Mazu Fortune Stick No. 85 · Jian Hexagram
命犯孤辰只合休，鴛鴦兩下逐溪流，枯楊豈肯重生葉，風雨飄零空自愁。 Your fate crosses the lonely star; best to let it rest. The mandarin ducks drift apart on the stream. Will a withered willow put out leaves again? Scattered in wind and rain, you grieve alone.
The poem
命犯孤辰只合休
Your fate crosses the lonely star; best to let it rest.
鴛鴦兩下逐溪流
The mandarin ducks drift apart on the stream.
枯楊豈肯重生葉
Will a withered willow put out leaves again?
風雨飄零空自愁
Scattered in wind and rain, you grieve alone.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 85 第八十五首 | Jian 蹇 (Obstruction) |
Text notes: line 4: the base text reads 風雨飄零空自然.
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | Effort pays at any age; it is not too late to start now 年輕時多下功夫，現在起步也不晚 |
| Business | Business is slow; control costs and wait for a turn 生意清淡，先控制開銷，等待轉機 |
| 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 | Love is hard to bring together for now; look after your own heart 感情一時難圓，先照顧好自己的心 |
| Travel | When it is getting late, do not rush; set out another day 天色已晚就別趕路，改天再出發 |
| Household | When home feels lonely, call and check in on family more 家裡冷清時，多打電話問候家人 |
| Seeking wealth | If the direction is wrong, do not force it; adjust your approach first 方向不對時別硬求，先調整做法 |
| Luck of the times | In a low period, rest more and build strength while you wait 低潮期多休息，培養實力等待 |
| Lost items | If you cannot find it, set it aside and do not let it weigh on you 找不到就先放下，別讓自己煩心 |
| Farming & livestock | The weather is poor; protect the essentials and invest lightly 天候不佳，先保住根本，少量投入 |
| Lawsuits | Be careful with official matters and consult a professional 遇到公門事務要謹慎，請教專業人士 |
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
A lonely fate: the pair of ducks drift apart, the dead willow will not bloom again, and you grieve alone in the storm.
Reminder: If a relationship cannot be mended right now, look after yourself 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. 84; next: No. 86.
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. 85: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 85 say?
「命犯孤辰只合休，鴛鴦兩下逐溪流，枯楊豈肯重生葉，風雨飄零空自愁」 In English: Your fate crosses the lonely star; best to let it rest. The mandarin ducks drift apart on the stream. Will a withered willow put out leaves again? Scattered in wind and rain, you grieve alone. It is paired with the Jian hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 85 mean?
A lonely fate: the pair of ducks drift apart, the dead willow will not bloom again, and you grieve alone in the storm. Reminder: If a relationship cannot be mended right now, look after yourself first.