What the world needs now: A Yin Revolution

The yin-yang symbol is everywhere. But do most people think about what it means? I am by no means an expert on Chinese philosophy, but the concepts of yin and yang were important in my herbal training. The symbol represents duality, and contains a lot of lessons about balance that can be useful in modern life.

YIn represents the Feminine. It refers to the energy of quiet, listening, receptivity, rest, and consolidating energy. It also represents concrete matter (things you can touch and feel). Yang represents the Masculine. It refers to expending energy, action, heat, as well as things that move and change and can’t be touched or felt as much, such as ideas.

Yin and yang only exist in relation to one another. Something is ‘yang’ because what you’re comparing it to is more yin. I have heard yang described as “the light side of the mountain” and yin as “the dark side of the mountain.” In other words, the east side of the mountain will be ‘yang’ in the morning while the west side is ‘yin’, and during the afternoon it will be the opposite. There is a spectrum; yin and yang are not absolutes.

The symbol and the way these energies relate to one another can be a beautiful recipe for balance, if we let it. Right now, however, the equation is way out of balance. We live in a society that values all things Yang: the Masculine, action, constant doing. And we are deeply craving more Yin. More rest, more quiet, more opportunities to consolidate our energy and refill our reserves. We’re tired of operating on High all the time, acting as if we didn’t have a body that needs rest and replenishment. (Just look at the rates of stress-related diseases.) We value action and speed over listening and thoughtfulness. And look at what is happening in leadership - in the public and private sectors, we are crying out for a new kind of leadership.

I think we are asking for leadership that listens and that respects the bodily health and integrity of humans and the Earth that gives us life. That respect comes in many forms: Providing vacation, health insurance, and family leave. Refraining from crossing the boundaries of someone’s body without their permission. Recognizing the sacredness of the Earth and making decisions that keep her safe and healthy, instead of exploited, violated, and destroyed.

People love to make fun of millenial hipsters and their artisanal everything, but the fact is that huge numbers of us are craving things that we can touch and feel, things that last, things that connect us to the past and the Earth and each other. Technology keeps promising to make everything faster and more convenient, but more than speed we want connection. More than convenience, we want meaning.

I believe we are in a moment of profound shift where the Earth and her children are crying out for more Yin to balance out all this Yang. Respect for women, bodies, listening,  quiet, rest, concrete reality (i.e. the Earth itself, not just ideas and visions). It is time.

And I believe we can all be part of this paradigm shift, starting with ourselves. We are all connected in a web of life (see: economics, ecology, six degrees of separation), so enough of us embracing these principles and acting on them can have ripple effects through the whole system. My teacher Patricia Kyritsi Howell likes to say, “One of the most revolutionary things you can do in this society is engage in yin activities.” What might happen if more of us embraced yin activities for ourselves, our organizations, and our communities? What if we made decisions that embraced the Feminine and the reality of human bodies? What kind of influence could we have?

Facebook took over the world by saying, “Move fast and break things.” I think a lot of us are ready to move thoughtfully and nurture what matters.