Guanyin Fortune Stick 72 (Middle Lot)
"If you play with bees, it is their honey that you seek..." So opens lot 72 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
弄蜂須要求他蜜
只怕遭他尾上針
雖是眼前有異路
暗裏深藏荊棘林
In English (our translation):
If you play with bees, it is their honey that you seek;
the only fear is that the sting in the tail will make you weak.
Although a different road lies open to your eyes,
a thicket of thorns is hidden deep in the dark where it lies.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 72 | Middle lot | Chen palace (辰宮) | Wang Mang Courts Worthy Men (王莽求賢) |
The story: Wang Mang made a great show of humility and courted scholars before seizing the Han throne; his reign soon collapsed.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「養蜂須用求他蜜，只怕遭觸尾上針，須是眼前有異路，暗驚深如荊棘林」. 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 | 此卦結蜂采蜜之象。凡事勞心費力也。 | The image of keeping bees to gather honey. Everything costs heart and effort. |
| Jieyue | 事須仔細。不用強求。結蜂采蜜。有甚來由。 | Be careful in your affairs; do not force anything. Keeping bees for honey: what reason is there for it? |
| Other editions | 此卦求甜得苦之象。凡事防範災殃也。 | Another edition gives the shiyi as: "The image of seeking sweetness and finding bitterness. Guard against disaster." |
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 | 防 | Be on guard |
| Money | 阻 | Blocked |
| Deals and trade | 遲 | Late |
| Marriage | 阻隔 | Cut off |
| Pregnancy | 虛驚 | A false alarm |
| Someone away from home | 遲 | Late |
| Crops and silkworms | 少收 | Small harvest |
| Livestock | 少收 | Small harvest |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 莫動 | Do not move |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| Family graves | 敗 | Failing |
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
You want the honey but fear the sting. There seems to be a road ahead, but thorns are hidden in the dark along it.
A tip: Before you go after something sweet, think hard about the risk.
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 71. Next lot: Lot 73.
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 72: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 72 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Chen palace (辰宮), and its story is "Wang Mang Courts Worthy Men."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 72 say?
In Chinese: 「弄蜂須要求他蜜，只怕遭他尾上針，雖是眼前有異路，暗裏深藏荊棘林」. In our English: If you play with bees, it is their honey that you seek; the only fear is that the sting in the tail will make you weak. Although a different road lies open to your eyes, a thicket of thorns is hidden deep in the dark where it lies.
What does Guanyin lot 72 mean?
You want the honey but fear the sting. There seems to be a road ahead, but thorns are hidden in the dark along it. A tip: Before you go after something sweet, think hard about the risk.