Applying Yin Yang principles to cure a difficult room

Applying yin yang principles as used in Feng Shui to turnaround a room that’s not working

TAI CHI

Yin Yang

Yin yang theory in Feng Shui considers everything in the universe to consist of two opposing but interconnected forces.  To use yin yang theory to create balance in a difficult room, you will be looking at how to balance these two opposing forces.

Yin is the feminine and Yang is the masculine.  

If the energy in your room doesn’t feel right, the chances are it’s because of a yin-yang imbalance.  This doesn’t mean that what you have currently is wrong or disharmonious.  It maybe the balance of the Feng Shui elements is unsuitable for how the room is being used and it’s jarring on you. 
 
Examples of yin and yang are all around us. In people, in nature, in public buildings and in our homes.

According to Feng Shui principles, when you achieve the right balance of these two opposing forces it creates the harmony and ease we strive for; you know when it’s right because it feels right.

For example, if you paint an already cool room in a dark colour, or keep your children, pets and any signs of life out of it and hardly ever go in there, it quickly becomes very yin. This silence and stillness that descends upon it lends itself to a bedroom where you go for restorative sleep but not to a home office, for example.
 
When you decorate the same room with a light, bright colour, turn up the temperature, and invite your friends, family and pets to join you, it quickly becomes yang. Think kitchen, family room or a busy reception area. 

When common sense prevails

Oftentimes, your common sense will cause you to use yin and yang instinctively to create balance. For instance: 

• Adding soft cushions to hard wooden chairs. 
• When the shower gets too hot, you turn on the cold.  
• Painting a wall in an accent colour to stop an all-white room looking bland.
• Creating a calmer environment in a bedroom to induce sleep. 

 
When the two equal and opposite forces of yin and yang are in balance in your surroundings, you will naturally feel comfortable, secure, and peaceful.

When common sense no longer prevails

All too often common sense is ignored, particularly in the workplace where considerations of the yin-yang balance are seldom considered and people work in a less than optimal conditions.

• Offices filled with computers 
• Bright florescent lighting
• Hard shiny flooring
• Metal filing cabinets
• Hard edges and angular desks 
• Phones ringing, people chatting.

This lack of employing common senses causes additional strain when people are trying to concentrate. Tension and irritability rises.  It is hard to be creative and productive in this kind of environment because there is too much harsh yang energy. A person would have to use much more of their own energy to get things done and combat the distractions. 

A little bit of yin energy could make all the difference.

• Soft fabrics and furnishings 
• Desk and floor lamps instead of overhead lighting
• Low-lying wooden filing cabinets
• Soothing colours on the walls
• An indoor water feature to finish it off.

Applying yin yang theory in Feng Shui

There are some simple and effective ways to add or subtract the yin and yang elements from a room to restore balance.  First it’s best to check what qualities of the ying and yang elements that are already present in the room.  If it’s supposed to be a yin room and it’s too yang (or vice versa), the list below can provide a steer as to what you can do about it.
 
Yin                                                    Yang
Feminine                                           Masculine
Soft                                                    Hard
Cool/cold                                           Warm/hot      
Passive                                              Active
Nurturing                                           Aggressive
Dark                                                   Light
Curved                                               Straight
Rounded                                            Angular         
Low                                                    High
Small                                                  Large
Ornate                                                Plain
Horizontal                                           Vertical
Floral                                                  Geometric
 

If your space needs more yin … 

… to create a more relaxed and regenerative vibe add

• Curves and flowing shapes
• Dark colours
• Upholstered furniture
• Window dressings
• Rugs on the floors
• Lots of furniture
• Mood lighting

If your space needs more yang… 

… to inject energy and stimulation add

• Straight lines and angular shapes
• Light, bright colours
• Furniture made from wood, glass, or stone
• Track lighting and bright lights
• Wooden blinds
• Floors made from wood, marble, tile
• Minimise the pieces of furniture

In Feng Shui, having the right balance of both yin and yang in your home or  office will create the positive energy you need to attract more health, wealth, happiness and love into your life.  I wish you lots of joy in harmonising yin yang in yours.