Yin and Yang in Feng Shui
by Thomas Dill
(Costa Rica)
We’ve come to learn that Feng Shui is about wholeness, not parts. Everything is alive, connected, and changing all the time. Your intuitive sensibility will tell you that a cluttered closet, buzzing fluorescent lights, and a cramped desk backed into a wall will impact every aspect of your life.
What do we do in this case? Feng Shui says to do everything in your power to turn your space into an uncluttered area, good lighting, and spacious work area, and a fabulous chair. Balance and direct the Ch’i to achieve dynamic harmony…that’s the purpose of Feng Shui.
Ch’i expresses ourself in countless ways through everything that surrounds you. Pay close attention to exactly how the Ch’i is being expressed in your environment, and you will train yourself to "read the Ch’i", a skill that’s required in order to work with the principles of Feng Shui.
The Ch’i that nourishes us, which Feng Shui concentrates on enhancing, is always striking a balance between two extremes. Ancients called these two extremes the yin and yang. Yin relates to qualities such as feminine, back, dark, cool soft, wet, earth, moon and so on, while yang is associated with qualities such as masculine, front, light, hot, hard dry and sun. Most of us prefer the "middle road", or a perfect mix of the two. To balance a yin room, we add yang components, such as brighter lights and warm colors. To balance a very yang room, we mix in yin components, such as soft upholstered furniture, rounded window treatments, and dark rich colors. When yin and yang qualities are mixed together just right, a balance and human comfort zone emerges.
Generally speaking, humans are lovers of balanced yin and yang expressions. We will intuitively place ourselves where things are "just right" whenever we can. When we focus on establishing balance and harmony in our environments, a certain human friendly beauty is born.
What about your individual tastes? You might absolutely love light walls and sun drenched rooms. These are great examples of your own individual tastes being more yang than yin. There is no need to change, Gathering around you the things you love is an expression of your own individual Ch’i. No matter how much you break down and label things as yin or yang, it is essential to honor your preferences, style, and opinions when creating your own personal space or paradise. It doesn’t matter, when your ultimate goal is to live a life surrounded by the things that turn you on. What matters is that it is a joyful expression of you.