YIN & YANG

4/4/2019

Cynthia Or is a Toronto-based writer, stylist and art director.

The philosophy of Yin & Yang is based on the idea of two opposing but complimentary parts think hot and cold. Treading the thin line between Yin & Yang is what separates friend from lover, unique from basic, interesting from overwhelming. Through practising Yin & Yang, we reach our best, and most efficient self. A symbol of Taoism, an ancient Chinese religion, Yin & Yang is made up of two parts:

Yang is the white part: ACTIVE energy, LIGHT, MALE, DAY, EARTH, SUN. Yin is the black part: PASSIVE energy, DARKNESS, FEMALE, NIGHT, HEAVEN, MOON.

Together they express the cycles of days, seasons, chaos and order. North American culture definitely has a Yang vibe, so naturally we are fascinated by the Yin side of things. Yang is basic, common, predictable. The importance of Yang mentality is what we grew up learning. Be proactive. Participate. Be heard. Be a leader. Make what you want happen. Make more money. Spend money. Be on your grind. Go out. Eat a lot. Do a lot. Control as much as you can!

The Yin mentality is cool, chill, unique, one-of-a-kind chaotic. It’s an intuitive passivity. Listen. Take time, take in your surroundings. Observe. What may be will be. Stay-in. Let go. Have faith in the chaos of not knowing. Be chill! See the funny and cute in absolutely nothing. Smoke weed. Yin is like the darkness and sleep we need to fuel the brightness of the day. Yin is not sending that drunk text you’ll regret tomorrow. It’s the opportunities you let pass that may have been a bad idea, the potential partners you let pass that would have honestly wasted your time.

The whole idea of Yin baffles us that the best solution might be to do less, say less, react less. The main point of Taoism is that you’re ignorant AF if you think you know anything. The first step of embracing the chaos of Yin is to admit we know nothing. We have control over nothing. Instead of fearing the dark, embrace it, and embrace feelings emptiness. Try to feel at peace with not knowing the outcome.

So how can we embrace this primordial cosmic Yin? Breathe. Trust your intuition. Make a conscious decision not to let negativity summon the Yang energy within yourself. Think about death and the finite nature of life. In the grand scheme, is it worth fussing over this drama? It’s a three word Mantra: Let It Go.