Apr 08 2008
Yin and Yang: The Energy of Opposites
In Nature, nothing exists without its opposite. We would not know what light was, if we didn’t have dark to compare it with. We couldn’t appreciate the sun without periods of rain. This law of opposites is the essence of Yin and Yang: opposites that complement each other and bring a greater sense of harmony.
Extremes are not comfortable Feng Shui. Like the children’s book the Three Little Bears, we like our chairs to be not too soft and not too hard, but just right. Feng Shui looks for the balance, neither too Yin not too Yang. Yin is characterised by environments that are dark, small, ornate, quiet, curved, rounded, floral and feminine. Yang is defined by light, large airy spaces, plain, noisy or lively, straight or angular lines and masculine.
The Victorian Era was predominantly Yin. When I think of the Victorian style, what comes to mind are very quiet, dimly lit rooms with dark floral wallpaper, heavy drapery, ornately carved legs on furniture and tables draped to the floor with heavy cloths. The Energy feeling I get is grounded, cozy but claustrophobic.
In contrast, modern homes are often very Yang with large rooms, high ceilings, lots of angles and large expanses of glass and wooden floors. With the cavernous ceilings, sound echoes throughout. The feeling I get is expansive but also exposed. It can be difficult to create a cozy retreat.
We can usually sense when a room or a home is slightly out of balance without being able to precisely put our finger on the problem. One thing to look for is the contract and extremes between Yin and Yang and when you find it, balance it some energy of the opposite.
Some examples:
- balance very bright overhead lights with lamps and task lighting so you can change the level of brightness and create mood areas.
- brighten up any dark areas, even if they are not functional, with a lamp or pot light.
- paint different rooms in the house a different colour. Warm up cool wall colours with warm accessories and vice versa.
- use and combine different textures and patterns can be combined. For every busy, vibrant pattern, add a subdued one. For each smooth texture, add a touch of roughness.
- look for contrast in shapes, e.g., put apples or oranges in a square dish instead of a round one.
Every little change you make towards balancing extremes affects your life in a positive way. You will feel more comfort and harmony in your home, and that is the art of living well with feng shui.
© Deborah Redfern, 2008. All rights reserved.
Tags: Energy, Feng Shui, Yin and Yang