According to the Law of Polarity, everything in the universe has an inherent opposite. This is the way for the world to create balance and harmony. In his third Law of Motion, Sir Isaac Newton said, “For every action, there is always an equal and opposite reaction.” The concept of polarities is found in various spiritual and philosophical traditions.
We are aware of the polarities and opposites in the world. Examples include good and evil, positive and negative, North and South Poles, masculine and feminine, hot and cold, up and down, centralization and decentralization, hero and villain, and so on. In physics, polarity is described as an attribute that usually has two values. According to the fourth of the seven Hermetic principles in The Kybalion, “Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled.” (To read more about the Seven Hermetic Principles of Truth: https://lahilden.com/the-seven-hermetic-principles-of-truth/)
Within polarities, there are further polarities. Love’s opposite is hate, although some say it’s indifference. Yet polarities in love highlight opposing forces that coexist in romantic relationships. All of my historical Regency novels have a love story, and dualities contribute to my characters’ relationship dynamics and development. Love can make us feel happy and more connected to the universe, but in an instant, it can send us into depths of despair. Some polarities of love are passion and stability, togetherness and independence, fantasy and reality, possible and impossible, giving and receiving, joy and sorrow, intimacy and distance, security and adventure, control and surrender, acceptance and growth, and ego and unity. Balancing polarities is a continual process in relationships. For a story, polarities and paradoxes create drama and growth when the issues are resolved with open and truthful conversation. Darkness adds depth and complexity to the stories and characters, making the narratives more engaging and multifaceted. Overcoming the inner darkness to reach transformation and redemption is the goal.
Carl Jung, a prominent psychologist, introduced the concept of the shadow self, an unconscious part of the personality that contains repressed weaknesses, desires, and instincts. Jung believed acknowledging and integrating the shadow is essential to achieving psychological wholeness and self-awareness.
The Bible references dualities and opposites that reflect the concept of polarity. Examples include good and evil, life and death, blessings and curses, and light and darkness. Genesis 1:4: “God saw the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.”
The conclusion is to love the good when you have it. Symbolically, light represents good, and dark represents bad, but darkness has a value and purpose just like light. Darkness can symbolize resilience and strength. It provides balance, fosters growth, encourages introspection, and adds depth to the human experience. Both light and dark are essential aspects of existence, each offering unique contributions to the richness of life.
Many philosophical and spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of balance. In Taoism, the concept that yin (often associated with dark) and yang (often associated with light) are complementary forces that create harmony in the universe.
A special thank you to: https://www.harvardbusiness.org/navigating-complexity-managing-polarities/,https://sohp.com/paradox-of-love/
