Influence
Understanding ancient wisdom and how it relates to your life can be challenging, even when written with simple words. The words in our daily readings are much clearer than they would have been in the original ancient context, but do take some effort to know how to put the teachings into practical action.
For example, how do you learn to “walk the middle road”, “build an inner quality of non-judgement or emptiness”, “stay in your center” and so on? This is what we hope to explore a little within this article.
The word “influence” has recently become popular. It may be helpful in understanding the wisdom teachings because ancient knowledge continually stressed the importance of recognizing the power of influence. Although different words are used, the concept is repeated over and over in many paragraphs of our daily readings.
Currently there are people whose entire career is built around influencing people’s beliefs and opinions – the job title is: “Influencer”. Some Influencers have become famous on media outlets and many of them find it a very lucrative way to make a living. Corporations, groups, advertisers and countless others also pay handsomely to those who study psychology for methods to win people over, often without most people being conscious of it. Influence is incredibly pervasive as well as being big business!
Typing the word “fluence” (without the “in- “) into the computer while researching this article (and not really expecting a result) actually produced a dictionary definition. Leaving aside its other scientific meaning, the first entry was from the Oxford Dictionary: the noun, “fluence” is defined as a “mysterious, magical or hypnotic power” used in informal British speech. The example they used was “you’ve put the fluence on me, haven’t you?”.
The reason this particular definition stood out is because it seemed to fit well with our writings on the 31st hexagram where influence is defined as “the invisible energy of attraction which motivates people toward each other, certain things or circumstances.”
That is the thing about influence – it really is invisible and it can appear mysterious, magical or hypnotic. This 31st ancient 6-line hexagram provides a beautiful visual symbolism which can work on many levels. For some of us, spending time with this symbolism could be helpful. One could spend a lifetime studying these hexagrams but, after all is said and done, the path to a contented and enlightened life is literally taken one step at a time. Below are the 31st hexagram lines:
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The upper 3 lines symbolize Lake or Marsh.
The lower 3 lines depict Mountain.
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Lake is yin – descends,
Mountain is yang – rises up.
The magic of Influence comes from the invisible interaction between the two.
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Lake (Marsh) as a symbol: outer world
Lake: The upper 3 lines are a symbol of the outer world (your environment). As the upper portion of a hexagram, Lake is representative of situations and opportunities for interaction and exchange with others.
Lake (sometimes called Marsh) portrays a breeding ground for creatures or any environment where people come together to make connections. Lake as a yin energy, symbolizes that which is receptive and open to sharing, merging or exchanging.
Mountain as a symbol: you
Mountain: The lower 3 lines usually indicate the inner realm of a person or situation. Leaving aside situations here, we’ll take Mountain as symbolic of your inner Self, your presence within the solid boundaries that identify you as a unique individual being.
Mountain as a yang energy in its “rising up” role not only represents the actions and reactions you send out to influence the world, but it is also where you “build a quality of emptiness or non-judgement”.
How to utilize this symbolism? Extending the images and corresponding words, here are some suggestions to get in touch with the “internal non-judgement or emptiness”:
Mountain is the place to go in times of daily practice – the solid core of your inner self where the influences of the outer world can be evaluated. The more you practice, the easier it gets. Let your mind work, but without overpowering you – if it steps in with an automatic classifying of something as good or bad, set that aside and take some time with your inner self in neutral assessment. This is how you achieve a state of “emptiness”.
An influence can look very good, very enticing or beautiful – and it may be. Or, like a rose, there may be a thorn or two. Often people are well-intentioned and may not realize how much self-interest their intentions hold. And even if they are not well-intentioned, rather than blaming them, it is up to you to take responsibility for what influences you allow in.
Other times an influence or contact may feel distasteful or uncomfortable. Rather than automatically discarding it, take some time to contemplate it. Your mind may have classified it negatively out of unrealistic fear, familial or personal prejudices or any number of instinctive responses.
If you allow yourself to pause or play with an influence in a state of neutral assessment, you may find it is not something you wish to include in your life. On some occasions you may decide to give something a try, only to stumble into a mistake. This can be helpful as mistakes may bring lessons which, if learned from, can lead to excellence. Other times, you may go past your mind’s negative response and find that a 180-degree turn takes you into a great adventure, a great passion or even your life’s work.
Only you have the power to say no to whatever it is that does not align with who you are. This is how you “stay in your center” and “walk the middle road” with an ever-increasing sense of freedom and contentment.
One writer states it beautifully with regard to our interactions and connections with the outer world. She says that they “can only be real and good if your individuality is at the base of it.”