The Advent of Yin Day 16: Silent

"Silent night, holy night; all is calm, all is bright"....Yin, yang, yin, yang. The Christmas story, and likely every story can be a study in the movement of yin and yang.

It is notable that in this most yin part of the year we celebrate the story of the birth of Christ. Heaven come down upon the earth. A bright star punctuated the blackened sky to announce the birth of Jesus. It is a visual not unlike the most full black part of the tai chi symbol and it's symbolism is shared amongst many traditions besides Christianity. Within the deepest of yin, there is a seed of yang. Within the darkest part of humanity's soul resides the light.

Allow yourself the luxury to turn off the Christmas clatter and enjoy a silent night.

Silent is my final yin word, as the solstice is upon us.

The Advent of Yin Day 15: fear

By Jimee, Jackie, Tom & Asha

Sometimes when I am frightened it is evident to myself and to others. When scared or startled my heart pounds, my breathing rate increases and I might even scream. But often fear is a more yin emotion. It is farther from the surface, and closer to the truth behind my actions, than I might care to admit.

Fear of failure, or sometimes success, is often hidden way down deep when I chose not to follow an action which I think is probably in my best interests. Fear of rejection lurks below my radar when I say something defensive to someone I love. Fear of the unknown keeps me from pursuing a particular fork in the road. That sneaky yin word can get in the way of a lot of great potential.

However, the gift of all of the more 'negative' yin words lies in their opportunity, once discovered, for incredible growth. Maybe that will be my New Year's intention this year. To lovingly look into the actions that I am least proud of and see if underneath them I might uncover a little fear.

The Advent of Yin Day 14: Feminine

Feminine is one of the most primary yin words. It is also the one which I think subtly makes women cringe when they hear yin's associations. To have femininity associated with words like dark, below and negative seems somehow like a blow to the female ego.

What is essential to remember though is the beauty and mystery which is also associated with the feminine. As women regain their balance after the sometimes harsh feminism movement they are once again wrapping their loving arms around their basic feminine nature. The Goddess is back! We as women know that being receptive, warm, nurturing and co-creative is at the core of our beings and that we can use the patriarchal model to our advantage without embodying it. We are helping to unplug the patriarchy.

Our job now is to guide the pendulum closer to the center and resist the temptation to swing too far in either direction.

If you are in the Calgary area, author Lucia Rene will be holding a workshop for women on Feb 5 in Okotoks. Come and learn to stand in your own feminine power! www.womenstandingintheirpower.eventbrite.com

The Advent of Yin Day 13: Home

Are you going home for the holidays? Is it a place or an experience?

Photo by frumbert

There is a difference between a house and a home. But did you know that it could be defined in terms of yin and yang? A house is yang, a home belongs to the realm of yin.

A house has structure, it is concrete and somewhat permanent. A home on the other hand is built on the unseen. It is fabricated through care and attention to relationship, through love and nurturing. Home is where we go when life is difficult, or when we wish to celebrate our successes with those who matter to us. Home has a mysterious quality which draws us to it, sometimes even when our time their has, in the past, been challenging.

I once had a house burn down, vanish into smoke. But I have luckily always had a home. Not everyone is so blessed.

It is an interesting thing that the downtrodden are not called the houseless, they are called the homeless.
 
http://www.innfromthecold.org/

The Advent of Yin Day 12: Balance

Balance, balance, balance. As feng shui practitioners my colleagues and I are constantly espousing the benefits of balance. Balance is a yin word.

A true, pure balance is basically static. It implies that things on both sides of an equation are in some way equal and the same. There is no movement. Life, as we all know is not like that. Life is always changing and moving and without an inequality or imbalance nothing would happen.

So when we talk about achieving balance it is important to remember that we are talking about a sort of organic balance. A flow. Things tip one way a little too far and then we must draw them back toward the center. This is a much more accurate picture of the kind of balance that a feng shui practitioner is trying to achieve. Balance is difficult.

The Advent of Yin Day 11: Low

Low is another yin word with a somewhat depressed (excuse the pun) reputation. But how could we look at low in a different light? Low is definitely something we want our cholesterol levels to be, and our blood pressure. Low light is always more flattering. Low energy is a signal to us that we need to rest and without it we sometimes crash unexpectedly (note to self...).

The most intriguing question to me though as I am writing this is whether there might be an advantage to low as a place of reference, a place to look at things from. Those of us on a spiritual path are often thinking about seeing something from a higher place, taking the higher road, or striving for a higher plane. I wonder though, if we spend too much of our time up there, what might we be missing down here?

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite parts about Christmas was to wait until the tree was all lit and decorated and then to lie underneath the tree and look up into it. From that vantage point, it took on a whole different magic.

The Advent of Yin Day 10: Internal

As we inch closer to the winter solstice on December 21st, and to Christmas itself, the busyness of the season is a very yang energy. Our activity can take us outside of ourselves in good ways. For example when we put ourselves in another's shoes to find that perfect gift. However, all of the external business can require a little yin balance. We need to do a little internal practice.

