《四圣真君灵签》

Maxims from the Spirit’s Descent to Admonish the World

If you put on a false appearance for the sake of empty fame, your reputation will never truly shine. If you grow wealthy by exploiting others, your descendants will suffer for it. In all you do, think of showing kindness and practicing De; good fortune and emoluments will come of their own accord. Curb your desires, set aside selfishness, and devote yourself to fulfilling your own responsibilities. Do not deceive others in secret or try to mislead the sun, moon, and stars—the Three Luminaries. Be upright and selfless, and hold loyalty and kindness in your heart. Heaven and Earth will bestow blessings, and the spirits will protect you at your side, lengthening your life and dispelling calamities. You will weather hardship and find peace and well-being. Follow these words, and even illness will recede.

Instructions for the Prayer Ritual

When praying, first state your native place, name, and the matter for which you are asking. Then make your petition to the True Lords: the Great Marshal Tianpeng, the Deputy Marshal Tianyou, Yisheng Baode, and Zhenwu Lingying, as well as the spirits of Heaven and Earth. Then say: “The spirits between Heaven and Earth know everything. I now seek an oracle to learn what is auspicious and inauspicious. I beg the spirits to assist and guide me: let misfortune show its ill omen, and good fortune reveal its appointed time. Make clear the outcome of life and death, and do not leave it ambiguous.” Here, “casting a divination lot” means asking about a matter through a divination procedure.

First Lot: Lowest Grade; Best to Keep to the Old Ways

From morning till night, you toil and bustle, thinking only of money and possessions while neglecting human ties. Even if you hoard your wealth until it rots, it will ultimately be wasted for nothing. Better to put it to use in good time.

The flying dragon transforms, arriving at a favorable moment. Today you rise to prominence, just as expected.

Plans: Best to Keep to the Old Ways

From morning till night, you toil and bustle, thinking only of money and possessions while neglecting human ties. Even if you hoard your wealth until it rots, it will ultimately be wasted for nothing. Better to put it to use in good time.

The flying dragon transforms, arriving at a favorable moment. Today you rise to prominence, just as expected.

Plans for a career and the pursuit of wealth will mostly bring good news. There is also hope of gaining office or promotion. If a valiant general steps forward to remove the obstruction, how could petty schemes be allowed to provoke war? You should go in person to meet the court—“Golden Gate” refers to the palace gate or the court. When those above and below live in harmony, even the lords and nobles will show a friendly countenance.

Meaning of the Lot

Single-minded pursuit of profit keeps you rushing about from morning till night, abandoning what is genuine to chase what is false. You refuse to put your hoarded wealth to use and instead invite resentment and blame. For now, keep to your usual course; do not make new plans. Do not initiate a lawsuit. Marriage is likely to prosper. Illness will linger, and travel will meet with obstacles. Acting in haste is unlikely to succeed, and no suitable way forward is available.

Divination is auspicious in autumn and inauspicious in spring and winter. Selling goods is favorable. Lawsuits pose no major problem. Trade and travel bring no profit; even a small gain will require much effort and running about. For those under fifty, an illness will not last long. Young people should seek treatment promptly, while bed rest may be delayed without harm. Sores or epidemics caused by disturbing the earth—such as digging or building in violation of land taboos—need not cause excessive concern. When sudden illness strikes, if a young person sweats within seven days, this is an auspicious sign that the condition will improve. The couple’s birth destinies conflict, and it is inauspicious for the husband to enter the home. Inquiries about livestock and household members bring unfavorable results. Seeking medical care, learning a craft, or looking for work is unfavorable. A missing person or thing will be difficult to find, whether searched for morning or evening. When looking for or borrowing something, you will likely find only part of what you seek and may not get what you hoped for. Moving house is inauspicious; it is best to remain in your present home. If someone in the household has violated a land taboo, all activities are subject to restrictions and peace will be hard to maintain. You should cultivate blessings and do good deeds in the hope of receiving protection. Childbirth should be smooth and quick; delay will make it difficult. Seeking office or promotion is greatly auspicious. Sell goods as soon as possible. The documents have not yet been settled, and the longer the delay, the harder they will be to complete. Entrusting someone with a task makes you vulnerable to deception. It is favorable to buy goods. Plans can be carried out, though obstacles will arise. Farming will yield no harvest. You can meet an influential person if you seek an audience, but delay will bring no benefit. It is best to choose an auspicious day for acupuncture. You cherish the flowers, yet wind and rain arrive; you delight in the moonlight, yet dark clouds cover it. All seems well before the banquet, but in the end disputes and quarrels may still arise.

