Everything in the Universe is made of Energy: every person, place, event, and thought. Everything. There is nothing that is not energy.

Energy is always moving. It is either moving into a new form through expansion or it is returning to its orginal form through decomposition. Simply put, everything is either growing or its dying. Nothing rests - nothing stays the same.

Everything has its opposite and every opposite is the same, differing only in degree. The opposite of light is dark - darkness is only the absence of light. Without light there is no dark, and vice versa. The extremes meet in the middle, somewhere in between shadows and highlights.

The symbol for opposites in energy is the Tao Te Ching (shown right). This image is in static form, but it represents the cycles of life that constantly change into one another. I truly came to understand this concept when I was creating an invitation and needed to know whether noon was a.m. or p.m. It turned out that noon was p.m. - post meridiem. Accordingly, I realized that midnight was a.m. So what you see here in this symbol is the seed of day in the middle of the night and the seed of night in the middle of the day.

The dark side of the symbol is called yin. Yin represents the pure potential of an energy, but not its manifestation. Cool, dark, receptive, horizontal, multiple, and feminine are all yin characteristics. The most pure yin energy is seen in a compost - all energy has receded and is readying itself to begin a new cycle of life.

The light side of the symbol is called yang. Yang represents the pure manifestation of an energy, but not its potential. Hot, light, directive, vertical, single, and masculine are all yang characteristics. The most pure yang energy is seen in the sun - all energy is manifesting and emitting and spraying out in full force in every single minute without ceasing.

Humans prefer a blend of yin and yang in all they do, have, and experience. Those preferences will change with their moods, their health, or their choice. We like firm mattresses with soft sheets. We like spicy Mexican food with creamy guacamole. We like to jump into the cool water when it's hot outside.

In our environments, our bedrooms are more yin. These rooms are designed for sleep and for sex. They are at their best when they are cozy, sensual, quiet, cool, and dark. Too much happening in a bedroom is not conducive to either sleep or sex. That's why having a desk in your bedroom is not a good idea.

Put your desk in a yang area of the house. Create a space that is light, airy, and conducive to focus and productivity. Too little happening around your desk can put you to sleep. Then nothing gets done.

Yin and yang energies blend and create in our world in countless ways. We experience them through our experiences with Nature. The extremes of energy manifest themselves around us in endless interactions between the five elements: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.

The Five Elements

Along the spectrum of each element there is an extreme preponderance of the energy and there is an extreme absence of or potential for the energy. Too much or too little and all the degrees between the two exists for each of these elements. Too much wood energy or too little. Too little fire energy or too much. Water has a double spectrum: stagnant water and moving water - and both can have too much or too little or anywhere in between.

For a chart of the Five Elements and how they manifest in so many areas of our lives, please download the linked pdf file.

The Chinese use these Five Elements as metaphors to explain the nature of energy. By their use of fire, water, wood, earth and metal we can understand even the most complex nature of energy, because we understand the element used to compare it to. The metaphor of the Five Elements extends deep into our lives and our natures. Further extensions of the understanding of energy and how to use it specifically for our own comfort and support comes from what is known as the Celestial Animals.

The Support of the Celestial Animals

Black tortoise energy provides protective energy at your back. This energy may come from the water element, a high back on your chair, a wall at your back, a tall fence in your back yard, or a headboard on your bed. Without tortoise energy you will feel disempowered and small. You may feel a slight breeze across your neck or that your back is exposed to a vast area. A worker in a cubicle or a child sitting on a stool in the corner have no tortoise energy and would feel they lack support from both their environment and from other people in that environment.

Green dragon energy provides growth and power to get things going and growing. This energy may come from the wood element or things that are very tall on your left side. (A little taller than your eye level.) Find dragon energy in trees, doors, or pieces of furniture on your left. Without dragon energy you will feel disheartened and impotent. A person without green dragon protection will find themselves without inspiration, and may become bored and lethargic. The lethargy of the white tiger will overwhelm and destroy all positive, active energies. When your new ventures or ideas have trouble coming to fruition you need more dragon energy.

White tiger energy provides the fortitude and follow-through to make things happen. This energy is lower to the ground and solid and comes from the metal element or things that are low and on your right side. You will find white tiger energy on your right in a white picket or chain link fence, a side table, an armrest or a credenza. Without the stabilizing effects of white tiger energy, you will feel slightly vulnerable. The ceaseless pressure from the dragon energy will cause you to feel tired, overwhelmed and frustrated.

Red phoenix energy brings a clear, open and unobstructed view in front or towards the future. This energy may come from the fire element, well-trimmed bangs, bushes or trees. Find red phoenix energy wherever there are vast open expanses and views. Without red phoenix energy you will feel insignificant, blocked and helpless. The employee sitting in a closed cubicle or windowless corner has no red phoenix energy. He experiences the absence of any visual input or space in front of him. He is at a “dead end” and his future is limited.

Your own energy is considered to be the Golden cicada. (Sometimes called the golden snake or dog) Always consider the location of the Celestials from your point of view within an environment. To determine a home’s Celestial support, project yourself into the house, looking out the front door. The green dragon energy always aligns to your left and the white tiger energy to your right (remember easily because white and right rhyme).