Yin and Yang. Yes, it’s that black-and-white swish symbol you see around, but it’s so much more than that. It’s actually really relevant to our everyday lives.
I thought I’d have a crack at nailing it down for you.
I just love Yin and Yang because it’s an ancient theory of relativity. Things are only what they are in relation to something else. So warm water is only warm in relation to cold water. If you were to dip your fingers into some super hot water and then immediately dunk them into warm water, you could conceivably perceive the warm water to be cold, relative to the hot sensation you’d just experienced. Does that make sense?
In Chinese medicine, Yin represents feminine energy and Yang is male energy. This translates into many things. It doesn’t mean that women are definitely Yin or that men are Yang – again, they’re in relation to each other. So consider a group of men for a minute: the quieter men would be considered Yin (feminine) in relation to the loud larrikin types who would be Yang (masculine).
Things that are Yin and Yang
I’ll give you some other random examples. Walking is considered Yin in relation to running, which is Yang. However, running would be Yin in relation to sprinting, which would be Yang. It changes depending on the context.
Anything in your life can be described in terms of Yin and Yang. Your screaming baby is Yang compared to your friend’s sleeping baby who is Yin. Your pregnant client is Yin compared to your other pregnant client who is birthing – she’s Yang because she’s moving around, her body is working, she’s breathing more heavily, she’s using her voice, her baby is moving down – it’s all happening.
All parts of your body can be described in terms of Yin and Yang too. The front of your body is Yang compared to the back, which is Yin. The lower half of your body is Yin compared with the top half, which is Yang.
Relationships have Yin and Yang elements. The fight you just had with your partner or child is Yang energy, compared to the time you spend together when you make up. The energy between you is more Yin now as normally that tension has resolved and you’re in a different place – more open, more willing to listen to each other and more loving again.
You may even notice with yourself you’ll be more Yin (quiet, subdued, listening lots) with one friend and more Yang (talking more, chattier and louder) with another. The personal qualities you bring to the table depend on the nature of the relationship.
Yin and Yang in everyday life
The reason I love Yin and Yang so much is that it’s a good theory to play with when you’re living your life. It helps you find more balance. If you’re the kind of person who always tries to fit many things into your life, you’re possibly craving or in need of some more free time where there are no commitments and everything slows down a bit.
I love how Yin can change to Yang too – like when you’re really hot and Yang, then you have a spicy hot soup. That causes you to sweat so then you cool down, feeling more Yin. That’s what the little white dot in the middle of the black swish means – in every Yin thing there is some Yang and at any moment it can switch around.
When you think about it, that’s exactly what can happen in life too. You’re cruising along one minute feeling very calm and collected and it can take just one negative encounter for you to feel very Yang and angry, frustrated or annoyed. Your Yin mood is suddenly Yang. If you meditate or have practiced some mind-calming techniques, then perhaps you can get yourself back to Yin reasonably quickly and so your state of mind has changed again.
We are complex creatures and I feel the Yin and Yang symbol has something to say about all of it. It’s so simple yet intricate. And it’s all summed up in that gorgeous black and white swish with the two dots.
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