Shen in Chinese Medicine can be best described as a person’s “consciousness”. Most of often, it is understood as the “mind”. The Shen comprises our ability for thinking, remembering, studying, focusing, awareness, etc. It also encompasses the concept of a harmonious balance of emotions. The emotions and mental state are collaborative and inter-related in Chinese Medicine. The Shen is also enormously reflected in our ability to sleep well.
In its analysis, the Shen can be divided into 2 aspects: the Yin and Yang of Shen.
Everything in the universe, can be broken down to Yin & Yang. Feminine & Masculine. Not as gender, but as qualities. Hot, Cold. Interior, Exterior. Deficiency, Excess. Rest, Motion. As reflected in the symbol, Yin & Yang are 2 opposing forces, and yet they require the other for balance.
The Yang of Shen is thinking, focus, concentration.
The Yin of Shen is rest, stillness, meditation.
Your mind must rest in order to think and mentally focus.
Your mind must work and think in order to rest.
For example, a woman works at a corporation. She mentally navigates through so many projects all day long. When the day is over, her mind cannot stop. Even at night, her mind continues to run. This is imbalance.
Let’s take a man, who meditates for hours and remains peacefully and mentally still all day long. Although this may be seen as spiritually enlightened, this too is imbalanced, especially as an extreme.
Both these aspects are good in moderation and in balanced to each other. Engaging your mind all day with sufficient time for your mind to rest is key.
Thinking is not bad in and of itself. But consider that “not thinking” can be conducive to productivity.
If you have too much Yang (excessive activity) in your life, your Yin will be relatively lacking: you no longer feel you can sit still, your mind cannot stop running, you feel like you have to fill an empty slot of free time in your schedule, etc. Your body may feel like it’s running hot.
If you have too much Yin (excessive stillness) in your life, your Yang will be relatively lacking: you don’t have a desire to be active, you feel no motivation to move towards goals, you want to go further inward and hide away from the world, etc. Your body may often feel cold as a stone.
Now, let us use the analogy of the body.
Constant physical working without rest is excessive Yang energy.
Constant rest without movement (people who are bedridden) is excessive Yin energy.
Neither is healthy.
Balance is embodying both Yin and Yang.
Being in one requires being in the other.
You must be Yin in order to be Yang.
You must be Yang in order to be Yin.
You must rest in order to work.
You must work in order to rest.
Balance is key, even in your mind.