In Chinese medicine Autumn is associated with the lung, with the element metal, and with the positive psycho-emotional work of discriminating, nourishing what’s useful, and letting go of what does not serve us.

In the Neijing it says:

'Exerting the will peacefully and quietly,

to soften the repressive effect of Autumn.

Gathering in the Spirits, and storing up the Breaths,

Pacifying the Breaths of Autumn,

without letting the vitality be scattered outside,

Making the Breaths of the Lung clear and fresh:

This is what is proper to the Breaths of Autumn

Which correspond to the maintaining and gathering in of life.