Influence
- Upper Trigram
- Lake
- Lower Trigram
- Mountain
The Judgment
The lake above and the mountain below, the soft moisture of the lake seeping down and the steady breath of the mountain rising up, the two responding to each other — Influence is about mutual sensing, attraction, and the stirring and exchange between people. Influence here is a feeling without contrivance, a natural touch free of calculation, like the first stirrings of attraction between a young couple. The tone here is open and sincere feeling: a truly moving connection comes from an unassuming heart, from being willing to be moved, not from deliberate maneuvering or flattery. It also reminds you to mind the measure of such sensing — to dance too quickly to an impulse, or to rest only in the surface courtesy of words, seldom makes for a deep exchange. Feel the other with a still, sincere heart, and your response will be real. That feeling stirring in you now — does it rise from genuine heart, or is it just a passing flutter?
The Six Lines
First line
The sensing has only just touched the big toe, a faint stirring still at the lowest level. This line is about the first bud of attraction: the feeling has barely surfaced, still slight and not yet turned into action. It reminds you that though the touch is real, it is tender; no need to rush to make a gesture — let the feeling ripen naturally and see where it means to go.
Second line
The sensing reaches the calves, which itch to step off the moment they stir; to act rashly on that impulse is unwise, and keeping quietly still is better. This line is about not being led by impulse: to lunge forward the instant a feeling arrives loses all measure. It reminds you that when the heart is stirred, all the more hold your composure — rest in the present, steady your steps, and do not let a moment's agitation push you into a decision.
Third line
The sensing reaches the thighs, which only follow whatever moves ahead of them; to go on so rashly brings some regret. This line is about following without a mind of your own: your thoughts are wholly led along, moving whenever another moves. It reminds you to keep your own judgment within the sensing; to follow the other's rhythm and lose your independence is a closeness you tend to regret.
Fourth line
Holding to what is right goes well and regret melts away; but if your thoughts are scattered and swing back and forth, then only the few who think as you do will answer you. This line is about the purity of the sensing: when you are restless and pulled every which way, the power to connect is diluted. It reminds you that only by letting the heart settle, single and sincere, can your feeling move people widely rather than only a handful.
Fifth line
The sensing reaches the flesh of the back, where the touch is shallow and stirs the emotions little, so though there is no deep connection, there is also no regret. This line is about a restrained sensing, not easily moved. It reminds you that such steadiness has its worth — not stirred lightly, you are spared much needless entanglement; only do not let it turn you cold and miss a touch that is truly worth it.
Top line
The sensing stops at the jaws, cheeks, and tongue, running to no more than the courtesy of words and surface flattery. This line is about a shallow connection: a closeness heaped up out of pretty phrases lacks the weight of a true heart. It reminds you that sweet talk alone cannot buy a deep bond; real sensing rises from within, and however fine the words, they are worth less than a solid sincerity.
Reading the Change
Influence is about mutual sensing and attraction; from the first line to the top, it runs through the first bud of feeling, not being led by impulse, not losing your own mind, letting the heart grow single, a restrained sensing, and a shallowness that runs only to words. It rises from bottom to top, just as feeling moves from the toe upward and reaches at last the lips and tongue. When a line changes, the measure of how true this stirring is and whether to answer it turns at one particular stage. A change low down usually asks you to hold your composure and not be pushed by a passing flutter; a change up top speaks to not letting the sensing run to surface words. Read where the changing line falls, then the resulting hexagram, and you know which way this connection is flowing. Feel with a still, sincere heart, and the response will be real.