Influence

Hsien is the hexagram of mutual attraction: the mountain, strong and still, holding itself *beneath* the lake, whose joyous moisture sinks down to meet it. This is courtship — between the sexes, and everywhere influence works rightly: the strong initiating by placing itself below, the gentle responding with joy. Attraction of this kind never coerces and never seduces; it invites.

Its opening move is receptivity. Influence starts with the willingness to receive from others — the open mind, the willing suspension of disbelief. That readiness has a creative effect of its own: it deprives tense situations of their tension, and draws people closer than any pressure could push them.

The steady, quiet influence of a strong, independent character makes others respond cheerfully and of their own accord — the Sage's way, whose stillness encourages approach. This hexagram often announces that "an influence" is coming: an unforeseen shift that will test whether we can keep influencing rightly under pressure. The counsel is to monitor the inner feelings, maintain independence, and cling steadily to humility, gentleness, and openness. An innocent, independent attitude draws back the estranged and keeps at a distance those who press in for selfish reasons.

And since the state of our spirit affects everything around it, be conscientiously correct even out of sight and hearing — the influence radiates regardless.

Influence corrupts into manipulation: the wish to produce effects in others — by charm, argument, image, pressure — rather than to be the kind of person effects flow from. Watch for the agitated heart that projects its agenda, the seducer's shortcut, and the talker who influences with the tongue what the life does not back. Every one of these gains compliance and loses the person. What is won by manoeuvring must be held by manoeuvring, forever.