Are you, energetically, a Yin or a Yang?
Are you, energetically, a Yin or a Yang personality?
…and why we need to understand duality if we are going to transcend it.
Most people don’t understand what the Yin Yang really symbolizes or how understanding its duality can be used as a beautiful tool in their life!
By understanding your main energy leaning (yin or yang), you can help begin forming words around your individual needs and better understand the needs of others around you!
When you look into some deeper self subjects, like what the Yin Yang symbolizes, it helps you to discover your inner self. This is such an important subject because we live on planet earth so we are constantly surrounded by duality.
Duality is: an instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts or two aspects of something; a dualism.
"the photographs capitalize on the dualities of light and dark, stillness and movement" -dictionary.com
By understanding the way that the underlying energy polarities work you can better understand the world that you live in, and perhaps most importantly recognize where you naturally lie, give yourself grace for that space, and push yourself to become more well-rounded energetically. Because, in truth, all of life carries both of these poles and for us to become the best versions of ourselves we must reconcile all parts of who we are.
If you are new to the concept of yin and yang, no worries, I’m going to go over the basics!
Think of Yin and Yang as Black and White. Both are necessary, both have intrinsic value, and neither could exist without their opposite…
Think about it like this… Dark and Light. Could either of these concepts exist without their counterpart? Or Dry and Wet, Hot and Cold, Fast and Slow. The list of opposites can go on forever. The more you understand about yin and yang the more magic you discover about the universe.
This concept has been around for thousands of years but I find that it is helpful to have words around how people show up in the world and understanding where on the continuum you may fall. In regards to design in particular, it’s another fun way to approach the often overwhelming concept of your own design aesthetic. Which is a necessary component in creating the environment of your dreams. (If you are interested in discovering your own design aesthetic read this article here!)
Without understanding yourself, you cannot create an environment that supports you…
By engaging with this Yin Yang concept you can now have more understanding of the personalities of the people around you and how to make them comfortable in their environment. Also, when you understand the basis of yin and yang you start to have a deeper respect for how people naturally show up, and the value that every different facet of humanity holds naturally. Basically you begin to see the world from a birds eye view. Instead of continuing to be someone that on the ground level reacts to those around them, when you understand the whole energetic system, you begin to understand why certain people always seem to trigger you. And that it’s always because you feel inadequate energetically in some way, and this process is intrinsically linked to where you naturally show up on the Yin Yang continuum. P.S. if you feel called out right now just know when I was writing these last couple of sentences I was speaking to myself too! All of us do this!
Once you understand your specific leaning, you can start to engage and create things that support who you are and give grace to yourself around subjects that may not come as easily to you. When you understand the basics of duality you can see where you naturally fit in to the larger universe. Also, you see exactly the places in which you could benefit from the most growth. The places in you that may still be unconsciously driving your behavior.
When you engage with understanding yourself and others, both yourself and others will be more supported in who they are. Learning about yin and yang can color your whole world and give you a new perspective on current world events as well as your own personal conflicts. It also can gift you a deep well of inspiration for any creative endeavor you may be contemplating.
If this concept isn’t for you I would recommend looking at some other personality posts here instead… any of these topics are an inspiring and individual basis for your accessing your own creativity. This is an abstract idea and may not be for everyone!
What even is Yin/ Yang…
The concept of the Yin Yang is super simple and exceedingly complex at the same time!
“In Ancient Chinese philosophy, yin and yang is a concept of dualism, describing how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.” Wikipedia
Often in western culture I see the meaning completely overlooked. When you search “what is the meaning of the Yin Yang”, you see this query coupled with questions like “Which side is the bad side… Yin or Yang?” which completely destroys the entire point of this concept, (and in my opinion gives rise to deeply harmful attitudes in our culture). From patriarchal ideas, the race issues, toxic masculinity, and toxic positivity, in the United States in particular. I feel that misunderstanding duality and its purpose is at the basis of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Yin represents: feminine(energy not pertaining to sex/gender), negative charge, black, shade, night, the moon, water, cold, wetness, autumn/winter, faded, discreet, indirect, rounded, softness, flexibility, inactivity, stillness, calm, slow, tired, frontside, left-side, internal, interior, closed in spaces, mental, even numbers, intuition, storage, quiet, receptive, death, higher pitches.
Yang represents: Masculine (energy not pertaining to sex/gender), positive charge, white, light, day, the sun, fire, heat, dryness, summer/spring, vibrant, obvious, direct, straight, hardness, solidity, activity, movement, energetic, fast, lively, backside, right-side, external, exterior, open spaces, physical, odd numbers, logic, usage, loud, giving, life, lower pitches.
Now understand that these “opposites” cannot exist without each other. Which set of words resonates with who you are more do you think? Yin or Yang? Often people will identify more with one side which is totally normal. This means that your energy naturally tends more toward one or the other energy. This highlights your strengths but be warned, this also highlights your weaknesses within the other side! It’s important to recognize that every human being is capable and carries each of these concepts within them! None of these concepts are “good” or “bad”. The Yin Yang is a concept that seeks to illustrate the inherent oneness of the universe and is here to show you back to the oneness within you and all of life.
