Mazu Fortune Stick No. 16 · Guan Hexagram
君看靈旗忽轉東，定知好事與從容，神天庇佑須思報，一炷心香帝座通。 See, the sacred banner suddenly swings east: good things are coming, unhurried and sure. Heaven protects you; think how to repay it: one stick of heartfelt incense reaches the throne on high.
The poem
君看靈旗忽轉東
See, the sacred banner suddenly swings east:
定知好事與從容
good things are coming, unhurried and sure.
神天庇佑須思報
Heaven protects you; think how to repay it:
一炷心香帝座通
one stick of heartfelt incense reaches the throne on high.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 16 第十六首 | Guan 觀 (Contemplation) |
Text notes: line 1: the temple website reads 君着靈旗忽轉東.
Readings by topic
| Topic | Reading |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Why seek glory; being safe is luck enough 何必求榮 平安為幸 |
| Business | Pray for protection and business slowly improves 祈天保佑 生意漸亨 |
| Pregnancy | Ask sincerely and heaven sends a fine child 心誠求之 天賜佳兒 |
| Marriage | Heaven-matched; good things in pairs 天配佳偶 好事成雙 |
| Travel | Kindness brings luck; sweet scents along the road 和氣致祥 滿路異香 |
| Household | Peace and cheer at home; things settle down 開慶清吉 庶可安然 |
| Seeking wealth | A little kindness, and what you seek will come 一點善心 求之必得 |
| Luck of the times | Heaven-sent gold; profit everywhere 天賜黃金 到處有利 |
| Lost items | Search slowly and it will come back 緩緩尋找 必可回手 |
| Farming & livestock | Summer ordinary, the autumn harvest better 夏熟平常 秋收更好 |
| Lawsuits | Disputes settle; everything as you wish 官訟和合 無不如意 |
Readings follow the Grand Matsu Temple website; the English is our translation. The temple's list also has an "illness" reading; we leave it out. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means
The sacred banner swings east: good things are on their way, without rush. Remember to give thanks for heaven's protection; one sincere stick of incense is enough to be heard.
Reminder: Gratitude matters more than any offering.
This is a plain reading of the words. How it applies to your own question is best settled with the interpreter at the temple where you drew it.
How to draw a lot
- Light incense and tell Mazu your name, birth date and address, then state clearly the one matter you are asking about.
- Cast the moon blocks (jiaobei, two crescent-shaped wooden blocks) to ask whether you may draw. One face up and one face down means yes; then pull one stick from the cylinder.
- Cast the blocks again to confirm that this is your stick. Many temples ask for three yeses in a row; if not, put it back and draw again.
- Collect the poem with the matching number. Read the whole poem, then find the topic below that fits your question. If it is unclear, ask the temple's interpreter.
Ask about one thing at a time; the more specific the question, the easier the poem is to apply.
Common misunderstandings
A gloomy poem means the matter is doomed.
Most poems are reminders and directions. The same poem means different things for different questions, so look at the topic that matches yours.
You can keep drawing on the same question until you get a good poem.
By custom you ask once per matter. If you are still unsure, ask the temple's interpreter, or wait a while and ask again.
Previous: No. 15; next: No. 17.
A straight word: fortune poems are a matter of faith, and the meanings here are ours
The Chinese text, hexagram names and topic readings follow the Grand Matsu Temple of Tainan, checked line by line against three other sources; we only corrected obvious copying errors, and every page shows the temple's original wording wherever we changed it. The English translations and the plain-English meanings are our own reading of the words, not the temple's official interpretation. For a real reading, ask at 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 poem: your own chart
Enter your birth date to cast a free BaZi Four Pillars chart and see your Five Elements and Ten Gods.
Mazu fortune stick No. 16: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 16 say?
「君看靈旗忽轉東，定知好事與從容，神天庇佑須思報，一炷心香帝座通」 In English: See, the sacred banner suddenly swings east: good things are coming, unhurried and sure. Heaven protects you; think how to repay it: one stick of heartfelt incense reaches the throne on high. It is paired with the Guan hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 16 mean?
The sacred banner swings east: good things are on their way, without rush. Remember to give thanks for heaven's protection; one sincere stick of incense is enough to be heard. Reminder: Gratitude matters more than any offering.