Masonic & Occult Symbols Illustrate

then Tao separated into the two prime principles, yang and yin. And from the many combinations of yang and yin everything else that is in the world has emerged. “Yang and yin produced the ‘five elements’, which are metal, wood, fire, water and earth. Everything in life is in a constant state of flux; in fact, the only thing that you can be sure of is that it will change.” Another book states: “The Yang-Yin symbol is one of the easiest to recognize and understand. It represents the two opposite, conflicting forces found in every action, and which are responsible for the dynamic universe.... The Yang and Yin operate in the universe primarily through the agency of the five elements: Earth (Saturn), Water (Mercury), Metal (Venus), Wood (Jupiter), and Fire (Mars). These elements under the guidance of the five planets form, with the Sun and Moon, the seven rulers. Each of the elements may also be Yang or Yin, so that combinations of all these could produce broad number possibilities (sic) and astrological alternatives. Each, of course, has its symbol which can be, and often was, incised into jade.” The concept of yin and yang (also called Tai-gi-tu), likewise P ays an important role in many other occult practices. For instance, Dictionary of Mysticism states the following about the practice of shu shu: “Shu shu: The ancient Chinese system of magic, divination and occult practices, including astrology, dream interpretation, the art of coordinating human affairs by the active and passive principles of the universe (yin yang) and the Five Elements (wu hsing), fortune telling by the use of the stalks of the divination plant and the tortoise shell, and miscellaneous methods such as dream interpretation, the regulation of forms and shapes of buildings, etc.” [Emphasis in the original] Of course, many of the Chinese exercises, medical practices, etc., are also based on the theory of yin and yang. In Health: A Holistic Approach we find: “The techniques of acupuncture, acupressure, and moxibustion apply needle, pressure, or thermal (heat) stimulation respectively to meridian points to effect a