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Unique Products from 44+ Countries
Customers rate Spiru 9/10

Yin Yang: How To Find Balance With This Chinese Symbol

By Maggie 22 October 2022
Reading works meditatively, relax 7 minuten with this article.
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The Yin Yang symbol is a Chinese sign for balance. If you say yin, you get yang. Curious what it means and how stable you are? You can read more about it in this blog!

red gold door yin yang symbol black white

You may already know the Yin and Yang Symbol as the Tai Chi Symbol. It consists of a circle with two halves, one dark and one light, divided by an S-shaped line. The white half contains a black dot and vice versa. These points are perfectly aligned vertically, and exactly in the center of the top and bottom halves. It’s just a thought experiment, but imagine if the mid-line wasn’t an S, but ran straight. Then the proportions would look a lot less harmonious, but the dot would not move! And this harmony and balance is exactly what this Chinese sign is all about! Here you can read all about the philosophy of harmony between yin and yang and find out how balanced you are.

orgonite yin yang black white disk Himalayan salt lamp

Where It Comes From

The yin & yang principle comes from Taoism, a Chinese natural philosophy. The oldest description of it can be found in the I Ching, an important book within this tradition. Taoists believe that everything in the cosmos is connected. In this philosophy, for example, day belongs to night, feminine to masculine, and strength to relaxation. They don’t even exist without each other! Together they are part of the eternal life principle, also called Tao or Dao by philosophers. Because this Great Event of unity and oneness itself is incomprehensible, according to Taoists you only see its consequences when they start to seperate . Those consequences are all things that you can call yin or yang, which you could think of as either opposites, or more accurately, complementary elements.

Yin and Yang Meaning

The Yin Yang symbol shows two cosmic forces, the dark yin energy and light yang side. According to Taoists, these two opposites can be seen in nature and in yourself. For example, you could always carry these cosmic powers with you in the form of a yin & yang necklace.

What Does Yin Represent?

Yin, in Chinese philosophy, stands for the feminine principle. It deals with inner strength by patiently waiting and observing. In the Chinese sign, yin is the dark part, probably because the color black attracts and absorbs other light. She doesn’t need to do anything active for this attraction, except be herself! In nature, for example, you see yin in the action of the moon reflecting sunlight. Water is also a feminine phenomenon for many Taoists, because it can go around obstacles and thus always flows through life. Subtle, but not to be underestimated.

This is Yang

The light Yang is a real driving force that helps you get up in the morning. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the sun, his ultimate symbol. Taoists see this power as the masculine principle of planning, creating, and manifesting. With yang you make room for everything that is important to you. It is therefore a dynamic force compared to fire and heat. As soon as you unleash fire on something, you get immediate results!

large yin yang symbol in sand on beach land art

That’s why Yin Yang is a Circle

If you’ve paid attention, only part of the sign remains: the circle containing the black and white shapes. According to experts, circles refer to the great power from which yin and yang arise, Tao itself. For no one knows where Tao comes from or goes, just as a circle has no beginning and no end.

So in short…

Yin quality can be recognized as:

  • dark
  • cold
  • quiet
  • receiving

and yang power as:

  • light
  • hot
  • dynamic
  • active

Meaning Behind the Black and White

The yin yang sign symbolizes two opposing forces. But of course the black part contains a white dot and vice versa. They both have a beginning of the other in them. According to Taoists, yin always flows into yang and the yang back into yin and – well, you understand! It is a dynamic process that never stops. Yang doesn’t need to end for yin to start appearing, one is always just around the corner from the other. For example, just as every Taoist knows that busy periods start and end with relaxation.

How Do You Know if Something is Yin or Yang?

According to Taoists, you find out what the energetic quality of something is by comparing it with something else. For example, you can see the moon as a yin phenomenon, because it receives light from the sun. If you then put all her phases next to each other, you get a completely different story. Of all the Moon Phases, you can say that the Full Moon has more masculine aspects. This phase is when it reflects the most light, which as we have seen is a masculine element. Absolute yin therefore does not exist, just like absolute yang doesn’t. Everything is relative.

Yin Yang and Feng Shui

As you may understand, yin and yang are very closely related to Feng Shui. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy based on a balance of energies in one place. For your bedroom and bathroom you would need more yin (feminine and black) and in your living room or office more Yang. In our Introduction to Feng Shui, you can read about ways to bring the harmony of Yin and Yang energy into your home.

Find Everything For a Feng Shui Home Here

Himalayan salt tea lamp set yin yang pink white

Balance Your Own Yin and Yang

You are probably now curious how yin or yang you are! That is not so simple to answer, rather the start of a good investigation. Why?

  • You’re not fifty-fifty
  • Women and Men differ

You’re Not Fifty-Fifty

Taoist Chinese medicine can already tell you that no one is exactly divided in two. So you’re not exactly fifty-fifty yin and yang. Every person has a unique ratio of feminine and masculine powers within them, no matter what you look like from the outside.

Women and Men Differences

Chinese medicine says that men and women’s bodies require different care. For example, men’s bodies would be more focused on action and women’s bodies on stillness. Good contact with your base power would give you the energy to try new things. As soon as a female body has connected with her yin energy, her yang powers can also develop. This is the other way around for men. When the yang is warm, space is created for intuition and insights. Useful collaboration!

yin yang shakti mat

Want to know more about Taoism?

Taoists think their body is super important and like to keep it healthy. That is why there are also a lot of training and techniques that you can apply to yourself. For example self care with Gua Sha Scrapers, Boading Balls, or Shakti Mats. All three stimulate the energy meridians in the body and help to drain negative energy and toxins, bringing you back into balance. Meditation is also a powerful Tao tool to find balance. There are several Meditation Practices, but Taoism has a strong tradition of Visualization. However you find balance and harmony, Spiru is here to help!

How do you balance your yin and yang?

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