I was on the beach drinking my morning cup of coffee when the boating analogy occurred to me… That operating from feminine Yin Energy is like sailing, as opposed to a power boat.

Now, I’ve been thinking lately that I should be referring to Feminine Energy as Yin energy instead, and for several reasons. (1) The concept of feminine & masculine energy (“polarity”) as it’s being used in it’s respective niches, originates in part from the ancient Taoist concept of Yin and Yang. (2) I think it’s easy to misconstrue the term “feminine energy,” for the idea that it’s referring to the desire to shop for dresses or be passive in life.

Feminine Yin energy is more of a subtle quality rather than a behavior, and that quality can manifest in a variety of behaviors depending on how healthy the person is. And I don’t want associate any negative connotation with the concept I’m referring to. So to avoid confusion I want to use a different term – Yin Energy.

Women Feel More Balanced Using Yin Energy

Everyone has a mix of Yin and Yang energy, and it’s important to know how to use both. But feminine women tend to feel more balanced when they are skilled in operating from yin energy than yang energy, relative to men.

These are all generalities – everyone is different. But the main source of burnout for women is lack of skill in using Yin energy, and relying too much on their Yang energy to go through life.

Some of the qualities of Yin Energy are flowing, softness, indirectness, relaxation, nurturing, emotions. Some qualities of Yang Energy are directness, power, strength, thoughts, goal-directed, focused.

We can’t just shift into Yin Energy at the drop of a hat, though. We need structure and safety in our lives to be able to access Yin at its fullest. And structure and safety tends to be built from Yang energy. So we use our Yang energy to build structure and safety, and then we shift gears into Yin.

The Yin Energy Sailboat Analogy

If you’ve ever been sailing, you know how wonderful it can be. Relaxing and enjoying the peace and flow of allowing the wind to carry you through the water is an incredible experience.

And if you’ve ever been on a power boat, you know how fun it can be to muscle through big waves like a rollercoaster, and getting to your destination quickly.

They’re both great and have their positives aspects. They also have their negative aspects. Sailing can take forever if you’re in a hurry to get somewhere, and unpleasant if you find it difficult to be present. The intensity of power boating can be miserable if you have a headache.

Yin as a Sailboat

When you’re going through life operating from Yin energy, it’s like taking a sailboat around. It’s peaceful, flowing, and beautiful. In harmony with nature.

When you’re sailing, you’re using almost no gas. But you’re skillfully flowing with the wind. You’re utilizing the currents of energy that exist outside of you to assist your movement. Because of that, your route may be indirect, but you’re enjoying the ride.

Yang as a Power Boat

When you’re navigating life with your yang energy, you’re very goal-oriented. The fastest way to get from here to there is a straight line, so you’ll have to endure and muscle through rough waves you encounter.

It can be a rough ride, and it takes a lot of power. But getting to the destination is a huge achievement, and can feel amazing.

It’s About Balance

As you can see, both sailing and power boating have their positive qualities. The truth is we’re all sail/powerboat hybrids. To function optimally, we have to learn when the conditions are right to raise the sail, and when to turn the engine on.

And we also have to be aware of our natural constitution. Hormonally, men tend to have more gas (testosterone). Women tend to have more ability to harmonize with natural forces, and can require more peaceful ride time.

We a woman living in a “power boat” type of society. It’s likely your power boat skills are finely-tuned already, and now you need some more practice learning how to sail.

But it’s not about sailing all the time. Sometimes you need to get to Catalina Island quickly! A true nautical master knows when it’s time to get somewhere quick, and when it’s time to raise the sail to conserve gas, and recharge.