Yin and Yang are often identified as the masculine and feminine qualities represented in sacred symbolism, within our physical bodies as well as the emotional and psycho-spiritual conditions deeper inside of us.

To the Taoists, Yin and Yang are evident in the flow of energy moving through the meridians and as the elements of water and fire. The Hindus and similar yogic-based philosophies may see this as prana and apana, the union of Shakti and Shiva or the Ida and Pingala nadis.

Celtic and other indigenous people find Yin and Yang represented in the earthly and heavenly elements of water and fire, earth and air, as well as in the energies of moon and sun.

Our physical bodies are holograms for Yin and Yang, the mythos of ancient cultures and divine symbolism. In these contexts we can see ourselves as reflections of heaven and earth, a balance of both integrated within us. Our brains, our autonomic nervous systems, arteries, veins and blood flow, the endocrine system, and even our behaviors are filled with this energy.

In our world, we say that Yin and Yang is a Universal Principle. Maybe we would better express it as an Earthly Principle–part of a series of earthly expressions that exist under or inside a principle of Oneness. When Yin and Yang are truly integrated, our human version of oneness can be a gateway to higher dimensions where duality probably doesn’t exist.

In fact, it can also be expressed by the levels of consciousness and our chakra system–the 8th chakra above our head represents the gateway. For us humans, it’s important to actually experience the principles, singularly and in concert with one another. It helps us to physically feel both distinction and unity.

Try this simple integration exercise using one of the most profound yet simple, divine energies available to our bodies. Use it for self-reflection, expression and evolution: the BREATH!

Sit quietly; breathing naturally, your feet are on the floor. Visualize your breath moving up and down your spine, as if it is a river contained within your body. Feel the breath pooling at the top of your head and then allow it to run down to your pelvic floor and tailbone; let it pool there too.

Breathe and feel all the spaces along your spine in between.

Allow your breath to flow freely inside and immediately around your spinal column. It surrounds the bones, the muscles, especially the nerves and fluids inside the container of your vertebrae. Breathe in this way for at least 5 minutes, noticing how you feel, what you see or sense. What do you discover about your breath, your thoughts, your physical sensations and emotions?

Now, imagine the breath moving up the spinal river into the center of your head and then branching off down two streams that run alongside the spinal river on right and left sides. Inhale upwards through the spinal river, all the way to the top of your head again. Exhale downward through the two streams to the pelvic floor and tail area.

Perform this gently, quietly, repeating the sequence for another 5 minutes. Notice how your body feels, notice what you see or sense. What do you discover about your breath, your body, your thoughts and emotions?

Repeat this whole exercise each day for a week. Do not purposely change anything inside you—not your breath, nor your rhythms; not what you see. In other words, don’t try to fix what you observe. Just keep breathing.  If something naturally or spontaneously shifts inside you on any level: physical, emotional-mental, energetic, visual or spiritual, allow this to take place. There is a big difference between fixing and allowing.

What do you notice as you progress through the week? You might want to make some notes in a journal about your discoveries.

Qualities of Yin & Yang:

Feminine-Masculine

Right Brain-Left Brain

Eros-Logos

Shakti-Shiva

Ida-Pingala

Moon-Sun

Receptive -Active

Cool-Warm

Apana-Prana

Expiration-Inspiration

Parasympathetic-Sympathetic

Afference-Efference

As Above, So Below

As Within-So Without

Individuation

Yin-Yang Symbol

Six-Pointed Star Symbol

Tree of Life Symbolism

Please join us in exploring the body as a sacred hologram each week with self-reflection, expression and practice. Just wave your magic mouse over the subscribe button up there on the right to sign-up!