The Yin and Yang Binary

 

 

We perceive our world in a binary fashion, “on-off”, “yes-no”, “strong-weak”. It’s necessary to have “off” in order for “on” to have meaning. The same goes for good or bad. The biggest binary is dead or alive. This one we are all acutely aware of!

Hexagrams contain this same binary structure expressed as Yin-Yang. In the context of Human Design, Yin is receptive and the Yang is creative. The 1st, 3rd and 5th lines are receptive. And the 2nd, 4th and 6th lines are creative. This is the yin/yang binary as it moves through the six positions. The dynamic of the I Ching arises in part from the idea that a broken line (yin/receptive) can occupy the creative position (1,3, 5) and vice versa.

Self Study Exercise: Pick 10 gates in your design and by looking at the keynotes of the lines try to find connections between the 1st, 3rd, and 5th lines. Look at them from the perspective of being receptive. Then do the same for the 2nd, 4th and 6th lines. Look at them from the perspective of being creative. What does this tell you about how a hexagram works? Share your thoughts in the Forum.