Guanyin Fortune Stick 39 (Lower Lot)
"News from the edge of the sky is hard to ask about..." So opens lot 39 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
天邊消息應難問
切莫私心強望求
若把石頭磨作鏡
精神枉費一時休
In English (our translation):
News from the edge of the sky is hard to ask about;
do not force it with a selfish hope and wear yourself out.
If you take a stone and try to grind it to a mirror's face,
your spirit will be spent for nothing, and all in a short space.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 39 | Lower lot | You palace (酉宮) | Meng Jiangnü Seeks Her Husband (姜女尋夫) |
The story: Meng Jiangnü's husband was taken away to build the Great Wall. She traveled far to bring him winter clothes, only to learn he had died there.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「天邊消息實難思，切莫多心望強求，若把石頭磨作鏡，曾知枉費己功夫」. 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 | 此卦守常安靜之象。凡事守己則吉也。 | The image of keeping to the usual and staying quiet. Keeping to yourself is favorable. |
| Jieyue | 千般用計。枉費功夫。不如守舊。著甚來由。 | A thousand schemes, all wasted effort. Better to keep to the old; what reason is there to push? |
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 | 安 | Peaceful |
| Yourself | 提防 | Be careful |
| Money | 平平 | Average |
| Deals and trade | 阻 | Blocked |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 女 | A girl |
| Someone away from home | 動 | On the move |
| Crops and silkworms | 利 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 平 | Even |
| Lost items | 空 | Gone |
| Family graves | 大吉 | Very 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
News from far away is hard to get. Do not push for what you want; it is like trying to grind a stone into a mirror, all effort and no result.
A tip: Let go of what cannot be done and put your energy where it can make a difference.
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 38. Next lot: Lot 40.
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 39: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 39 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, You palace (酉宮), and its story is "Meng Jiangnü Seeks Her Husband."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 39 say?
In Chinese: 「天邊消息應難問，切莫私心強望求，若把石頭磨作鏡，精神枉費一時休」. In our English: News from the edge of the sky is hard to ask about; do not force it with a selfish hope and wear yourself out. If you take a stone and try to grind it to a mirror's face, your spirit will be spent for nothing, and all in a short space.
What does Guanyin lot 39 mean?
News from far away is hard to get. Do not push for what you want; it is like trying to grind a stone into a mirror, all effort and no result. A tip: Let go of what cannot be done and put your energy where it can make a difference.