Yin and Yang: Bisexual Tendencies

"In times of desperation, people will believe what they want to believe."
-Helena Bonham Carter
as Dr. Serena Kogan in the 2009 film
TERMINATOR SALVATION

In Asian philosophy, the concept of yin yang, which is often referred to in the West as "yin and yang", is used to describe how polar opposites or seemingly contrary forces are interconnected and interdependent in the natural world, and how they give rise to each other in turn. Opposites thus only exist in relation to each other. The concept lies at the origins of many branches of classical Chinese science and philosophy, as well as being a primary guideline of traditional Chinese medicine, and a central principle of different forms of Chinese martial arts and exercise, such as baguazhang, taijiquan (t'ai chi), and qigong (Chi Kung) and of I Ching divination. Many natural dualities—e.g. dark and light, female and male, low and high, cold and hot, water and fire, air and earth— are thought of as manifestations of yin and yang (respectively).


Yin yang are not opposing forces (dualities), but complementary opposites that interact within a greater whole, as part of a dynamic system. Everything has both yin and yang aspects as light cannot exist without darkness and vice-versa, but either of these aspects may manifest more strongly in particular objects, and may ebb or flow over time. The concept of yin and yang is often symbolized by various forms of the Taijitu symbol, for which it is probably best known in western cultures.

There is a perception (especially in the West) that yin and yang correspond to evil and good. However, Taoist philosophy generally discounts good/bad distinctions and other dichotomous moral judgments, in preference to the idea of balance. Confucianism (most notably the philosophy of Dong Zhongshu, c. the 2nd century BCE) did attach a moral dimension to the idea of yin and yang, but the modern sense of the term largely stems from Buddhist adaptations of Taoist philosophy.

Twenty-five years ago today

February 12, 1987
Thursday

Only eleven days until my flight to Waikiki Beach…

And here I am dealing with another drab day in the Account Collection Office at Pac Bell Directory.

It was pouring rain today. I went ahead and ate alone in the cafeteria because Carla pulled another fast one. Her daughter, Priscilla, is sick.
"Yeah, sure," I thought.
Carla gets away with murder in this office is what I always say. Carla laughs it off in a sneaky sort of way when I say it, too.

After work I drove directly to Albany to Steve Flander's house. It wasn't too difficult to find; however, the defroster in my car and the heavy rain were no help. I drank three screwdrivers (vodka and orange-juice) and munched on several cashews and some cheese and crackers. It was a fun evening. The living room made me feel like I was in the 'Drawing Room' at Collinwood in this old, rich in wood home. I didn't leave Steve's house in Albany until ten o'clock. His friend, Michael Amadeo, is supposedly a real-estate 'honcho' in San Francisco. He was a nice enough older gentleman. We talked of various subjects: Mrs. Fields Cookies, Liberace, Costa Rica, Tahiti, Hawaii, Yellow Pages, The Brownies (Michael's daughter is a Brownie), Acronyms, Parties by Skylight, Breakfast and Dinner and a lot of laughter in-between. I truly enjoyed myself.

When I returned home…I found a diary underneath a tree and started reading about me. You know that song by BREAD. Well, I found myself reading my House Book February entries for a few minutes:

February 1987
Michael,
A special person with a special smile…I'm sure the rest is as good. I look forward to learning everything else. Keep shining.
Love,
Richard


2-3-87


After spectating the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am…I've decided to motivate myself to someday in the near future to be on the Pro Tour (Golf) when my earnings build. You'll be seeing me and the family below enjoying the sunshine.


Well, Bro…that's all.
P.S. When are you going to get married?
Are you going to have kids at 40?
John Armijo


February 1987
Eileen Patricia Birtha Lana Trixi Grabinsky
What an EVENING!


Michael,
What do I have to do to get a date with her? Wow.
But anyway…this is a cool book.
Well, see you at PUMAS.
Mike Elliott
I put the House Book down and called Mark Landreth. I could tell he had company.
Mark said, "I'll call you from work tomorrow."

I'm not sure if we are leaving for L.A. on Friday night or Saturday morning.

Johnny Schaefer called and I returned his call by leaving word on his answering recorder.

Jim Koran called me, too. What timing! He is going to Laguna Beach and he gave me his Uncle's telephone number. I may meet up with him in Southern California after all.

I called Eileen and we both went on and on about how we'd miss each other while she is up north in Tahoe. I will be down south, of course…talk about getting further apart (in distance anyway).

I spoke to Jim Koran about Mark Landreth. The discussion has made me decide to tell Mark about my bisexual tendencies. It's time. Mark is cool. I believe he'll handle it just fine. I think he may expect it. He must know. I'm not blind. He's not blind. Oh well…I hit the hay. I felt drunk from the cocktails. I hadn't had screwdrivers in a long time.

"The reason I will not exhibit this picture is that I am afraid that I have shown in it the secret of my own soul."
-Oscar Wilde
The Picture of Dorian Gray