Guanyin Fortune Stick 38 (Lower Lot)
"The mirror-moon comes from its case into the open sky..." So opens lot 38 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
鏡月當空出匣時
剎那雲霧暗迷離
寬心守待浮雲散
更改相宜可望為
In English (our translation):
The mirror-moon comes from its case into the open sky;
in a moment clouds and mist come dark and drifting by.
Keep a broad heart and wait for floating clouds to go;
then change your course as fits, and hope may start to grow.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 38 | Lower lot | Shen palace (申宮) | He Wenxiu Meets Disaster (何文秀遇難) |
The story: In a Yue opera, the scholar He Wenxiu was framed by a powerful man and nearly executed before he was cleared and rose to office.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「月照天宅靜處期，忽遭雲霧又昏迷，寬心祈信雲霞散，此時更改好施為」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- In version two, 宅 is also written 書.
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 | 此卦雲霧遮月之象。凡事未遂守舊也。 | The image of clouds and mist hiding the moon. Things are not yet achieved; keep to the old. |
| Jieyue | 家道憂凶。人口有災。祈福保慶。猶恐破財。 | The household faces worry and misfortune; people in it meet with trouble. Pray for blessing and protection; there may still be a loss of money. |
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 | 不安 | Unsettled |
| Yourself | 祈保 | Pray for protection |
| Money | 難 | Difficult |
| Deals and trade | 待時 | Wait for the time |
| Marriage | 難合 | Hard to match |
| Pregnancy | 虛驚 | A false alarm |
| Someone away from home | 阻 | Blocked |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 遇 | Will meet |
| Lawsuits | 和 | Settle |
| Moving | 安 | Peaceful |
| Lost items | 虛 | Hard to recover |
| Family graves | 宜修 | Needs repair |
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
The moon has just come out and clouds and mist hide it again. Stay calm, wait for the clouds to clear, then change your approach.
A tip: When things are not working out, hold your position first and adjust once the picture is clear.
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 37. Next lot: Lot 39.
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 38: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 38 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Shen palace (申宮), and its story is "He Wenxiu Meets Disaster."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 38 say?
In Chinese: 「鏡月當空出匣時，剎那雲霧暗迷離，寬心守待浮雲散，更改相宜可望為」. In our English: The mirror-moon comes from its case into the open sky; in a moment clouds and mist come dark and drifting by. Keep a broad heart and wait for floating clouds to go; then change your course as fits, and hope may start to grow.
What does Guanyin lot 38 mean?
The moon has just come out and clouds and mist hide it again. Stay calm, wait for the clouds to clear, then change your approach. A tip: When things are not working out, hold your position first and adjust once the picture is clear.