We tend to view things as extremes: dark or light, hot or cold, good or bad. But daylight turns to darkness and then to daylight again. Temperatures change with the seasons, which repeat year after year. We are neither fully good nor bad, but a combination of each. We - each of us - are both Yin and Yang in physical, emotional, mental and spiritual ways. To have a slight imbalance of Yin and Yang is normal. The greater the imbalance, the more we struggle and suffer. If we were to be completely Yin or completely Yang we would be unbalanced to the point of incapacitation.

Yin is always represented by the large black portion of the symbol. Characteristics include wisdom, imagination, peacefulness, relaxation, and satisfaction. An individual who is predominantly Yin can fully relax and go with the flow of life without worrying about the future. If you possess too much Yin you may oversleep, overthink, overeat, feel sluggish, be lazy, or exhibit compulsive behavior. Activities to alleviate excess Yin are cardio in nature such as hiking, biking, running, swimming, and dancing.

Yang is traditionally represented by the white portion of the symbol, though in my image above it is represented with vivid colors. Yang energy is all about action, ambition, courage, extroversion, excitement, and adventure. If you possess too much Yang you may feel restless, frustrated, angry, experience insomnia or headaches, or suffer from addictions. Activities that are calming in nature such as yoga, tai chi, stretching, slow walking, fishing and golfing will help alleviate excess Yang.

The ever-changing relationship between Yin and Yang is responsible for the continual changes not just in ourselves, but in the universe as a whole. As imbalances increase, the world suffers. Extreme imbalances in all likelihood contribute to famine, wars, pandemics such as Covid19, and other catastrophic events.

The key to existence for ourselves and the world at large is to go beyond the absolutes and strive for balanced energy. The Yin Yang reminds us that the only true path to harmony is through the balance of opposites. May you have harmony in your life.