Sun &
Moon
Nature's
Balancing Act
As the season changes from summer
to winter and vice versa, the Sun and Moon are in perfect balance, as if
they were on opposite ends of a celestial see-saw:
Summer: The Sun rises in the NE and sets in the NW; the Moon rises
in the SE and sets in the SW. At transit,
the Sun's altitude is high; the Moon's
altitude is low. The Sun is visible ~15 hr.; the Moon is visible ~9
hr.
Winter: Sun rises in the SE and sets in the SW; Moon rises in the
NE and sets in the NW. At transit, Sun's altitude is low; Moon's altitude
is high. Sun visible ~9 hr.; Moon visible ~15 hr.
Note: The preceding statements are true only during
(or near) Full Moon. During (or near) New Moon, the Moon appears to
closely follow the path of the Sun across the sky.
 See more Sun and Moon data...
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Sandburg Center for Sky Awareness
A Fairfax County Public Schools Planetarium
Yin and Yang
Dynamic Equilibrium in the Universe
"The Chinese saw the universe as a balancing act between two opposed but
complementary aspects of nature: yin and yang. Their strength and
influence were visible in the oscillation of day and night and in the
cycle of the seasons. Yin is passive, and yang is active; yin is dark, and
yang is light; yin is feminine, and yang is masculine; yin is winter, and
yang is summer."1
 "In Taoism and Confucianism, they
[yin and yang] are represented by two interlocked curved shapes within a
circle, one white, one black, with a spot of contrasting color within the
head of each."2
Everything Changes (Dynamic...)
"The relationships between things that are more yin and things that are
more yang are constantly changing. Everything is always moving from being
more yang to being more yin or more yin to more yang."3 For example, see sidebar (left), Sun & Moon - Nature's Balancing Act.
Everything Seeks a State of Balance (...Equilibrium)
"Although everything is either more yin or more yang, as an entity it
seeks some kind of balance. Individually, nothing is in perfect balance,
nor can it be as everything is either more yin or more yang. Something
that is more yin can reach a more balanced state with something that is
more yang."3 For example, see sidebar
(left).
Nature is replete with numerous examples of yin and yang. See how many
more examples you can think of.
- Earth and heaven (sky)
- Night and day
- Winter and summer
- The Sun actively radiates light energy (yang); the Moon passively
reflects sunlight (yin).
- The Sun shines all day (yang); the Full Moon is the only phase that
shines all night (yin), rising as the Sun sets and setting as the Sun
rises the following morning.
- The Sun (masculine) and Moon (feminine) play an endless game of
lover's tag: the Moon chases the Sun across the sky during the Waxing
Phases; the Sun chases the Moon across the sky during the Waning Phases.
- The cycle of Moon phases is a metaphor for life and death: New to Full
to New (birth/maturity/death).
1 Beyond
the Blue Horizon: Myths and Legends of the Sun, Moon, Stars, and
Planets, by Dr. E.C. Krupp, p. 28.
2 The Hutchinson
Encyclopedia 2000, Helicon Publishing Ltd.
3 Practical
Feng Shui, by Simon Brown, pp. 16-17.
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