Hilary Barrett:
"Influence is what moves people, and how people are open and available to be moved – by emotion or inspiration, physical responses or visiting spirits. All these things touch, stir and attract us, drawing us into relationship. The Chinese character for 'influence' shows a mouth and a weapon: the influence goes deep, and makes us vulnerable."
"People create harmony with one another where they are of like mind and find common cause. They come out from the walls of their villages to forge alliances in the wild country – that is, they seek out common ground where they can meet, beyond the familiar boundaries that usually define the limits of 'people like us'. This means radically expanding the whole idea of who 'we' are. Such fellowship is usually created between people or between apparently unrelated traditions and ways of knowing. There is harmony when these are brought together in inner conversation to create strong alliances.
There is strength and energy in alliance. People in harmony can commit themselves further, take greater risks – they can cross the river and enter new territories. Once there is agreement, it's worthwhile to follow the vision tenaciously, with the constancy of a noble one."
Hilary Barrett:
"The ancient Chinese character for Clarity shows a flying bird, and a net to capture it. Birds are messengers; this one represents flashes of insight, the way things can light up and shine out clearly. We weave a net of concepts to grasp the message and hold its meaning in awareness. This is not passive seeing, but a meeting of outer and inner light.
Seeing the truth and holding to it with constancy bears fruit. Then the moment of insight can become lasting awareness, so that we enter into creative communication with the signs and messages around us, and truly see other people."
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