Mazu Fortune Stick No. 89 · Kan Hexagram
東舍烹牛禱不靈，不如西舍點青燈，上天感應憑方寸，一念精誠神鬼歆。 The east house slaughters an ox, and its prayers go unheard; the west house lights one blue lamp and does better. Heaven responds to the inch-square heart; one sincere thought, and gods and spirits are pleased.
The poem
東舍烹牛禱不靈
The east house slaughters an ox, and its prayers go unheard;
不如西舍點青燈
the west house lights one blue lamp and does better.
上天感應憑方寸
Heaven responds to the inch-square heart;
一念精誠神鬼歆
one sincere thought, and gods and spirits are pleased.
| Lot | Hexagram |
|---|---|
| No. 89 第八十九首 | Kan 坎 (The Abysmal Water) |
Beyond the poem: your own chart Cast a free BaZi chart →
Reminders by topic (written by us)
| Topic | Reminder |
|---|---|
| Career & exams | With an upright and sincere heart, your hard work will show 心正意誠，用功的成果看得見 |
| Business | Shift to an honest path in business and blessings follow 改走正道經營，福氣跟著來 |
| 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 | Treat people sincerely and a good match will draw near 真誠待人，好緣分就會靠近 |
| Travel | Set out with a clear conscience and the way will be smooth 心安理得出門，路上順暢 |
| Household | Live within your proper role and family fortune will be good 守本分過日子，家運自然好 |
| Seeking wealth | Keep your heart bright as a lamp and earn only by fair means 心像明燈一樣亮，取財要光明正當 |
| Luck of the times | Sincerity matters more than show; that is when good luck appears 誠心比排場重要，好運才會浮現 |
| Lost items | Calm your mind, say a prayer, then search each spot carefully 靜下心來祈求，再一處處仔細尋找 |
| Farming & livestock | Plan farm work with care; carelessness means a smaller harvest 田務要用心規劃，馬虎就會少收 |
| Lawsuits | Stand on reason and an upright heart; let the facts speak 理直心正，讓事實說話 |
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
The house that sacrifices an ox is not heard, while the house that lights a simple lamp is. Heaven responds to the heart; one sincere thought is enough.
Reminder: Sincerity counts more than show.
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. 88; next: No. 90.
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. 89: questions
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 89 say?
「東舍烹牛禱不靈，不如西舍點青燈，上天感應憑方寸，一念精誠神鬼歆」 In English: The east house slaughters an ox, and its prayers go unheard; the west house lights one blue lamp and does better. Heaven responds to the inch-square heart; one sincere thought, and gods and spirits are pleased. It is paired with the Kan hexagram.
What does Mazu fortune stick No. 89 mean?
The house that sacrifices an ox is not heard, while the house that lights a simple lamp is. Heaven responds to the heart; one sincere thought is enough. Reminder: Sincerity counts more than show.