Week 5 - Metal
Reading Goal: Read and share your thoughts and questions on the Metal chapter of the book
Extra Credit: Do the exercises at the end of the chapter
Metal is one of the more difficult elements for yogis to grasp typically. While all of the other Elements can be found in nature, Metal seems cold and manufactured for many of us at first.
However, think of this element as the bones of the earth, the minerals and nutrients that although are often unseen are essential to life on our planet.
In the body, the Metal organs are the Lungs and the Large Intestine responsible for taking in what is needed to sustain the body and let go of what is no longer needed.
This is a perfect metaphor for the spiritual energy of Metal. This Element is key in discerning what is worthy in our lives of our precious resources and determines the state of our own self worth. Just as the leaves fall from the trees in autumn, metal energy lets go of what may be a burden or impede future growth at exactly the right time in order to conserve and allocate resources where they are needed.
The emotion of metal is grief.
Endings can be a time of mixed emotions. But when we are forced to let go of something that matters deeply in our lives, the natural emotion many experience is grief.
And yet in our culture that expects full time happiness, natural expressions of grief and loss can be uncomfortable for some to process appropriately and fully.
Healthy metal is allowing grief to be present for exactly the appropriate amount of time, neither trying to push it away too soon or let it linger for years after the fact. There can be many opportunities for grace, inspiration and beauty when we go through the gates of an ending.
This element may be one of the most challenging to connect with at first because its themes and associations feel emotionally heavy, but when we make friends with this element it can provide depth in our lives as we remember that nothing is permanent and everything we deem valuable should be cherished, not tomorrow, but right here and now.
Metal Questions and Discussion Ideas
1) Is this element one you personally resonate with? Any questions about the season, theme, organs or constitution?
2) What is your relationship with grief? What have you been taught to believe about this experience?
3) How are the themes of Metal present in your life right now?
4) Do you know anyone who might be a Metal type? How does learning more about this constitution change your thinking about them?
5) Can you see how this element works with Water very closely? Share your insights on the relationship between resources and worth.
Share your thoughts on any of these points OR ask questions you have from this section in the comments below.
