Written by: Jack Rasmussen, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
The chicken and egg. Some would say one came before the other or vice versa. I am challenging world learners to look at it another way: the existence of a mother chicken denotes the existence of eggs. At the same time, the existence of eggs denotes the existence of a mother chicken. In a lot of ways, eggs symbolize fertility, motherhood, and care. A mother chicken symbolizes eggs as they are her life’s work and likely her greatest contribution to the world.
In the same way, yin denotes yang and yang denotes yin. When you think of the ancient Chinese symbol like this, its meaning becomes clearer I believe. The existence of two complementary forces is only strengthened, informed, and guided by the opposing force. When yin increases, yang will then increase. When yang increases, yin will then increase. One can only embody yin if the existence of yang also lives within them. As well, one can only embody yang if the existence of yin breathes within them.
Because of this dynamic, the traits associated with yin (black) and yang (white) become intertwined and needed for the opposing yet complementary traits to survive and live on. This partly explains why there is a white dot within the black side of the symbol and a black dot within the white side of the symbol. Not only is there a piece of each in the other, but there exists a flowing pattern and curvature where one naturally evolves into the other.
Rather than black or white and yin or yang, the manifestation and purpose of the yin-yang symbol is to illustrate the existence and beauty of black and white.
A lot of human beings may confuse themselves when thinking of black as darkness and white as light. Black is merely a rest period—influencing or denoting the ability to act. White is merely complete exposure where all wavelengths of light are being reflected—influencing our battery and denoting the need to rest. Darkness allows us to know and appreciate the versatility of sunlight, whereas sunlight allows us to understand and value the dark for its peace and calm. Usually black and white are not included on the color wheel because they are not necessarily “dominant colors” or hues. Adding pure white to a hue creates a tint and adding pure black to a hue creates a shade. Because of their inherent power to alter brightness, black and white create an aesthetic monochrome combination side by side.
When thinking of yin and yang, there is no bad and good or more effective and less effective. As one comes to recognize this, their biases or preconceived notions may fade to understand that balance and presence are paramount. When it is time to sleep, sleep. When it is time to run, run.
The essence of a situation can go from an extreme to the middle to the other extreme and back. Darkness yields to light and light departs leaving darkness. Black going on for endless possibilities to infinity and beyond denotes yang (action) and white going on forever denotes yin (inaction). They directly feed off one another. Without each other, they would not exist at all. They are technically one as the yin-yang symbol is one circle.
From physics to mathematics, yin-yang manifests itself. The end of a black hole is a white hole. The end of a white hole is a black hole. Black forever represents white, and white forever represents black. Zero and infinity are yin and yang, two sides of the same coin. Dividing a number by zero gives an undefined amount and dividing a number by infinity gives zero. In general relativity, a black hole is considered zero, while it has infinite density to contain stars, planets, and even another universe.
So, if zero is the center of the universe, then its dimensions will be infinity. However, zero is a null set; it contains nothing. Infinity is larger than any number. So, infinity can contain zero. To this point, zero is not equal to infinity. Zero goes on forever, denoting infinity. Infinity goes on forever, denoting zero.
Next time you discuss symbolism within religion, ancient Asian history, leadership, or even astronomy, you may want to reference the yin-yang symbol for all its simple yet profound depth.
Jack Rasmussen, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Jack Rasmussen is a leader in the world's of performance science, the food industry, religion, and entertainment. Growing up in the Silicon Valley and studying Business, Cinema, and Journalism at the University of Southern California has allowed him to explore pathways forward to use art to raise the vibration and meta-awareness of people within their respective fields. He is the author of Fine Dining: The Secrets Behind the Restaurant Industry and Yin Yang: The Elusive Symbol That Explains the World. He wants to continue telling stories that inspire global citizens to explore the unexplored and become more cognizant of presence. His aim artistically: spread thought-provoking peanut butter and connective jelly.
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