Atomic Yin and Yang

Chinese Medicine, Personal Development, Yin Yang

I did not notice this until the weekend but last week I wrote about strength of presence and a need to be flexible. Without any grand plan I was writing about two apparently opposite natures required of a shiatsu practitioner: The ability to move and react without judgement but at the same time remain grounded and true to the needs of the client. I was writing about Yin and Yang.

I set myself some good intentions for the summer break one of which was to get to grips with the theory of Chinese medicine and I have been true to that. However, it struck me that no matter how much we learn about Chinese medicine it is always about Yin and Yang. This apparently simple theory is introduced at the beginning of our studies and the basics are easily grasped. In fact after we move on to other aspects of Chinese medicine it is easy to think that we have mastered everything that Yin and Yang represents. But learning to categorise things as Yin or Yang is not all there is to this concept.

In the book A Brief History of Qi Yin and Yang is compared to an atom, the basic building block of the universe. But as science has discovered that the atom can be divided so too can Yin and Yang. No matter how one divides and sub-divides Yin and Yang is always present, always whole, and always providing balance. Unlike particle physics Yin and Yang in all its divisions is something everyone can be alive too when we start to live the theory; and it is this living theory that came to me this weekend.

I became aware in my realisation that I was no longer categorising in a cold, academic manner but actually starting to live these theories. Chinese medicine is a medicine that has to be lived. Shiatsu is a practise that has to be lived. Up to now I have been too much in my theory books but now I feel that I am living these ideas.

Tony Brown @ August 29, 2007