Guanyin Fortune Stick 63 (Middle Lot)
"Long ago, while sailing, you let a needle fall..." So opens lot 63 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
昔日行船失了針
今朝依舊海中尋
若還尋得原針在
也費工夫也費心
In English (our translation):
Long ago, while sailing, you let a needle fall;
today you search the sea for it, the same as before and all.
And even if you find that very needle once again,
it costs you time and trouble, and it costs you heart and pain.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 63 | Middle lot | Mao palace (卯宮) | Nüwa Smelts Stones (女媧氏煉石) |
The story: When the sky cracked, the goddess Nüwa melted five-colored stones to mend it, a huge labor to repair what was broken.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「昔然行船失了針，今朝依舊海中尋，若然尋得原針在，也費工夫也費心」. 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 | 此卦海中尋針之象。凡事費心勞力也。 | The image of searching the sea for a needle. Everything costs heart and effort. |
| Jieyue | 福是祿基。祿是福種。說得分明。切宜守謹。 | Blessing is the foundation of rank; rank is the seed of blessing. It is spoken plainly: be careful and keep watch. |
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 | 欠利 | Lacks profit |
| Yourself | 謹防 | Be on guard |
| Money | 有 | There is some |
| Deals and trade | 成 | Will succeed |
| Marriage | 不合 | Not a match |
| Pregnancy | 阻 | Blocked |
| Someone away from home | 滯 | Stalled |
| Crops and silkworms | 吉 | Favorable |
| Livestock | 莫養 | Do not raise |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 宜和 | Better to settle |
| Moving | 宜遷 | Better to move |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 暫安 | Safe for now |
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
Searching the sea for a needle you dropped long ago: even if you find it, it will cost you a great deal of time and effort.
A tip: If you want to recover something from the past, first weigh whether it is worth the cost.
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 62. Next lot: Lot 64.
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 63: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 63 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Mao palace (卯宮), and its story is "Nüwa Smelts Stones."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 63 say?
In Chinese: 「昔日行船失了針，今朝依舊海中尋，若還尋得原針在，也費工夫也費心」. In our English: Long ago, while sailing, you let a needle fall; today you search the sea for it, the same as before and all. And even if you find that very needle once again, it costs you time and trouble, and it costs you heart and pain.
What does Guanyin lot 63 mean?
Searching the sea for a needle you dropped long ago: even if you find it, it will cost you a great deal of time and effort. A tip: If you want to recover something from the past, first weigh whether it is worth the cost.