Guanyin Fortune Stick 91 (Middle Lot)

"Now smooth away your worried brow and let it open wide..." So opens lot 91 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

In English (our translation):

Now smooth away your worried brow and let it open wide;
great talent will be put to great use, recommended far and wide.
A broad highway before you lies as level as your palm:
whatever you set out to do will fill your heart with calm.

The story: At Hulao Pass, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei fought the fearsome Lü Bu together, and their names became known throughout the land.

The other version

Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「好展愁眉出眾來，前途改變喜多財，一條大路如天闊，凡有施財盡暢懷」. 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.

Sacred counsel, item by item

The counsel for this lot is not broken into items. It gives one overall verdict: 「此籤諸事如心，順利吉昌。」, which says: "All matters in this lot go as you wish, smooth and prosperous."

What it means in plain English

You can unknit your brow now. Great talent is put to good use, and a broad, level road lies ahead.

A tip: You are headed the right way. Just keep going.

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

1. Light incense and tell Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion, your name, birth date and address, then state one question clearly.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Previous lot: Lot 90. Next lot: Lot 92.