new season and welcome the equinox. Be sure to check those posts out! We've also pulled together a few tips for this year to make autumn your best season yet!

What is the Autumnal Equinox?

Let's cover the important bases, first. Just what is the equinox, and why is it so important? The September equinox, also referred to as the Autumnal Equinox, marks the point in the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, a sort of extension of the earth's equator that "sits" above the planet, from north to south. So essentially, the sun is crossing the earth's equator.

The term "equinox" comes from Latin roots "aequus" and "nox", meaning "equal night," which corresponds to the belief that, on an equinox, night and day are equal length. As it turns out, daylight still typically lasts longer than night. The center of the sun sets 12 hours after rising on this day, but each half of the sun still has to travel through the sky, so day and night times will vary. In fact, the equinox is not an all-day event, but the specific moment when the center of the sun reaches this point. This year, in Eastern time, that will happen at 4:02 pm on September 22.

For everyday purposes, the equinox most notably represents the change from summer to autumn. As some of our holistic experts have noted, this is the time to move from yang energy, high activity and cool foods to more inward, yin energy, self-care and a warming, nourishing diet. And, based on the feng shui bagua map and five elements, autumn is a season of Metal.

Autumn and the Metal Element

In feng shui and the five elements theory, the autumn season corresponds to the Metal element and the Completion area of the bagua, which relates to the color white, the number seven and the element of joy. Metal is also associated with clarity.

If you're looking to update your space for the new season, you might think you should add more Metal. But in fact, for the most part, because this season carries more of this element, there can be an overabundance of Metal. Metal relates to metallic colors (think gold, silver) and the colors white and grey, as well as to joy and the mouth, and governs order and beauty. It's associated with efficiency and organization, circular shapes and a general turning inward. So what does an overabundance of Metal mean? Metal out of balance can be rigid and inflexible, stuck on having everything perfect. Since Metal is related to the mouth and speech, individuals with an excess of this element often speak without precision and boundaries. If this describes you in fall, you may have too much Metal!

Some ways to adjust a Metal imbalance: add Water, which drains Metal, or Wood, which dulls and softens the Metal element. For more Water, try enjoying walks along the water, bringing wavy patterns into your space or incorporating the sound of water into your home, like with music or a fountain. If you'd rather add Wood, add blue and green tones or plants to your space! Check out our My Favorite Things series for more insight on adding Water and Wood.

Get Clarity with Metal

Autumn is also the time for harvest, both in agriculture and metaphorically in life. The planting season is ending, so maybe it's good to look at this in terms of your life and space. What no longer serves you in your home? It could be as literal as summer clothes you haven't worn in three years or letting go of old food in the fridge and composting it. Think about things or people in your life that are no longer serving you, as well. Metal element can also be like a sharp sword, cutting through what's unnecessary. It's time to harvest what's come to fruition, look at why some things didn't grow and think about planning for the next year.

Take some time as we transition to fall and consider how your "harvest" has turned out. And what do kind of energies do we want invite the next time around?

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

What Does Your Favorite Color Say About You?

Guest User March 16, 2022

Bundle of colored pencils in many colors — Photo by Salvatore Ventura on Pexels

Chances are, there are certain colors that you love, and others that you can’t stand. Did you know that the colors that you’re drawn to can give you clues about what kind of energy you might be craving more of? In feng shui, color is not only a way to change how your home looks, but also a tool to help shift the energy of a space.

There are several different ways to approach color and feng shui. One of these ways is to look at the five elements, also known as the five phases. Each of the five elements is a different type of energy that occurs in nature, and there are different colors associated with each of these elements.

Think about what color you’re most attracted to right now. If I asked you what your favorite color is, what pops into your head? Trust what comes up for you, and read on to learn what your color preferences might be saying about you.

Red or bright orange

If you picked a fiery color such as red or a bright, vibrant orange, you may need a little more warmth and inspiration in your life. To bring more of these fire element qualities into your home, painting your walls red is certainly an option, but usually that’s a little too much fire for most people. Fire in small doses does a lot and it can be very impactful. You can also introduce red in smaller ways through artwork, throw pillows, or fresh flowers, or you can even explore this energy by wearing red clothes or jewelry.

