Guanyin Fortune Stick 70 (Lower Lot)
"Day after day you toil and bustle like a bee..." So opens lot 70 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
朝朝役役恰如蜂
飛來飛去西復東
春暮花殘無覔處
此身不戀舊叢中
In English (our translation):
Day after day you toil and bustle like a bee,
flying here and flying there, from west to east you flee.
Spring is late, the flowers faded, nothing left to find,
and you no longer long for the old clump you left behind.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 70 | Lower lot | Chen palace (辰宮) | Li Mi Rebels Against the Tang (李密反唐) |
The story: Li Mi was a rebel leader at the end of the Sui who submitted to the new Tang dynasty, then rebelled again and was killed.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「朝朝恰似采花蜂，飛出西南又走東，春盡花殘無覓處，此心不變舊行蹤」. The wording differs in places, but the sense stays close to the version above.
- 覔 has the same sound and meaning as 覓.
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 | 此卦蜜蜂采花之象。凡事勞心費力也。 | The image of a bee gathering nectar. Everything costs heart and effort. |
| Jieyue | 無覓春色。久雨不晴。求謀動用。不如安靜。 | No spring colors to be found; long rain without clearing. Seeking and scheming is not as good as staying quiet. |
| Other editions | 無覓本作產朝 | For "no spring colors to be found" (無覓), the base text also records 產朝. |
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 | 口舌 | Quarrels |
| Yourself | 小人 | Petty people |
| Money | 破耗 | Loss and waste |
| Deals and trade | 反覆 | Back and forth |
| Marriage | 不長 | Will not last |
| Pregnancy | 虛花 | Empty show |
| Someone away from home | 杳 | No word |
| Crops and silkworms | 損 | Losses |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 無蹤 | No trace |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 空 | Gone |
| Family graves | 改 | Make a 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 bee flying back and forth all day, you find that spring is over and the flowers are gone, and you no longer want to go back to the old place.
A tip: When hard work is getting you nowhere, stop and rethink the direction.
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 69. Next lot: Lot 71.
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 70: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 70 a good or bad lot?
It is a lower lot, Chen palace (辰宮), and its story is "Li Mi Rebels Against the Tang."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 70 say?
In Chinese: 「朝朝役役恰如蜂，飛來飛去西復東，春暮花殘無覔處，此身不戀舊叢中」. In our English: Day after day you toil and bustle like a bee, flying here and flying there, from west to east you flee. Spring is late, the flowers faded, nothing left to find, and you no longer long for the old clump you left behind.
What does Guanyin lot 70 mean?
Like a bee flying back and forth all day, you find that spring is over and the flowers are gone, and you no longer want to go back to the old place. A tip: When hard work is getting you nowhere, stop and rethink the direction.