Yue Lao Oracle Lot 52 · Excellent, great fortune

雲從龍，風從虎，聖人作而萬物睹。 Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger, when the sage rises, all things come into view.

The lot

Text notes (in Chinese): 流通本作「聖人作而萬，君萬事皆可成也」，依《周易》改「聖人作而萬物睹」.

Background: what the original says

This passage describes how like responds to like: clouds rise with the dragon, wind stirs with the tiger, and when a sage appears, everything becomes visible to all.

These words come from the "Wenyan" commentary on Qian, the first hexagram of the Book of Changes (Yijing). Tradition assigns the Wenyan to Confucius, though most modern scholars date it to the Warring States period or later.

The fifth line of Qian reads: the dragon flies in the heavens; it is favorable to see the great man. The commentary asks what this means and answers in Confucius's voice. Like sounds answer one another and like energies seek one another. Water flows toward the damp and fire toward the dry. Clouds follow the dragon and wind follows the tiger. When a sage arises, all things look to him, and each thing follows its kind. The passage explains why the world is glad to see a virtuous man in a high place: his own kind naturally gather around him. The oracle borrows its principle that like attracts like.

What it means

Kindred voices answer each other and kindred spirits seek each other out. The right people are naturally drawn together, and whatever you undertake can succeed.

Reminder: Be yourself, and you will naturally attract people who are on your wavelength.

This is a plain reading of the words and their source. How it applies to your own question is best settled with the interpreter at the temple where you drew it.

How to ask Yue Lao for a lot

1. Yue Lao, the Old Man under the Moon, usually has a side shrine inside a larger temple, such as a City God temple or a Mazu temple. Follow the temple's route: pay respects to the main deity first, then go to Yue Lao.
2. Tell Yue Lao your name, birth date and address, describe where you are in love right now, and state the one question you want to ask (for example, "Will this relationship last?" or "When will I meet someone?").
3. 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 and cast again to confirm it. Many temples ask for three yeses in a row; if not, draw again.
4. Collect the slip with the matching number. Yue Lao lots are quotations from old books, so the meaning often depends on the original passage. If it is unclear, ask the temple's interpreter.

Ask about one thing at a time; the more specific the question, the easier the lot is to apply. Yue Lao lots are for love and marriage only; for other matters, use the temple's general fortune poems.

Common misunderstandings

Previous: Lot 51; next: Lot 53.