Yue Lao Oracle Lot 82 · Excellent

行去耶，前朱雀而後玄武，左青龍而右白虎。 Set out now: the Vermilion Bird ahead, the Dark Warrior behind, the Azure Dragon on the left, the White Tiger on the right.

The lot

Text notes (in Chinese): 《禮記》原作「行，前朱鳥而後玄武」.

Background: what the original says

This describes the banners of an ancient army on the march: a flag bearing a guardian beast in front, behind, and on each side, protecting the troops from every direction.

The line comes from the "Qu Li" chapter of the Book of Rites (Liji), in a passage on how an army marches. First it lists signal flags: when the vanguard meets water, it raises a blue-green banner; dust, a banner with a crying kite; chariots, one with flying geese; wild beasts, one with a fierce mythical creature.

Then comes the order of march. Front, rear, left and right each fly the banner of a sacred animal, so every side is guarded, while a flag of the Zhaoyao star rises over the centre to stiffen the troops. The four animals stood for the four quarters of the sky, and the Han commentator Zheng Xuan read the banners as star emblems. Later the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise became a fixture of feng shui.

The lot adds a brisk "set out, then" to the front of the line, like a send-off: whoever steps forward, perhaps to meet someone, is guarded on every side.

What it means

Go ahead and set out; you are guarded on all sides. Taking action works in your favor, and the road ahead is safe.

Reminder: Move forward with confidence.

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 81; next: Lot 83.