The depth of nothingness is directly related to the experience of everythingness. —Matthew Fox
On the cusp of winter, I feel myself falling into a state of yin—darkness, passivity, slowness, and cold. Although I usually give into my yang tendencies—speed, light, energy, action—these deliciously still yin moments bring balance. They allow me to integrate the experience of everythingness. I settle, I breathe, I go within. When my mind finally clears, I sink into the depth of nothingness. In this state, breath trumps thought. Sleep comes easily, and every so often I catch glimpses of how life’s pieces fit together.
Shifting to a yin awareness is not necessarily comfortable and definitely not easy. Mind and body resist the quiet descent to dense nothingness. When my instinct is to pursue and achieve, the breath helps me to yield and allow. In my emptiness, breath swirls, clears, and cleanses. My yin perspective becomes regenerative, making space for creativity. Winter is dreary and cold, but when we nourish yin, this dark season reveals its abundant creative potential.
Inspirations
Original Blessing by Matthew Fox
The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga by Bernie Clark