Lesson 1: Introduction To Chinese Astrology - The Basics
Yin and Yang: The Need for Balance
The concept of yin and yang is central to Chinese astrology; each year not only has an animal and an element - but also a yin or yang polarity. Chinese astrology emphasizes the concept of balance - one way of calculating your "lucky" element is to look at your 4 Pillars chart (which we will examine in detail in the next lesson) and determine which element you are most lacking. This becomes the element you most need to bring into your life.
Nowhere is the concept of balance more graphically illustrated than in the concepts of yin and yang. Polar opposites, no yin can exist without yang and vice versa. Everything negative that happens to an individual is attributed to a lack of balance between yin and yang and the five elements, and everything that goes right, because a proper balance has been achieved. All changes in the universe occur through the workings of Yin and Yang, and the five elements as they flow through their creative and destructive cycles. This principle correlates with what we learn in modern science - all systems tend towards an equilibrium and will act to return to it if disturbed.
In Chinese literature, the Sun is known as the Great Yang and the Moon, the Great Yin. Yang represents the masculine principle, and signifies activity, aggressiveness, heat, hardness, and things that are illuminated and evident. Yin represents the feminine principle, and signifies things that are dark, hidden, passive, receptive, yielding, cool, and soft. Light is considered yang, and shadow, yin.
Six animals of the Chinese zodiac are naturally yang, and six are naturally yin. A normally yin animal will manifest more aggressively if found in a yang year. For example, the sign of the Goat is normally yin, but as there are yang goat years there are more assertive goat people to be found. Likewise, a yin Tiger or Dragon will be more subdued than the typical yang Tiger or Dragon.
Each element can also be either Yin or Yang - for example, yin metal would be soft and pliable like silver while yang metal would be hard like steel. In "real" Feng Shui - it is necessary to add elemental representations of the right polarity as well to correct imbalances. Feng Shui books tell us that the reason many people remain single is because they have too many representations of one or the other polarity in their home decor (Ex. the single female with ALL flower paintings in the bedroom). A few more examples of items that represent each elemental polarity are:
- Yin Wood - Dried plants, bamboo, paper
- Yang Wood - Plants that are green and healthy
- Yin Water- Paintings of water, wavy shaped curtains
- Yang Water -Fish tanks, fountains
- Yin Metal - Silver, trinkets, jewelry
- Yang Metal- Knives, swords, steel
- Yin Fire - Candles, soft lighting, clove and cinnamon incense
- Yang Fire - Fireplaces, stoves, ovens
- Yin Earth - Semiprecious and precious stones, dirt
- Yang Earth - Rocks, tile, brick
Chinese medicine also attributes many diseases to an imbalance of yin or yang - overly yin diseases include obesity, lethargy, depression, or abnormalities of the female organs. Yang diseases are nervous disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, and fevers/flu. To correct the disorder, the patient is recommended to correct the imbalance in diet and surroundings.
Yin foods are soft and bland, such as rice, milk, oatmeal and pasta. Yang foods are meat, all spices, wine, and tomato sauces. Obviously, an upset stomach is considered a yang condition!