Prayer, contemplation or meditation are so important at this time of the year as they are in natural alignment with the season. For those unfamiliar with any of these practices it is not as daunting as you might think. Here are a few simple ways

• Gratitude. A simple statement such as "thank you for the beauty of this day" works wonders
• Attention. Washing the dishes must have some sort of magic power as it is often recommended as a meditation. Any activity will work though. Slow your mind and really pay attention, to anything. Really! 

• Walk. Get outside for a few moments and walk. Pay attention and have gratitude for the beauty of the day and you have a practice.

Now that was easy!

The Advent of Yin Day 10: Below

My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. —William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Below is today's yin word and it is closely related to 'hidden' which I blogged about a few days ago.

Photo by Cybershaman

Below is a word which forces us to come out of our comfort zone. I think that is true of many yin words. We like things which are above. Above board, above average, above all else.... But below seems to have a sneaky underbelly sort of side to it. It requires us to work a little harder at liking it. However, as with all yin words there is a gift to below.

Often the most interesting part of something lies below the surface, just out of sight. Under a seemingly monotonous expanse of ocean lies a world of incredible beauty and diversity which we have yet to fully understand. Under the tip of an iceberg is a gigantic portion of the same which is hidden from view without inquiry. Under the vastly diverse human experience is a basic truth in which we have more in common than not.

As we enter the most yin season, it would be my wish that we search within our hearts (also below the surface) to find that commonality and to rest in that for a moment.

The Advent of Yin Day 9: Defeat

We love winners! "To the victors go the spoils" the saying goes and humans take this to heart. But what might come of defeat?

I am not one of those people who thinks that competition is bad. Competition is a natural reality and Feng Shui philosophy, based on the I Ching, recommends that we work within the natural order, rather than against it. We must naturally compete for resources and mates as just a few examples.

Though we all have a natural desire to be the winner in these competitions, what happens when we are defeated? We suffer. Our ego's are damaged, our self esteem takes a temporary dive and perhaps we back away from trying again. However, if we have been taught resilience and have an understanding that all situations bring us the opportunity for growth we end up winners in the long run.

The I Ching, or Book of Changes, teaches that all things fluctuate and that when things seem most bleak change is usually right around the corner. The gift in the yin of defeat is that when we are the victor some time down the road, the spoils are all the sweeter.

The Advent of Yin Day 8: Soft

Soft is a yin word which does not seem to have that same nagging negativity associated with it that some of the other yin words have. We appear to like soft. Soft feels good. We like it when our beds feel soft, when we can slip into a soft cashmere sweater or sit with our feet up under a soft throw.

Soft is one word in the realm of dualities which has a relationship with it's partner 'hard' that seems to be sort of, well, soft and is one case where the yin word is the more positive for most of us.

We have created a world which by necessity has a great deal of hardness in it. We require the durability and resilience that hardness brings to our homes, cars and in some cases our hearts. Surrounded by severity on so many levels soft is a welcome respite.


At this time of the year we allow ourselves to soften our gaze and see others, particularly the less fortunate, more clearly and to soften our hearts and give freely.

Please support your favorite charities and tread softly upon this great blue ball this Christmas.

The Advent of Yin Day 7: Hidden

The world watches in interest as the Wikileaks drama unfolds. While I am not informed enough to even begin to offer an opinion on Julian Assange and his organization, the whole episode has the world immersed in a conversation about today's yin word; hidden.

My overall thought is that more transparency in the world would be a good thing, however if we knew everything about everything where would the magic be? Some of the most cherished human experiences require a little digging to get to. Where would the fun in Easter be if the eggs weren't hidden? What would happen to the anticipation of Christmas if your parents had left the unwrapped gifts out in the open? The hidden feelings of a newly unfolding romance are what make it so sweet when it is finally revealed that you are, indeed, cherished.

We love to discover something which has been previously hidden from view. Without this yin word there would be no mystery and where is the fun in that?

Can you find the hidden face?

The Advent of Yin Day 6: Yielding

As we count down to Christmas I think we could all learn to be a little more yielding, today's yin word. There are two forms of this word, one which means to bear fruit and another which means to sort of give up or resign one's self. Since the second would be more likely to be seen as negative that is the one I am going to try to illustrate positively. Interestingly the second form of the word often leads to the first.

Give it up! Surrender! Relax, Succumb, Let go! Doesn't it sound sublime?

 That's it. Have a great day.

The Advent of Yin Day 5: Slow

Today's yin word is slow.

In a world which seems to be in a constant state of rapid movement, slow has become a foreign concept for many. Remember 'old people' saying how fast time seemed to fly in their world? Well, I must be an 'old person' because it sure seems to me that time flies! So I say rather than getting too caught up in the season crazies, make time for a little slow. Here are some great reasons;

• slow cooked always tastes amazing
• a slow walk lets you know your neighborhood and possibly even your neighbors
• driving more slowly is less dangerous
• eating slowly can be a meditation
• thinking slowly lets us respond rather than react
• slowing down increases awareness

What else is great about slow?

