Guanyin Fortune Stick 58 (Middle Lot)
"Loyal counsel, kindly words: keep them in your mind..." So opens lot 58 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
忠言善語君須記
莫向他方求別藝
勸君安守舊生涯
除卻有餘都不是
In English (our translation):
Loyal counsel, kindly words: keep them in your mind;
do not go off to other lands to learn another kind.
I urge you, keep content within the life you know:
apart from what you have, there is nowhere good to go.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 58 | Middle lot | Chou palace (丑宮) | King Wen Consults the Oracle (文王問卜) |
The story: King Wen of Zhou is credited with arranging the hexagrams of the Book of Changes, and was said to consult divination before acting.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「直言說話君須記，莫在他鄉求別藝，切須守己舊生涯，除是其餘都不利」. 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 | 此卦守舊守時之象。凡事守舊則吉也。 | The image of keeping to the old and to the time. Keeping to the old is favorable. |
| Jieyue | 得住且住。可取且踞。莫宜別事。只宜守舊。 | If you can stay, stay; if you can hold, hold on. Do not take up other matters; only keep to the old. |
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 | 平常 | Ordinary |
| Yourself | 不利 | Unfavorable |
| Money | 吉 | Favorable |
| Deals and trade | 成 | Will succeed |
| Marriage | 阻 | Blocked |
| Pregnancy | 驚 | A scare |
| Someone away from home | 遲 | Late |
| Crops and silkworms | 五分 | Half a harvest |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 見 | Will be found |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 宜改 | Better to 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
Take this honest advice: do not go elsewhere to learn a different trade. Staying with the work you know is the right road.
A tip: This is not the time to switch careers. Deepen the work you already do.
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 57. Next lot: Lot 59.
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 58: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 58 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Chou palace (丑宮), and its story is "King Wen Consults the Oracle."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 58 say?
In Chinese: 「忠言善語君須記，莫向他方求別藝，勸君安守舊生涯，除卻有餘都不是」. In our English: Loyal counsel, kindly words: keep them in your mind; do not go off to other lands to learn another kind. I urge you, keep content within the life you know: apart from what you have, there is nowhere good to go.
What does Guanyin lot 58 mean?
Take this honest advice: do not go elsewhere to learn a different trade. Staying with the work you know is the right road. A tip: This is not the time to switch careers. Deepen the work you already do.