How Yin energy leaners show up in the world
Specific personality traits of a Yin leaning person are: Wisdom, imagination, peacefulness, relaxation, satisfaction, persistence, introversion, right-brained, inward focused.
I imagine most Yins take things slower, tend to think before they speak, enjoy time alone and take pleasure within their own inner world over the outer world. Some weaknesses may include asserting themselves, the concept of worldly success, and constantly “doing”.
P.S. this is just an example, human beings are beautifully complicated and cannot be put into boxes!
How Yang energy leaners show up in the world
Specific personality traits of a Yang leaning person are: Action, ambition, courage, extroversion, excitement, adventurousness, doing things, outward focused, left-brained.
I imagine most Yangs jump right in, say whats on their mind, enjoy spending time with many different people and enjoy engaging with all the world has to offer. Some weaknesses may include sticking their foot in their mouths, putting achievement over relationship, and burning out when they should have rested.
P.S. this is just an example, human beings are beautifully complicated and cannot be put into boxes!
Yin/yang in relationship (friend, partner, family, countries etc.)
A thought I’ve held for a long time is why don’t we have a dating site based off energy…? (ps. if you capitalize on this idea, I will find you! haha). The concept of opposites attract is totally at play here. Often people who lean Yang are attracted to people who lean Yin and visa versa! If you can learn what describes how these opposite energies express themselves in you you can use basic attraction (positive vs negative charge) to intuit relationships.
This concept applies within familial relationships. Often people will behave along either Yin or Yang lines as to make up for the weaker spots within the family unit.
This concept applies to macro concepts as well. Think about different countries values and personalities! For example the USA definitely leans Yang placing importance on individuality and achievement, while a country like Japan leans Yin placing importance on the collective and mutual respect.
Yin Yang as it refers to your environment; How Yin and Yang show themselves within design.
Now for the design element! These energies can be used to describe many different design elements!
For example:
Color- Cool colors are often associated with Yin energy, While warm colors are associated with Yang energy.
Shape- Rounded and softer forms are often Yin energy, While structured and rectilinear forms are Yang energy.
Feel- Softness and fabric is associated with Yin, While firmness and hard surfaces are Yang.
Look- Thin and see-through elements are Yin while Solid and stiffer fabrics are Yang.
Texture- More freeform and natural elements are Yin while more aligned and designed elements are Yang.
Also, if you are designing a space with another individual, understanding what energies you each lean towards can allow for more understanding and respect when creating your new environment together. If you would like more help mixing aesthetics with another, check out my article “Design as Couple’s Therapy”
If you have already created an environment for yourself and thinking about re-designing, take a look around your space. What colors do you use, what are your furniture forms, how do things look? All of these elements will give you clues to which way your energy leans either Yin or Yang. You should take this into consideration when choosing new elements. You should also think if your space leans heavily toward one energy, how could you challenge yourself to add in some opposite elements for visual interest and balance?
How to know which way you lean.
First step is read the list in #1. See which energy holds the values that are closer to your heart.
It is quite likely that you lean toward that specific energy.
If that doesn’t seem to resonate, ask your friends and loved ones! Have them read the lists and let them tell you which one sounds more like you naturally.
If you still feel like that doesn’t fit, have your people give you some examples of WHY they think you lean one way!
Also remember that every single person shows up differently on this energetic continuum, it’s exceedingly hard to describe the complicated vibe of a human being (this is why I love pretty much every personality concept for different reasons!) No one can be described completely in black or white terms.
Think of this only as another concept that allows for more understanding, never a definition!
By understanding my energetic leaning and knowing what I need in the world to feel comfortable, I can show myself more thoughtful and intentional grace.
Knowing my partner’s energetic leaning I can form more depth of understanding around their own needs and behaviors and hold space where they may need more from me or their environment.
For example I consider myself a Yin leaning person with some Yang tendencies. So how this physically manifests for me is that I enjoy calming spaces with natural materials and cooler colors. I’m someone who likes to sit back and observe a situation before jumping in. I’m someone who has to take a second before responding to a pointed question. I’m someone who after a loud party needs some space (and will often take some physical space at the party!) I often enjoy one-on-one conversations more than group conversations. However my Yang tendencies pop up when I feel as though someone is being treated unfairly, I can be extremely assertive. Also, if I have made up my mind ahead of time that something needs to get done, (like my friend getting to the front of a concert mob on their birthday) I will get there!
Knowing these things about myself I have a partner that complements my energy. He is mostly Yang energy but definitely has inner Yin leanings. This way as a unit we feel as though we can take on any moment in the world together. Because we know in which ways we are each more comfortable we can let each other take the reins in different situations.
This concept can easily be used to understand your own friendships, family bonds, and even your work relationships and dynamics!
Let me know if you guys found any of these tips helpful. I would also love to hear how you all think you fall along this contrast and play of duality, and why you believe that you lean towards Yin or Yang!
Thank you so much for reading!
Love,