Grown from the Chinese philosophy, Yin and Yang express the dualist nature of the universe. They have numerous meanings, but we will only talk about those who apply to us astrologically:
Yang – the action, the active and aware part Yin – the passive, unaware, receptive part
Each zodiac sign represents one of the two polarities: either Yin, either Yang. In the table below you can find the list of all zodiac signs and the polarity each represents:
Aries: Yang
Taurus: Yin
Gemini: Yang
Cancer: Yin
Leo: Yang
Virgo: Yin
Libra: Yang
Scorpio: Yin
Sagittarius: Yang
Capricorn: Yin
Aquarius: Yang
Pisces: Yin
If a planet is in a Yang zodiac sign, it becomes more active and it expresses itself more energetically. At the opposite pole, a planet in a Yin zodiac sign acts more secluded and becomes more passive.
Our personality and the way we behave in human society are reflected in astrology mostly by two elements: the Sun and the Ascendant. At these, we can add the Moon as a symbol of emotions, instincts, and the way we express our feelings. We will now analyze these three elements through the looking glass of the zodiac signs polarities.
The Sun represents our basic personality, the fundamental energy, our self. The position the Sun can take in a sign indicates the fundamental characters with which we came to this life, our character. It also shows the aware part.
The Ascendant reflects our exterior personality, the way we behave towards others, and how we express the qualities the Sun gave us. The zodiac sign-in which is our Ascendant shows the characteristics we will grow during our lifetime, regardless if we will be aware of that or not. At birth, the Sun has the maximum influence. As we grow old, our personality gains new characteristics and new dimensions because of the experiences we’ve been through and our evolution. These new dimensions are represented by the Ascendant as a shell of the basic energy and it indicates the way we express that energy.
The Moon marks by its position in the zodiac signs our emotions and feelings and the way we express these emotions and feelings. It shows the instinctive, unaware part.
Usually, when the Sun’s polarity differs from the Ascendant’s polarity, the individual suffers a radical change of personality and expression. Mostly, this change comes around the age of 30. If the Sun is Yin and the Ascendant is Yang the individual will change from a passive, meditative person to a more active one, dashing and determined. If it’s the other way around, the Sun is Yang and the Ascendant is Yin, this person will slow down to be more secluded and reflexive.
