For years, I saw this symbol and had no idea what the meaning was behind it. I always thought it was just some funky looking shape that people drew on their notes when they were bored. I must’ve been around 14 when I actually found out it had a name – Yin and Yang. So what is the meaning of the symbol?

According to Chinese philosophy, the symbol represents two principles – the black side (Yin) symbolises negativity, shadows, and darkness. The white side (Yang) symbolises positivity, passion, and growth. You’ll notice that each side has an element of the other within – these elements represent darkness in the light and light in the darkness. It symbolises a balance; within life, there is always good within the bad and bad within the good, creating a perfect balance.

After discovering this meaning, the symbol became one of my favourite doodles. I loved what it represented; balance within life. During the good times, there can be bad but during the bad times, there can be good. When I was on a family holiday in Spain in 2014, I was browsing through one of the little souvenir shops and found a black thread bracelet with yin and yang beads. This bracelet soon became a permanent part of me, partly because I tied the knot too tight, but also because of my love for the symbol. It ripped off my wrist after a year and a half but luckily enough I was on holiday at the time. I simply called into another souvenir shop and bought the exact same one.

It’s now become a tradition for me to buy this exact same yin and yang bracelet on every holiday I go on. Sadly, I’ve discovered it’s only little souvenir shops in Spain and Portugal that stock the bracelet. I’m now on bracelet number 4 and it’s on its last tethers so a holiday is needed ASAP!

But there you have it, that’s why I chose the name Yin Yang Zing for my lifestyle blog. I hope you’ve learned something new today from the post and perhaps have taking a liking to the symbol as well. Are there any symbols or traditions that you have that mean a lot to you? I’d love to hear them (more so I can eliminate myself from the crazy list and feel that I’m not alone!).

Lana xox