Jerry Astrology

In my previous post, I wrote about how the zodiac signs were actually a division of time, and not a division of space. After I complete that post, the thght that came to me was how this division of “time vs space” was a manifestation of Yin-Yang (阴阳).

The concept of Yin-Yang

The image above is known as the 太极图(tai-ji-tu), depicting Yin-Yang – a circle of 2 halves, one black half and one white half, in equal proportions. In each of the halves, there is a smaller circle containing the other colour. 

There are several ways of interpreting this image. 

Firstly, the polarity of two. Everything on this material realm has two sides to it, one black and one white, or one being obvious and seen, while the other being hidden and obscured, or one side strong and the other side weak. This list can go on endlessly. Two sides of the same coin. 

Secondly, one is rooted in the other, interdependence. Within the black half, there is small portion of white, and in the white half, there is a small portion of black. Black is rooted in white, and white is rooted in black. There is strength in opening up about our fears and being vulnerable, just as there is fear behind someone’s excessively aggressive front. 

Thirdly, divided but in balance. Though the circle of divided into two, the two halves are of equal proportions. They are in balance. If you look at the black half, it starts small at the top then grows to its maximum size at the bottom. Thereafter, white begins, and starts to grow. This captures the natural process of maintaining balance. 

When a lone tree gets overwhelmingly tall, it gets uprooted by strong winds. When a person gets too haughty, he will eventually run into situations that keeps his arrogance in check. When a person constantly eats too much, his body will eventually fall sick and forces him to cut back and regulate his food intake. Always being in balance, not too much, and not too little. Either we learn to be moderate and in balance, or nature will do that for us (painfully).

Yin-Yang – A way of thinking and looking at things

Coming back to what I started with – zodiac signs as a division of time, not space. In a way, “space” can be associated with “yang”, what’s obvious and seen (in the night sky), while “time” can be associated with “yin”, what’s hidden and not easily seen. 

When someone or something is presented before us, it is our natural tendency to be draw to what can be see and observed, to be drawn to what’s obvious. The principle of Yin-Yang teaches us to also pay attention to what we cannot see, or what is not easily observable. 

This principle is also captured in the Chinese phrase 危机. 危 being danger and troubles, while 机 means opportunity.

Using the Covid pandemic as an example, what’s seen and obvious is the pandemic itself. The virus is deadly, our lives are at risk, and there is many inconveniences that we had to put up with to contain the spread of the virus. This is also the 危, danger.

But hidden behind this “Yang” or 危, lies opportunity, 机. Manufacturers of medical supplies like masks and ventilators saw tremendous sales in their products. Software companies like Google and Zoom also took advantage of lockdowns and work-from-home directives to promote their video conferencing platforms. And normal working folks also took the opportunity to press for permanent work-from-home arrangements since the pandemic has offered proof that such arrangements can also work well for companies.

When we meet someone, after taking in the observable, it is worth asking ourselves, what is not being easily seen or known about this person? When asked politely, it might also be a great way to know that person more deeply. 

When presented with a problem or challenge, in addition to thinking about how to tackle the challenge, it is also worthwhile to also ask ourselves, what’s the opportunity here that we can take advantage of?

Where there is Yin, there must also be Yang. Where there is something fixed and rigid, there is something that can be changed. Where there is a locked door, there is a key somewhere. 

🙏