In traditional Japanese sword work, life and death were decided by centimeters and fractions of a second. The positioning of the sword, the posture of the mind and alignment of the body were trained for hours on end, diligently refined moment by moment, and year after year. The movement from one posture to another and forms of cutting were likewise practiced and examined until any excess movement or hesitation were stripped away to find, in that inspiration born of necessity and honest training, only the most precise and effective techniques that could be known and grasped. This was not for show or merely for art, this was first and foremost for the survival of self, family and community—the very most important of things.
This is a poignant example of the metal movement (often called the metal element) within the traditional Chinese theory of the Five Movements. It is the refinement and clarification of what is most vital and important; the preservation of that which matters most, and the cutting away of that which does not serve or hinders the free movement of life. It involves the strength and the act of letting go, as well as the openness and perception to receive.
Lessons of the Seasons
The season of the year associated with the metal movement is the fall. The plant forms that have grown, spread and flourished through spring (associated with the wood movement) and summer (fire) are now cut down to attain their most essential elements—a separation of the grain from the husk. The grain is protected and stored to preserve life through the stillness of winter (water), and the shafts and husks are let go so that they can return to the soil and transform (earth). At the same time, in the plant kingdom, leaves are released to blanket and merge with the soil as trees move their focus and resources into their depths to likewise preserve the essentials of life through the cold winter.
Lessons of the Spirit
In our psyche, metal movement is the penetration of insight into the depths of who we are; the clarification and preservation of what we value most in our lives and ourselves; and the letting go of items and actions that are not in tune with our highest ideals and needs. This continually clears the way and makes room for new inspiration that keeps with the pace and rhythms of life, preventing a sort of freezing and isolation within a prison of the past, or a sense of being lost in a sea of excess thoughts and concerns.
The metal movement also involves the courage and the integrity to live in this way- according to our highest values, regardless of what temptations or short cuts may come across our paths. It holds the understanding that courage is not a lack of fear, it is choosing according to the way of our highest ideals even though we are afraid or tempted by things like vanity and social validation. It is the choice of compassion in an age of anger and blame, and the strength of independence required to walk lonesome paths where few choose to go.
Lessons of the Body
In our bodies, the metal movement is associated with our lungs and large intestine. It is both the breath of fresh inspiration, and the exhalation of that which would become a poison to our lives were it to accumulate. Without exhalation, there is no room for inhalation, and vice versa. The large intestine works to absorb water and eliminate solid waste. In addition to preventing uncomfortable back-ups, this elimination also allows that which doesn’t serve us to return to the cycles of nature to transform and become the fertilizer of new life. Our letting go is not an act of judgement and destruction, but an act of release and renewal. As the saying goes, one being’s waste is another’s treasure... any gardener could tell you!
Lessons of the Ages
The season of fall, the lung, the large intestine, and the meditative and insightful practice of the master swordsman are not definitions of the metal movement, they are examples of it. It is by our experience of these things that we can learn of the metal movement, and then take that lesson into new and unexpected areas to find clarity and insight. Where do you see the movement of inspiration, of preserving what is most vital, and of letting go in the cause of freedom and renewal? The ancient and timeless ideas contained within the Five Movements are not to serve as rules to follow, but as offerings of insight to enrich the miraculous, wonderous and enormous event that is the living of a life. Enjoy!!!