Yin & Yang in Your Home: Balancing Activity and Rest

Every room needs to know what energy to carry.

Everything in our Universe is composed of two opposing, and at the same time deeply connected forces: Yin (feminine) and Yang (masculine). One cannot exist without the other; in their seeming opposition, they deeply support and nourish each other. The oldest representation of the Yin Yang interaction is the Tai Chi symbol. Yin energy is black, and Yang energy is white. Everything in our home carries either active energy (Yang), or restful (Yin). This theory is one of the main theories of feng shui.

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 energy in order to support your health, it is good to understand the application of this theory as simple, practical details.

• YIN (passive energy) is the energy of relaxation that you need in your bedroom or in your feng shui bathroom spa. Yin is in calm colours, 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 energy and often the weak or even completely absent Yin energy of nourishment and relaxation. Creating a home that will have these energies balanced is important. There will always be one energy stronger, depending on the use of the space, but a good home needs both.

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 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 soothing images.

Having these two powerful forces balanced wisely and well in your home gives you easier access to all the energy you need.