THE METAL ELEMENT TYPE
The Metal Element represents the season of Autumn. Whereas the Wood and Fire phases are all about growth and expansion and Earth is about holding fast, and being grounded, Metal represents the first stage of shrinking, things beginning to decline. The bloom of Summer and the abundance of Harvest are giving way to the ebb of Autumn. Things are beginning to dry up, days are becoming colder, the activity of summer is waning and the end of the year-long cycle is approaching. The leaves are drying-up, turning to their Autumn colours ready to be shed before Winter arrives.
As symbolised by the shedding of leaves, Metal is a time for letting-go, a time to let things pass, a time for recognising that things cannot stay the same forever. But that process of drying and letting go is also the process of refinement – inwardly concentrating the important essence that must be kept, cutting away what is no longer required.
Introversion, contraction and quiescence are important attributes of Metal types. Metal types treasure what is important to them be that things, people or principles. Metal types love structure, logic and reason. They tend to be neat, calm, disciplined and precise. Morals are important to them, they are honourable.
The Metal time of day is the evening when we can start to wind down, to withdraw from the involvement of the day and let-go of the troubles that the working day brought. This is the time when Metal types often come alive.
Metal types can show a great deal of constraint – temperance and moderation being their strongest virtues. But they do like to have nice things around them too; quality over quantity is the mantra of the Metal personality.
Methodical, discerning, disciplined and reserved are Metal types at their best. When their Metal energy becomes exaggerated these attributes become ritualistic, prejudice, overly-strict and overly-sceptical.
The use of metal swords and knives in our cultural mythology to slay dragons, demons and enemies is an important part of the Metal role separating good from evil. They are committed to distilling the important message from the noise, disentangling the pure from the impure. They love to “cut the crap”. But when this gets a little too strong in a Metal type, then it can manifest as being overly judgemental and self-righteous.
But as with all the element types, whilst a Metal type can reveal the Metal strengths listed above, things can go awry and these same strengths can become issues. For example, the consequences of not letting-go is an attribute that often strongly categorises the Metal types. They may be hoarders and choose to surround themselves with clutter. They may be “anally retentive”. They may struggle to allow children to ‘leave the nest’. They may resist change because they like things the way they are and do not want to let go of the world they know.
Contradiction can be apparent too – the same Metal type can be good at letting go in some aspects of their lives and very bad at letting go in other aspects. They may for example struggle to move-on from a bereavement and yet live in a clutter-free minimalist environment.
To the Metal element things can be just “skin deep”. Beauty can be cherished and often disproportionately cherished at the expense of what is going on underneath. But other things can be quite superficial too – Metal types like ceremony and pomp. They can often be just going through the motions. Perceptions of value and worth can be challenging for Metal types – they are often the ones forever craving the latest version of a gadget or the latest fashion in clothes. But all too often they never quite get the craved-for satisfaction even when they do get that new treasured possession.
In the project life cycle, the Metal phase is the time when the final tweaks and finishing touches are applied, the rubbish is removed. The final polish, the final drafting to get everything “just right”. It is the time when the project team is disbanded so that they can move-on to projects anew.
Just as metal can cut, so can the language and behaviour of Metal types. The cutting remark is the weapon of choice. To be sharp tongued is how some Metal types are viewed. They can also choose to cut themselves off and become isolated and loners.
Just as the leaves on trees begin to dry, so dryness to the skin can be a significant issue for Metal types. Tennis elbow, a very clear muscle-skeletal case of gripping too tightly and not letting go, is a condition that often troubles Metal types.
Keys To Understanding Metal:
– likes definition, structure, and discipline
– respects virtue, discretion, authority
– seeks to live according to reason and principle
– holds self and others to the highest standards
– reveres beauty, ceremony, and refinement
Typical Problems:
– indifference and inhibition
– difficulty dealing with loss
– respiratory conditions
– too much or too little sweating
– constipation
– weak or chronic coughs
– autocratic, strict, and pernickety
– formal, distant, and unnatural
– stiff joints and muscles, dry skin and hair, shallow breathing, sensitive to climate, poor circulation
– self-righteousness and disillusionment
Back to the Five Element Analysis