A family that thrives is one in which a healthy interdependence is cultivated. Respect for different roles is essential. A common example is between a wife and a husband, whose shared authority is critical; in fact, strong and harmonious kinship is dependent upon every member of the family or tribe. Trust, shared responsibilities, and good communication are primary values. Each person must be encouraged to find his or her position and appropriate contribution.
A harmonious family is a team that symbolizes the ideal of human interdependence, and has long provided a foundation for society. The healthy family is an embryo of community and the native soil in which ethical values take root and grow. Fertilize this soil, and the entire society benefits.
The forces that bind a family are a balance of feminine and masculine—the nurturing and receptive combined with outgoing leadership and taking responsibility. In other words, good parenting. A parent’s words should be consistent, and have meaning and power. Siblings’ relationships between themselves and their parents carry variations of feminine and masculine energies too. Relations on all kinds of teams are improved through cultivation of a yin/yang, open/focused balance. Learn to listen to and receive help from others, and be willing to assume an appropriate role in any group you belong to. A good team player is supremely valuable to everyone.
Changing Line Interpretations
Line 1 (bottom line)
Every group needs some guidelines in order to succeed. When beginning any activity or project that requires the exercise of authority, it is vital to exercise power firmly and evenly. This may cause problems in the beginning, but it is the only way to create a stable situation that can produce positive results. If kindness remains an element of authority, dissatisfaction ultimately vanishes as things start to go well. Leading and training others requires that you embody both integrity and consistency.
Another aspect of this changing line has to do with not spoiling children. Structure the family sensibly, and all will be well. Within either a family or a team, you owe it to those for whom you are responsible to respond appropriately to their egos—including their temper tantrums and other emotional demands—while maintaining a state of inner calm. If you are lenient with a child who puts marks on the furniture one time, can you blame the child for doing it again? If you have spoiled someone by yielding to childish demands, you are faced sooner or later with having to reform an errant rascal; and this is not an easy task.
Line 2
It behooves you to attend to the needs of your team. Manage your brood like an attentive housewife. Your perseverance in caring will compound to the benefit of the whole group. Now is a time to quietly confine yourself to the duties at hand. In this way, everyone prospers.
Line 3
Corrective measures should be firm but not excessive (although it is better to be too firm than too lax). While it is important not to overindulge those in your charge, it’s also important not to come down too hard on them when things go wrong. Excessive severity will cause further regret. It is best to have firm limits within which group members are allowed freedom of movement.
On the part of those in authority, an unwillingness to tolerate bad habits brings good fortune.
Line 4
Successful bonding is promoted by skillful moderation within the group. Balancing income and expenditures brings vast good fortune.
Line 5
In a position of authority, it furthers one to be loving and trustworthy rather than bold and inconsistent. For instance, when parents or leaders choose love as the center of family life, the whole world is ready to respond with goodwill.
Line 6 (top line)
You are confident, and your efforts command respect. This is a time of reward and recognition. Remember that the leader of a circle of influence—a group of friends, teammates, or family—has a responsibility to set a good example. It is through developing your own character that you influence others and create order.
