The Yin and the Yang in the feng shui of your home

The Yin Yang theory is one of the main theories of all ancient Chinese schools of thought. The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), all ancient martial arts, feng shui, the I Ching, the whole Taoism cosmology – are based on the polarity of  Yin and Yang.

According to this theory, everything in our Universe is composed of two opposing, but deeply interconnected forces — the Yin (feminine) and the Yang (masculine).

One cannot exist without the other, as in their seeming opposition, they deeply support and nourish each other.

The best representation of the harmonious interaction of the Yin and the Yang forces is the Tai Chi symbol. Expressed in feng shui colors, the Yin, feminine energy is black, and the Yang, masculine energy is white.

Energy-wise, Yin is soft, slow, relaxed, diffused, moist, passive and silent. Think of the rhythms and essence of feminine energy — the softness of water, the mystery of the moon, the blackness of rich soil and the deep silence of the night.

The Yang force is expressed by a contrasting, opposite to Yin quality of energy. Think of the fiery directness of the sun, the aggressive speed of racing cars, the rock solid surface of a mountain, the focused energy of a laser beam.

Yang is the fiery essence of the mid-day sun and Yin is the stillness and the mystery of night. Because your home needs a balanced feng shui energy in order to support your health & well-being, it is important to understand the application of the Yin Yang theory on a practical, simple level.

• YIN (passive energy) is the energy of relaxation that you need in your bedroom or in your feng shui bathroom spa. Yin is in the calm colours around you, the soft music, the sound of a water fountain and the soothing, relaxing art images.

• YANG (active energy) is the energy characterized by strong, vibrant sounds and colors, bright lights, upward moving energy, etc. You want Yang energy in your home office, your kitchen and at a good dinner party with friends.

The Yin Yang energies cannot exist in isolation; they define each other, as one is the condition for the other’s existence.

Thus, a good feng shui home has to have a harmonious rhythms of both active and passive energies. In the Western culture we tend to experience an imbalance of these energies.

We live in a constant flow of the very active and busy Yang feng shui energy and often the weak or even completely absent Yin energy of nourishment and relaxation. Creating a home that will reflect the Yin Yang balance is very important. There will always be one quality of energy that is stronger depending on the use of the space, but you need to represent both energies.

Here are examples of the play of Yin and Yang energies:

Yin Energy in Your Home. Your bedroom needs the relaxing Yin energy in order to heal you, so it is crucial to let go of all the dominant Yang details in the bedroom, such as the TV, exercise equipment, or office items.

While the Yin energy needs to be the predominant energy in your bedroom (think relaxation, cocooning, sensuality, sleep); you also need a slight presence of Yang (think red candles, arousing images, a light accent color to balance the deep colors, etc).

The same principle applies to your bathroom.

Yang Energy in Your Home. On the other hand, your family room, your living room, your home office, and your kitchen are definitely feng shui spaces that will benefit from a strong presence of Yang energy. Choose vibrant colors, lively music, and a variety of feng shui decor items to create an active quality of energy (family photos, books, games, etc.)

Even though the Yin, or relaxing element, is not the dominant element here, you still need to have it for balance. Introduce deep colours, relaxed and comfortable seating, as well as some images with soothing Yin energy.

Having a harmonious balance of both Yin and Yang feng shui forces in your home will create the quality of energy you need in order to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

Read: What is Feng Shui (and Why Should You Care?)

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