Yin/Yang Theory and Horsemanship Part 5: Rubber Band Control

In which I explore the way in which a simple office supply elegantly models the Yin/Yang relationship.

Note: this is part five of the Yin/Yang Theory and Horsemanship Series. Click here for part 1: complimentary opposites, here for part 2: all things yin and yang, here for part 3: infinite divisibility, or here for part 4: mutual creation

The fourth principle of Yin/Yang theory is that Yin and Yang control each other.

This is not control as we usually think of the word. It is not a matter of exerting dominance or subugating. Rather, it is a control born of reciprocal balance. In The Web That Has No Weaver, Ted Kaptchuk describes it this way:

If Yin is excessive, then Yang too will be weak. If the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold, then both aspects are mutually controlled and held in check. If it is too cold, then there is not enough yeah, and vice versa. Yin and Yang balance each other.

In many ways, this principle is an extension of the idea that Yin and Yang create each other. In that essay I shared a story from my friend Linda in which was able to educe more Yang in her horse by becoming more Yin herself; when she embraced the idea of accepting her horse Brumby as he was ("not exactly a forward horse, so to speak"), he was able to offer her the forward energy she wanted.

The Rubber Band Effect

To illustrate this principle for yourself, imagine a big rubber band. Mark one point on the circumference as Yin, and color it black. Mark the opposite point as Yang, and color it white. Now see that there is a full gradation of grays between the two.

Now, begin to imagine stretching the two points away from each other. As they get farther and farther notice two things:

1) The scale of gray tones between the two opposites stretches equally to fit the new distance. You cannot separate the Yin from the Yang as they are always connected by a full gradation of tones, nor can you make more of one or the other as the evenness of the gradation is always maintained no matter how far or quickly one side is moved.

2) There becomes an increasing amount of tension as Yin and Yang become more removed from one another. Not too long after you start pulling there comes a point where, were you to let go of one side, the rubber band would snap and cause a sharp pain as Yin and Yang returned to balance. On the other hand, it is possible to stretch just a bit, say moving the Yang slightly away, and then to ease the Yin towards the new center with no violent snap.

Harmonious Change

The rubber band analogy demonstrates quite elegantly the nature of control between Yin and Yang as reciprocal balance. In order to create peaceful, harmonious shifts in the balance, it is necessary to first come close and then move in the new direction.

This is literally what Linda did with Brumby when she decided to meet him where he was and accept what he offered. She became Yin enough that his Yin was drawn closer to hers, moving him in a Yang direction. Had she tried to pull farther from him, to get him going by being very Yang, all she would have done is to stretch the rubber band of their relationship until there was a mighty snap.

Rubber Band Lounging

One of the first things we teach our young charges in PonyPros is to move together with the horse in a kind of Lounging we call "Travel Together."

Essentially, horse and human move on the circle together and in so doing learn to feel each other's energy and seamlessly adjust to fit. When the horse is nervous or energetic and needs to move more one direction, the human follows, letting the circle flow straight for a moment. When the horse can soften a bit, the human takes in what they are giving, moving more tightly to the arc. This way, both horse and human learn to keep the connection in harmony.

When I'm first teaching this concept of give and take, I often tell students to imagine that their center is attached to the horse's center by a big rubber band. When they feel that band tighten they should follow the horse. When they feel it become slack, they should lead to retain contact. This has nothing to do with the rope and everything to do with the energetic connection between the two.

Seen from the perspective of this essay, "Traveling Together" is an exercise in learning to balance Yin and Yang with the horse. When the horse moves away, they become the Yang. If the human counters with Yang, pulling hard to keep the horse with them, the situation can become explosive. If the human becomes too Yin and lets the horse go, the connection will be lost. To retain harmony the human must become Yin in a Yang way following, but staying with the horse.

Time to Dance

When considered from this Yin/Yang perspective, control can be seen as a dance, rather than a fight. Instead of dictating from a fixed position, the effective leader make suggestions from a place of congruity. How do you dance this way in your life, with your horse?

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