Instead of
representing duality as two choices, Yin and Yang represent it
as relationship. All things are seen as part of one whole, instead
of as separate from each other.
The word
Yang originally meant, "the sunny side of the slope."
It is associated with heat, expansiveness, light, stimulation,
movement, activity, excitement, exteriority, upwardness, outwardness
and increase. Yin originally meant, "the shady side of the
slope," and was associated with cold, rest, responsiveness,
passivity, darkness, interiority, downwardness, inwardness, and
decrease.
These are
important images for us to keep in mind. The yin side of a hill
changes throughout the day as the earth turns, it is in constant
change and constant relationship with the yang side.
Which side
of the hill you might prefer is also not determined. On a hot
sunny day, the yin side is probably preferable, but on a cold
day, the yang side would be better. Neither side is preferable
in and of itself.
There are
5 basic principles to yin/yang. When you deal with the energy
of two, anytime there are two choices or points of view, see
if you can apply these principles.
|
All things
have two aspects: Yin and Yang |
| All things
have parts that are more Yin and parts that are more Yang. For
instance, a body has a front (Yin) and a back (Yang). A full
day has daytime (Yang) and nighttime (Yin). Nothing in the Universe
is completely Yin or Yang because these are qualities that exist
only in relation to other qualities. They aren't forces that
exist on their own. |
|
Any aspect
can be further divided into Yin and Yang |
| What is
Yin and what is Yang is determined by what else is there. For
example, 80° is rather Yang compared to 50°. To have
an 80° day in winter would feel very Yang. But that same
80° is felt as Yin during a summer with temperature averages
in the 90°'s. If you took all the Yang temperatures above
72°F, the lower temperature in the 70°-80° would
become Yin compared to higher temperatures. Parts that are rather
Yang when there is something more Yin around, become Yin themselves
when compared to something more Yang. |
|
Yin and
Yang mutually create each other |
| The idea
of "tall" (Yang) creates the idea of "short"
(Yin). The idea of hot creates the idea of cold. In both these
cases, we define one thing as "not the other thing." |
|
Yin and
Yang control each other |
| The amounts
of Yin and Yang in something are related to each other like a
see-saw. The two qualities can be balanced, or one can be higher
while the other is lower. If something is cold (Yin) it lacks
heat (Yang). You can also say this as something cannot have a
lot of yang and a lot of yin at the same time. You can't have
a really hot day that is also cold. |
|
Yin and
Yang transform into each other |
| When things
get extreme, Yin and Yang transform into each other. This can
happen harmoniously, in the normal course of events, such as
food (Yin) being turned into energy (Yang). Or it can happen
in sudden ruptures such as a passive (Yin) partner suddenly getting
really angry (Yang). |