The yin of the winter season naturally begs us to slow down, to cozy up with a good book and a cup of tea, to reflect on the harvest of the year. Rather than forge against that natural cycle, why not take the time to practice slowness? I just noticed (because I slowed down) my friends at Cafe Divine in Okotoks are holding a Terra Madre slow food dinner this Friday night, December 10th. Yum!

The Advent of Yin Day 4: Black

Black, now there is a yin word that I can say I like! What is not to like about black? Black clothing makes you look slimmer, gives you an air of authority and goes with everything! Black allows all other colors to 'pop' creating a backdrop for more vibrant yang colors to be seen against it.

Black is the color of the element of water. Water represents wisdom and reflection in it's still form, and socialization and life flow in its more active form. Adding black accents to your decor, particularly near the entrance, can symbolically bring these qualities to your environment.

Black is inclusive of everything as it is the color which absorbs all others. While white may be seen by some as the color of purity, black cannot be muddied by outside influences, rather it absorbs and assimilates. This is one of the basic teachings of Black Sect Tantric Buddhism which has incorporated the philosophy of many other traditions.

Yup, so far black is my favorite yin word.

The Advent of Yin Day 3: Cold

Ok, I admit it. I do not like this particular yin word. In the Chinese Zodiac I am a 'fire horse' so the cold and I do not get along all that well. Fire represents the south, warmth, light and of course fire so you can see how the yin qualities can be a challenge for me personally. Fire is a very yang element.

However, my goal was to look at the positive aspects of all things yin and cold is definitely yin - so here goes. The most obvious positive of the cold for me is that without it, there is no warm. What is always important to remember is that without an aspect which we consider to be negative, there is nothing to measure the positive against. Relativity is the key.

Actually, though I am not fond of being cold I do love some of the things that are a result of it. I love the beauty of a cold, snowy landscape particularly if the sun is out for a little yin/yang balance. The tiny rainbows which are everywhere make my heart sing. I love that on cold sunny winter mornings the mountains west of me turn pink for a few precious minutes. That does not happen at any other time. I love the fur coat my dog puts on as a result of the cold, she is practically teddy bear soft at this time of the year. I appreciate that the cold here in Canada keeps us relatively pest free (can you tell I'm stretching here?), and that I get a rest from the garden duties for a portion of the year.

What do you love about the cold?

The Advent of Yin Day 2: Contraction

Day two of my Advent of Yin has me thinking about the contracting quality of yin. While yang represents all things expansive in nature, yin is a more concentrated, inward energy. At this time of year we have a natural desire to hibernate, to go indoors and to reduce our social activity. Contraction can also be seen in our families as they come together for the holidays after being apart for much of the year.

For many, gathering together to celebrate with family and friends is truly the best part of December. However, over extending ourselves socially is also pretty common and to some degree goes against the natural flow of the yin nature of the season.

For some people, the constant activity at this time of the year is positive and it helps to energize the yin of the winter months. For others, the pressure to go against the natural order of things creates serious imbalances and creates undue stress at this time of the year. Paying attention is the answer.

If you find that you become stressed out at this time of the year, see if you can allow yourself the luxury of relaxation. Scale back your social commitments, reduce your compulsion to over decorate, over shop and over eat. Take the time to be alone, to meditate perhaps, or soak in a hot bath.

If you love the constant activity that has been created around this yin time, go for it! Enjoy the parties, soak up the lights, and celebrate the season.

"Winter is the time of promise because there is so little to do - or because you can now and then permit yourself the luxury of thinking so."
-Stanely Crawford

What do you think? Does the extra social activity at this time of the year invigorate or drain you?

The Advent of Yin

As we end the first week of the month we are approaching the winter solstice which falls on the 21st of December. This is the most yin time of the year.

I always find it interesting that when teaching about the qualities of yin and yang there is a subtle undercurrent of favor for all things yang. In many ways this is inevitable as we live in a Patriarchal world where masculine qualities have been favored over the feminine for thousands of years. We are a culture addicted to growth, expansion and competition over others, all yang qualities. However what must be remembered is that without the opposite of these qualities, the yang fails to exist at all. Without the dark, there can be no light.

So I think that I will start a sort of advent calendar of yin. For the next 17 days, ( I wish I would have thought of this 4 days ago for the entire 21) I will write a blog posting on the positive qualities of yin.

Here goes; Yin is dark. Anyone familiar with the yin/yang or Tai-Chi symbol recognizes that the black half of this symbol is the yin side. It is a good place to begin to explore. In general we are afraid of the dark, but could we learn to embrace the dark? These are 4 qualities that I love about the dark;

• The dark encourages us to go inward, to explore the unseen worlds of the mind. 
• Darkness asks us to be still, to suspend our constant movement and to rest.
• Darkness absorbs all color, it is inclusive. 
• The darkness allows us to view the stars and wonder about life's mysteries, to feel vastness and to see ourselves as a very small part of a larger picture. 

 "Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it"
-Terry Pratchett

Any thoughts? I would love to see you add to my list!