“The Sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.”

Galileo Galilei

As a teenager, I spent every morning for a couple of years meditating on the subject of the moon.

I had read about the feminine energies of the moon (which is why it is known as “la luna” in Italian and “la lune” in French) and wanted to see the face that mystics claimed was outlined in moon’s surface, visible to those open to its force.

One morning, when the moon was full, I sat by my window as usual, when suddenly it happened; I felt something opening up within me and for the first time, I could clearly see the face of the moon, appearing in profile, her hair gently pulled back, her eyes looking straight ahead. It only happened once but changed my perception of the energies of the universe forever. 

According to ancient Eastern philosophy, life is defined through movements, rhythms and flows.

The sun, earth and moon relate to one another in continuous orbits, which creates the difference between winter and summer, as well as between night and day.

The result are ideal living conditions for everything and everyone on earth, with certain periods suited for resting and others being optimal for working. As Galileo Galilei pointed out in the introductory quote, the energy from the sun flows through all plants on earth, bringing them (and us) energy and life. 

This energy flow is also explained by the concepts of yin and yang. Yin and yang are forces present in all parts of the universe and in everything we do. Yin is the dark, cool and wet energy.

It slows us down and creates opportunities for us to relax and rest. Dark nights with cool breezes are filled with yin, which is synonymous with nighttime and the pale moon.

When the sun sets, this is when the time of yin begins.

But, even when the night is at the darkest hour, yang is present, even if only as a potential for something else, and soon the sun will rise, and it is time for yang. Yang if fast-paced, active and bright, represented by the sun and daytime. Having rested during the peaceful night, plants and flowers are now refreshed and ready to turn to the sun, soaking up new energy and grow even more.

The sun and the moon, yin and yang, are two aspects of the same movement. Similar to masculine and feminine represent two sides of the human experience, yin and yang are two aspects of the universe, both necessary building blocks for life to exist. They are usually represented by the tai qi-symbol, which depicts a circle that holds within it two tear drop shapes, one black (yang) and one white (yin).

Within the black space is a white small white dot, and in the white area is black a dot, showing how the two energies are interconnected, working together.

Differently put, the seed of spring is present already during the darkness of winter, the same way that autumn develops out of the full bloom of summer. 

Once we know and understand the rhythm of this energy flow, we can use it to our advantage.

When a phenomenon is at its most active, the laws of yin and yang tell us that it will soon slow down. And, when something is dark as the night, we understand that we soon will be approaching dawn. These are the laws of nature.

If we apply this knowledge to our own lives, we can learn how to ride the waves instead of being overwhelmed by the changes, not being phased by the continuous shifts in energy, but instead existing in perfect harmony with the currents on which we sail through life.