The Key To a Balanced Home: Yin and Yang

The philosophy of Yin and Yang is one of the main theories of all ancient Chinese schools of thought. It is a central principle in Chinese martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine, the Taoism cosmology and also in Feng Shui. The theory and philosophy of Yin and Yang is one of the ways you can draw inspiration from Feng Shui to balance the energy of your interiors and your surroundings. Whether it is a townhouse in hougang, or whether it is an apartment in Marina Bay, the principles of Yin and Yang can aid you greatly in creating harmony and balance in your space.

Read on for an in-depth understanding of the principle of Yin and Yang in order to understand its application on a practical yet simple level.

The principle of Yin and Yang is that all things exist as a duality: everything in the Universe is composed of two inseparable and complementary forces that interact to form a dynamic system where the whole is greater than the sum total of its constituent parts. In other words, opposite forces are in actuality complementary, interconnected and interdependent: one cannot exist without the other. Rather, the opposing forces of Yin and Yang deeply support and nourish each other to create the essence of life around us.

Yin, the feminine energy, is represented by the color black. Yin represents passive energy and in terms of energy is soft, slow, relaxed, nurturing, receptive and silent. The essence of the feminine energy is signified by the softness of water, the mystery of the Moon, the blackness of rich soil and the deep silence of dusk and night.

Yan, the masculine energy, is represented by the color white. Yang is the energy of activeness and is hard, fast, active, aggressive, bright and loud energy-wise. The essence of Yang is encapsulated by the aggressiveness of race cars, the solidness of rock on a mountain, the focused energy of a laser beam, the brightness of the dawn and the fiery essence of the Sun.

Neither energy can exist in isolation. They define and complement each other’s existence. A home with good Feng Shui should have a harmonious expression of both active and passive energies. However, in today’s world, we tend to constantly experience imbalances of feng shui energies. We live our lives in a constant and hectic flow of active energy. In these instances, we might be lacking, or even missing, passive energy, which provides relaxation and nourishment.

All homes need a balanced energy in order to support your physical and mental well-being. The principle of Yin and Yang enforces that balance in the Feng Shui of your space. Creating a home that reflects balance is important. Yin and yang are often balanced instinctively and intuitively in your home. For example, you add soft cushions to hard chairs; you turn on more cold water if the bathwater gets too hot; you include darker accent colors in an all-white room to keep it from looking too bland. These are instances where the two equal yet opposite forces of yin and yang bring balance into your surroundings. Thus, making sure that each aspect of your space has balanced yin and yang attributes is important to create sensual harmony around you.

The overall goal in any space is to use items and colors appropriately that represent a balanced (or sometimes even skewed) combination of both Yin and Yang. Décor with curving, fluid lines evoke the energy of Yin, while sharp angles and straight lines evoke the energy of Yang.

Depending on the overall feel that you want your space to exude, you can incorporate elements that are more towards either energy. For example, the energy of Yin is needed more in spaces such as the bedroom or the bathroom, where relaxation and serenity are important. The energy of Yin is evident through calm colors, soft music, the soothing sounds of flowing water and the relaxing calmness of still water. On the other hand, the energy of Yang is expressed in bold, strong and vibrant sounds and colors, as well as bright lights and moving energy. In contrast, other spaces such as the living room, family room, kitchen and dining room are spaces that will benefit more from the strong presence of active Yang energy, and ensure that there will always be a good gathering of energy and crowd of warm relationships.

Although sometimes, depending on the use of the space, one quality or energy will be stronger than the other, both feng shui energies are needed to maintain harmony. Consider taking a look at your space and try to sense where strong imbalances of these energies exist. Perhaps your bedroom is missing Yin energy, or perhaps your kitchen has too much Yin and not enough Yang. In these cases, it can help if you pull the balance back by adding a bit of décor that evokes the missing energy.

For example, if your bedroom lacks relaxing energy, you can remove more dominant Yang elements such as the TV or exercise equipment. However, this doesn’t mean that all Yang elements should be removed completely. While the Yin energy should be predominant in your bedroom, Yang energy still needs to be present. Think about lighter and brighter accent colors to balance the deeper sensual colors. On the other hand, if your Yang spaces lack Yang energy, you can add it back by choosing vibrant colors and lively décor. However, do also remember to incorporate the Yin element. Although it will not be the dominant element, you still need it for balance.

All in all, a harmonious balance of both Yin and Yang energy in your home will create the positive energy that you need in your life.

Till then.