Mazu Fortune Stick No. 72 · Gou Hexagram
貧窮疾病倍傷神，失脫官非罪一身，若求此籤無一可，閉門靜守度秋春。 Poverty and illness wear you down twice over; losses and lawsuits all land on you. Whatever you ask with this lot, nothing is favorable; close your door, stay quiet, and let the seasons pass.
The poem
貧窮疾病倍傷神
Poverty and illness wear you down twice over;
失脫官非罪一身
losses and lawsuits all land on you.
若求此籤無一可
Whatever you ask with this lot, nothing is favorable;
閉門靜守度秋春
close your door, stay quiet, and let the seasons pass.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 72 第七十二首 | Gou 姤 (Coming to Meet) |
Text notes: line 4: the base text reads 閑門靜坐慶秋春.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | This is a time to step back and rest quietly 這段時間適合退一步，靜心休養 |
| Business | Hold on to your core business and start nothing new for now 守住本業，暫時不開新局 |
| Pregnancy | For pregnancy and childbirth, please follow your doctor's advice and prenatal checkups 懷孕生產請遵從醫師與產檢 |
| Marriage | The two sides struggle to agree, so set the marriage aside 雙方意見難合，婚事先放著 |
| Travel | No direction looks smooth, keep long trips to a minimum 各方都不順，盡量少出遠門 |
| Household | Do good deeds and be honest with yourself in all things 多做好事，凡事對自己誠實 |
| Seeking wealth | Finances are low, hold off on pursuing money for now 財運低迷，暫時不求 |
| Luck of the times | Pushing through only costs you, take care of yourself first 硬撐反而吃虧，先照顧好自己 |
| Lost items | It may be hard to find, think of the loss as a lesson paid for 恐怕難尋，損失就當作學費 |
| Farming & livestock | The harvest is poor, aim simply to break even 田園收成差，先求保住本 |
| Lawsuits | It is most likely just a scare, respond calmly 多半只是虛驚，冷靜應對就好 |
These short reminders are written by us from the poem and its hexagram; they are not the readings printed on the temple's slip, so for a real reading go by the temple where you drew the lot. The temple's list also has an "illness" topic, which we leave out, and the pregnancy topic is always a reminder to follow your doctor. If you feel unwell, please see a doctor.
What it means
Poverty, illness, losses and legal trouble all at once: nothing is favorable with this lot. Stay home, keep quiet and wait for the seasons to change.
Reminder: In a low period, do less and put safety first.
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. 71; next: No. 73.
A straight word: fortune poems are a matter of faith, and the meanings here are ours
The Chinese text and hexagram names follow a widely circulated edition, checked line by line against three other versions; we only corrected obvious copying errors, and every page shows the base text's original wording wherever we changed it. The topic reminders, English translations and plain-English meanings are our own reading of the words and the hexagram, not the temple's readings or 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. 72: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 72 say?
「貧窮疾病倍傷神，失脫官非罪一身，若求此籤無一可，閉門靜守度秋春」 In English: Poverty and illness wear you down twice over; losses and lawsuits all land on you. Whatever you ask with this lot, nothing is favorable; close your door, stay quiet, and let the seasons pass. It is paired with the Gou hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 72 mean?
Poverty, illness, losses and legal trouble all at once: nothing is favorable with this lot. Stay home, keep quiet and wait for the seasons to change. Reminder: In a low period, do less and put safety first.