Guanyin Fortune Stick 37 (Middle Lot)
"You ask when you'll be safe and when your luck will ease..." So opens lot 37 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
欲問身安運泰時
風中燈燭不相宜
爭如收拾深堂坐
庶免光搖近處期
In English (our translation):
You ask when you'll be safe and when your luck will ease;
a candle in the wind is not a thing that sits at peace.
Better to gather up and sit inside the inner hall,
where the flame won't flicker near and fail you after all.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 37 | Middle lot | Shen palace (申宮) | Li Jing Returns to the Mountains (李靖歸山) |
The story: Li Jing, the Tang general who later became a figure of legend, is remembered for withdrawing to the mountains at the right moment.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「欲待身安動泰時，風中燈燭不相宜，不如收拾深堂坐，庶免光搖靜處明」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- Version notes: 動 is also written 運; 搖 is also written 瑤; 免 is also written 幾.
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 | 此卦風搖燈燭之象。凡事守常則吉也。 | The image of a candle flame blown by the wind. Keeping to the usual ways is favorable. |
| Jieyue | 靜處安身。待命守時。支惹非福。守舊相宜。 | Settle yourself somewhere quiet; await your fate and bide your time. Stirring things up is no blessing; keeping to the old is best. |
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 | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Yourself | 平平 | Average |
| Money | 有 | There is some |
| Deals and trade | 難 | Difficult |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Someone away from home | 有信 | News will come |
| Crops and silkworms | 秋熟 | Harvest in autumn |
| Livestock | 安 | Peaceful |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 難 | Difficult |
| Family graves | 勿改 | Do not change |
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
Like a candle in the wind, your footing is unsteady. Better to take it into an inner room and sit still, out of the draft.
A tip: While your luck is still shaky, stay somewhere safe.
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 36. Next lot: Lot 38.
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 37: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 37 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Shen palace (申宮), and its story is "Li Jing Returns to the Mountains."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 37 say?
In Chinese: 「欲問身安運泰時，風中燈燭不相宜，爭如收拾深堂坐，庶免光搖近處期」. In our English: You ask when you'll be safe and when your luck will ease; a candle in the wind is not a thing that sits at peace. Better to gather up and sit inside the inner hall, where the flame won't flicker near and fail you after all.
What does Guanyin lot 37 mean?
Like a candle in the wind, your footing is unsteady. Better to take it into an inner room and sit still, out of the draft. A tip: While your luck is still shaky, stay somewhere safe.