Classic Chinese beliefs: Yin and yang

Temple Ceiling
Originally uploaded by Ariel Ophelia.

Yin and Yang are dependent opposites that must always be in balance. The opposites flow in a natural cycle always replacing the other. Just as the seasons cycle and create a time of heat and cold, Yin and Yang cycles through active and passive, dark and light, etc. Yin and Yang evolved from a belief of mutually dependant opposites that cannot live without the other, says About.com. The Eastern view of opposites is, if you will excuse the pun, opposite of a Western view. If Yin and Yang are balanced and flowing in the East, in the West (if a similar philosophy were adopted), it might look like the image to the right.
We in the West tend to look as things as black “or” white, right “or” wrong, etc. There is separation and unrelatedness in the Western perspective. Whereas, the Chinese view opposites as evolving and cycling. There is neither right or wrong, but rather there is balance, transformation, interaction, and dependent opposition. We need both to maintain a balance.

Yin:
Feminine
Water
Cool
Soft
Dark
Moon
Moist

Yang:
Masculine
Fire
Hot
Hard
Light
Sun
Dry

Yin are softer qualities that tend to make you sleepy and relaxed. Yang are bright qualities that stimulate and activate. A good question to ask yourself is : Does it stimulate or calm me?