In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang describes how opposite or contrary forces are actually complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world.  It also defines how they give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.

A working definition: Yin/Yang: Two halves that together complete the wholeness.  When something is whole, it’s unchanging and complete. Once something is split into two halves it upsets the equilibrium of wholeness. Both yin/yang halves are seeking to reconnect with each other as they try to form a new balance with each other.

The word Yin comes out to mean “shady side” and Yang “sunny side”.

The Yin and Yang of Male and Female

There are two opposing sides of this Chinese philosophy. While yang is male, yin is female the concept has a deeper meaning. Flowing through each of us is yin and yang, male and female within us which is why balancing them is considered important. Besides being associated with femaleness, yin also involves Earth, darkness, passiveness, and cold.

Yang is the male energy in action.  Fiery action moving into the Yang is considered to be light or enlightened.

Yang, standing on the left side, is white while the quiet yin, on the right side, is black. This symbol depicts the opposite sides of these two energies.

The Cycle of Life

Our world is in a constant state of change. Movement through distinct cycles can be fast or slow, each having an opposite and equal value:

• Dark and light
• Cold and hot
• Birth and death
• Sun and moon

The rules of life became evident and proves that the theory of opposites must exist in order to create a whole. Yin is considered the essence of female energy while yang is male energy.

This represents the opposing qualities of the two energies. Note that within each curved half is another very small circle. These tiny inner circles are the opposite color and matches the opposite half. The tiny dot represents that each side is dependent upon the other for its existence. The smaller circle also shows transformation as it’s realized from the co-existence and dependency upon each other. This sign is perfect to illustrate how everything is connected. The symbol signifies nothing is solitary in life. Each person, animal, plant, element and depends upon the others for its existence. Nothing can in and of it self can exist alone.

Eastern Understanding on Life

Ancient Chinese and modern day Chinese understand that the world is in a constant state of change.  Yet in this change, it moves through distinct cycles, each having an opposite and equal value:

• Night and day
• Cold and hot
• Birth and death
• Sun and moon

By examining this world of fixed cycles, we see that the theory of opposites must exist in order to create the whole.

The yin/yang of life becomes the ultimate divine circle:

• Night turns into day and then day turns back into night
• Birth ends in death and death ends in rebirth

Universal Cycles

Within the universe and everything in it, there is a constant cycle. In this infinite cycle, one force dominates and as that cycle fades, it is then replaced by the opposing force. Examples illustrating the yin yang philosophy include:

• Life and death
• Heaven and earth
• Male and female
• Black and white
• Night and day
• Health and sickness
• Poverty and wealth
• Cycles of the seasons
• Positive and negative

There are several good websites on yin/yang.  For more detailed insight on yin/yang visit:

https://feng-shui.lovetoknow.com/Ying_Yang_Meaning

Application of Yin/Yang in Life

I have given considerable thought to the yin/yang of life.  There is no right or wrong, good or bad, light or dark, strong or weak, within this philosophy of life.  Life is not black and white, or clear cut.  It takes both the yin and yang to complete us.

Look deep within yourself to see the heart’s desire and to recognize new ideas.  You have to realize that it takes both the male and female to see these desires come to light.

Each of us have male and female.  Once we identify a heart’s desire, we need to plant the immature seed within the yin/feminine.  Growing within this rich dark soil is where the seed is anchored while it’s nourished and protected.  The yin/feminine holds the seed as it matures, just as the female holds the fetus within her womb as it grows and develops.

Once the seed is ready to break through the ground and reach for the light, then it is ready for the strong action of the yang/male energy.  With the strength of the yang/male energy, we see our heart’s desire become a reality.

Within each of us, we have a “shadow side” and an “enlightened side”.  We tend to want to ignore our “shadow side”.  It’s hard to admit that there is an aspect to our psyche that’s on the dark side, in which we could do harm to others.  What we have to realize is that we need this “dark side” to be complete.  This side gives us the strength we need in times of “life or death” situations.  One would not be able to protect themselves or their loved ones in a crisis without the strength of the “darkness” each of us cares within.

Embrace both the yin and yang of your personality.  It is within this realm of life that we become whole and are able to function in life.  Within this sacred space we become whole.