Guanyin Fortune Stick 15 (Middle Lot)
"Words that give offense are the hardest to swallow down..." So opens lot 15 in our translation. Below are the Chinese original, the full English, the story behind the poem, the traditional counsel and what it means in plain English.
The poem
觸人口氣最難吞
忽有災危禍到門
卵破巢空無宿處
深為穩便把心存
In English (our translation):
Words that give offense are the hardest to swallow down;
then suddenly disaster comes knocking at your door in town.
The eggs are broken, the nest is empty, there is nowhere left to stay:
keep a steady, careful heart and find a safer way.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 15 | Middle lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | Su Qin Achieves His Ambition (蘇秦得志) |
The story: After years of failure and scorn from his own family, Su Qin became chancellor of six states, and the relatives who had mocked him bowed before him.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「行人跘曰氣難吞，忽有災事勿近前，巢破林鳥無所宿，可尋深處穩安身」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
Shiyi and jieyue
The shiyi (詩意, "meaning of the poem") names the image in one line; the jieyue (解曰, "the reading") is a short four-character commentary.
| Item | Original | English |
|---|---|---|
| Shiyi | 此卦鳥鵲離林之象。凡事到底應心也。 | The image of birds leaving the woods. In the end things answer to your heart. |
| Jieyue | 若人得怨。何時可伸。好言不信。守舊待時。 | If you bear a grievance, when can it be set right? Good words are not believed; keep to the old and wait for the time. |
Sacred counsel, item by item
The sacred counsel (聖意) gives a short verdict for each kind of question. Find the row that matches what you asked.
| Your question | Original | In English |
|---|---|---|
| Home and family | 先凶後吉 | Bad first, good after |
| Yourself | 謹防 | Be on guard |
| Money | 吉 | Favorable |
| Deals and trade | 成 | Will succeed |
| Marriage | 阻滯 | Held up |
| Pregnancy | 男 | A boy |
| Someone away from home | 順 | Smooth |
| Crops and silkworms | 利 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 旺 | Thriving |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 有理 | You are in the right |
| Moving | 難 | Difficult |
| Lost items | 難見 | Hard to find |
| Family graves | 吉 | Favorable |
The traditional counsel also has an "Illness" item, which we do not list. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means in plain English
Someone's words have offended you and are hard to swallow. When trouble arrives, it is like a nest destroyed, with nowhere to rest.
A tip: Swallow your pride for now and play it safe. Do not respond in anger.
This is our reading of the words on the page. For how it applies to your own question, go by the temple where you drew the lot.
How to draw a Guanyin lot
- Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
- Ask permission by casting the two crescent-shaped moon blocks (筊, jiao). One flat side up and one round side up is a "yes." Then shake the bamboo cylinder until a single numbered stick falls out.
- Confirm the stick with the blocks. A common custom is to ask for three "yes" throws in a row; if you do not get them, draw again.
- Collect the poem slip with the same number. Read the whole poem first, then look up the counsel item that matches your question. If it is unclear, the temple staff can interpret it for you.
Ask about one thing at a time. The more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.
Common misunderstandings
A lower lot means the thing will certainly fail.
A lower lot is usually a signal to pause, hold what you have, or change your approach. The same poem can mean different things for different questions.
You can keep drawing on the same question until you get an upper lot.
By custom you ask once per question. If you still have doubts, ask the temple for an interpretation, or ask again after some time has passed.
Previous lot: Lot 14. Next lot: Lot 16.
A straight word: the lots are a matter of faith, and the plain meanings are ours
The original poems, shiyi, jieyue and counsel items follow the 100 Guanyin lots compiled by the Jieqian Ge (解籤閣) site, checked lot by lot against two other sources; temples differ slightly in wording and in grades. The English verse, the plain meanings and the tips are our own readings of the words on the page, not a temple's official interpretation. For a real reading, ask the temple where you drew the lot. For legal, medical or financial questions, see a professional, and if you feel unwell, see a doctor. Everything on this site is for reference and entertainment.
Beyond the lot: your own chart
Enter your birth date to cast your free BaZi Four Pillars chart and see your Five Elements and Ten Gods.
Guanyin lot 15: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 15 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Su Qin Achieves His Ambition."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 15 say?
In Chinese: 「觸人口氣最難吞，忽有災危禍到門，卵破巢空無宿處，深為穩便把心存」. In our English: Words that give offense are the hardest to swallow down; then suddenly disaster comes knocking at your door in town. The eggs are broken, the nest is empty, there is nowhere left to stay: keep a steady, careful heart and find a safer way.
What does Guanyin lot 15 mean?
Someone's words have offended you and are hard to swallow. When trouble arrives, it is like a nest destroyed, with nowhere to rest. A tip: Swallow your pride for now and play it safe. Do not respond in anger.