Yin & Yang

Yin and Yang is at the heart of Feng Shui and Chinese philosophy and are used to compare everything that exists in our lives. The terms are often described as complementary but opposite states. Balancing Yin and Yang encourages the flow of Ch'i around the living spaces.

"Yin" as a word conveys the secret, dark, passive and female side of the universe whilst "Yang" is a word that includes everything overt, bright, active and masculine. This concept can be applied to almost everything - day and night, bright and dark, active and passive, male and female. Feng Shui teaches us that yang compliments yin and vice versa.

Colours

If we speak of a room needing to more Yang, hot, positive colours should be applied - reds, yellows and oranges. In a Yin room such as a bedroom, cool, passive colours like blues or purples are needed. Rooms are often yin and yang or various reasons.

Yin and Yang Symbols

Yin and Yang is often represented by the Taoist tai ch'i symbol, showing a circle while the shaded section represents Yin energy whilst the lighter section represents Yang. Within each section there is a circle of the opposite energy. This emphasises the principle that nothing is totally yin and nothing is totally yang.

Yin can also be symbolised by a broken line while yang is symbolised by an unbroken line.

Examples of Yin and Yang in Everyday Life

I've seen Yin and Yang be applied to facial features:

Yin - cleft on tip of nose, parted front teeth, cleft chin
Yang - eyes that are close together, narrow & deep-set slanted eyebrows towards bridge of nose, strong/pronounced cheekbones

To occupations:

Yin - teaching, writing, research
Yang - business, sales, sports
Yin and Yang for the Home

For the Home
 

• Enhance Yin with a relaxing and warm decor, soft furnishings.
• The bedroom needs to be calm as energy is restored through sleep.
• Yang electrical items such as Tv's, stereos and work related machines should be avoided.
• Candles in the main living area will bring in positive yang energy.
• Kitchens need to be more yang because this is where the family gathers to eat.
• Encourage yang energy to enter and flow well through your home by keeping your hallway uncluttered.