Brown, yellow, rusty orange, or earth tones

If you love yellow or neutral, earthy tones, you might need a little more nourishment, self care, or grounding. These colors are all expressions of the earth element. To connect to the energy of the earth, you can spend time laying on the ground, going for walks, working with ceramics, or doing any other activity that makes you feel really grounded. You can also bring these earth element colors into your home. I love fancy jasper or even a textured rug with earth tones to really embody the earth element qualities of support and stability.

White, light gray, or metallics

If you prefer these colors, you may be wanting more precision, clarity, joy, or elegance in your life. These are all metal element qualities. You can connect to metal energy by being careful and precise in what you say and speaking more clearly. The metal element can also be a reminder to connect to your inner child, so think about ways that you can bring a little more joy and play into your life. You can also incorporate more whites and metallics into your decor, like a white vase or brass fixtures.

Black, dark midnight blue, or charcoal gray

If you’re drawn to these water element colors, it could be a good time to look at things that are hidden, including your shadow side and any areas of your life that you have some fear of exploring. Water energy is also about diving deeper and cultivating wisdom. This doesn’t mean collecting information on the internet; instead, it’s about taking the time to connect with your ancestors, teachers, and lineage. All of us are connected by oceans, the great waters of the earth, and water encourages you to connect with all of the people who have walked this path before you. You can also bring more water energy into your home by adding these colors into your decor.

Green, teal, or blue

You may be attracted to growth, healing, and flexibility if you love these wood element colors. Imagine a blade of grass or the leaves of a tree having the flexibility to bend with the wind. The wood element also teaches us to have kindness and compassion for yourself and others, and to cultivate growth. You can connect to wood energy by incorporating these colors into your space, or adding a new green plant somewhere in your home.

I hope this gives you some insight into why you might be drawn to certain colors, and some inspiration for working with the energy of those colors!

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Feng Shui for Autumn

Guest User November 10, 2021

We’re well into fall here in the Northern Hemisphere, when the weather gets cooler and things start to die away. The leaves on trees start to change color and fall, and things start to get slower as we wind down for the holidays. During this season, we also have more yin time. Yang energy is related to the sunshine, while yin energy is related to nighttime and darkness. During the fall and winter, we have more dark hours of the day and less sunlight.

At its core, feng shui is really about connecting to the cycles of nature. Applying feng shui principles can be a way to engage with these cycles and the changing seasons in our homes and our lives. If you want to really embrace this time of year, here are a few ways you can do this using feng shui principles.

The metal element

First, you can work with the metal element, which is related to autumn. Metal also gives way to water, which is connected to the season of winter that we’ll be moving into next. One way to embrace the metal element is just to understand that we are moving into a time where things are falling away, and that it’s okay to let go of things. It’s okay to be going through a transition. The metal element has the feeling of a sword or scissors cutting through something. What do you need to cut through? What do you need to let go of that is no longer serving you? Once you’ve done some reflection on this, take action. Metal is about movement and taking steps to move things forward, not staying still. It’s also about contraction and becoming more compact. Think of an acorn: it has all the energy and wisdom of an oak tree, but in a smaller package.

Protect your neck

My acupuncturist always tells me to protect the back of my neck during this time of year as it’s getting colder. It’s a good idea to protect this part of your body from the wind. There’s actually an area of the feng shui bagua that’s related to your neck and head, and it’s usually near the front door. To support this part of your body and your home, make sure you have extra protection from wind and drafts.

Accept sadness

With the change in seasons, some people start to feel more sad. The metal element is connected to sadness as well. If this resonates with you, I would encourage you to recognize that it’s okay to feel sad. If there were never any sadness, you would also never feel any joy. It’s a part of life. It’s not about trying to eradicate sadness, because there is always sadness in the world. Begin to embrace all parts of you, including the sad parts.

If you are feeling very low and sad because of the waning light, there are a few practical things that you can do. You might want to bring in more full-spectrum lights to use during the day, and go out in the sun more. You can also look at how things are placed in your home. Is your bed or the artwork in your home placed especially low? If your mood feels low, and especially if you have a tendency towards depression, you might want to pay attention to this, and maybe take some time to lift the qi of your home. You might want to get a taller bed frame, or add a box spring or lifts for your bed. You also might want to carefully rehang one or more pieces of art. Take it off the wall, dust it, and place it even just an inch higher to lift your qi and raise your spirits.

I hope these tips help you to welcome autumn!

by Anjie Cho