Guanyin Fortune Stick 93 (Middle Lot)
"The phoenix's feathers droop beneath the weight of rain..." So opens lot 93 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
鸞鳳翎毛雨壓垂
此時應被雀輕欺
忽朝一日雲霄霽
依舊還教振羽衣
In English (our translation):
The phoenix's feathers droop beneath the weight of rain;
for now the little sparrows can mock it with disdain.
But one day suddenly the clouds will clear from the sky,
and it will spread its wings again and once more fly.
| Lot | Grade | Palace | Story |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 93 | Middle lot | Xu palace (戌宮) | Gao Junbao's Marriage (高君保招親) |
The story: In Song-dynasty tales, the young general Gao Junbao lost a fight to the warrior maiden Liu Jinding, who then took him as her husband.
The other version
Guanyin lots circulate in two common wordings. For this lot the other version reads 「鸞鳳翔毛雨淋漓，當時卻被雀兒欺，驚教一日雲開遠，依舊還君整羽衣」. 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 | 此卦鸞鳳被雨之象。凡事待時大利也。 | The image of the phoenix caught in the rain. Waiting for the time brings great gain. |
| Jieyue | 小人日盛。君子莫為。只宜守己。待時施為。 | The petty flourish day by day; the noble should not act. Only keep to yourself and wait for the time to act. |
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 | 阻 | Blocked |
| Deals and trade | 待時 | Wait for the time |
| Marriage | 遲滯 | Delayed |
| Pregnancy | 有虛 | Some emptiness |
| Someone away from home | 留連 | Lingering |
| Crops and silkworms | 晚 | Late |
| Livestock | 損 | Losses |
| Finding someone | 難 | Difficult |
| Lawsuits | 虧 | You lose out |
| Moving | 守舊 | Keep to the old |
| Lost items | 凶 | Unfavorable |
| 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
The phoenix's feathers are weighed down by rain, and for a while sparrows push it around. When the clouds clear, it will spread its wings and fly again.
A tip: Being wronged for a while is no disaster. Stay true to yourself and wait for your time.
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 92. Next lot: Lot 94.
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 93: common questions
Is Guanyin fortune stick 93 a good or bad lot?
It is a middle lot, Xu palace (戌宮), and its story is "Gao Junbao's Marriage."
What does the poem of Guanyin lot 93 say?
In Chinese: 「鸞鳳翎毛雨壓垂，此時應被雀輕欺，忽朝一日雲霄霽，依舊還教振羽衣」. In our English: The phoenix's feathers droop beneath the weight of rain; for now the little sparrows can mock it with disdain. But one day suddenly the clouds will clear from the sky, and it will spread its wings again and once more fly.
What does Guanyin lot 93 mean?
The phoenix's feathers are weighed down by rain, and for a while sparrows push it around. When the clouds clear, it will spread its wings and fly again. A tip: Being wronged for a while is no disaster. Stay true to yourself and wait for your time.