The second lot is greatly auspicious and favorable for taking action and seeking progress.

You should look for a place to settle as early as possible; this will bring the prospect of gain. Strictly follow established rules and do not let the opportunity pass. Reforming abuses is something people have long hoped for. If you can act in accord with their wishes, you can accomplish great things.

A tiger comes out of the deep forest, and everyone must act together. Those who see it are bound to feel concern and suspicion. Though it may have no intention of harming anyone, it will still cause alarm, and the situation will seem dubious.

Life in the mountains is quiet and still; how could noisy guests appear there? You should focus on cultivating yourself and attending to your own affairs. For now, endure and remain steady in all matters. Even careful inner alchemical refinement—an image for cultivating and refining body and mind—will only waste your effort.

The Holy Pronouncement says: Follow the rules and conduct yourself according to established law. After a long period of quiet, consider taking action, and remain diligent and attentive throughout. Moving house is favorable, and seeking good fortune can fulfill your wishes. Marriage will be harmonious, illness will ease, and matters will proceed smoothly; there will also be good news in legal proceedings. Follow the guidance of this sacred lot, and the things you seek will go smoothly and bring benefit.

When asking about marriage, the signs are favorable. Be cautious and take your time when buying goods or property; selling goods is favorable. Moving is favorable. A lawsuit poses no serious problem, the household is safe, and family members are secure. Seeking an official post or promotion may take time, and the position or title is not yet settled. Treat illness as soon as possible. This is a good time to do good deeds and pray for blessings. Matters concerning the elderly are difficult, while those concerning the young may turn out either well or poorly.

Taking medicine may meet with obstacles, and the course of smallpox is uncertain. For a long journey, traveling in a small group is more favorable. Someone who has gone away will return; if they have not arrived within two months, they will come back after that. A lost item is at home: look for it soon, as it will be hard to find if you wait too long. If a member of the household has gone missing, the divination is favorable. You will see the traveler after some time, and news will arrive within a day or two. Sell goods or settle matters as soon as possible; delays will make them drag on. Pregnancy and childbirth may be difficult, and the child will be a girl. Doing good deeds and cultivating blessings now will help with the birth. Seeking medical care and enrolling in school are favorable. When asking someone to handle a matter, it is favorable for two people to work on it together. Business dealings are favorable. Paperwork may meet with obstacles, but will ultimately turn out well. When borrowing something from someone, it is more favorable to go with two others. Buy livestock, farmland, or a house as soon as possible to gain a profit.

Those who are bound by affinity will meet again and share in celebration. Even a withered poplar will bloom again on one side, a sign that circumstances are about to turn. Continue seeking a favorable outcome, and in time things will go as you wish.

Third lot: moderately auspicious; when misfortune reaches its extreme, good fortune follows. “When misfortune reaches its extreme, good fortune follows” means that hardship is coming to an end and favorable times are on their way.

You have exhausted yourself hoping for success, yet instead brought blame upon yourself, your face full of sorrow. Guard against losing a great deal of precious property. Why cling to trivial matters? It is better to hold to the middle way.

From now on, hardship will end and good fortune will arrive. The Longquan treasured sword has been polished, removing the dust and grime of the past. Do not think that keeping to your proper place leaves you with nothing more to hope for; even if you shut yourself away at home, you can still gain wealth.

Those who hold office will surely face slander and malicious gossip. Even if they obtain a position, promotion will come only later. For now, it is best to stay at home and keep to your proper place; in time, an outstanding person will come to your home.

The sacred oracle says: Your fortune is extremely unfavorable, and it will be hard to maintain your usual circumstances. Even after making every effort to keep busy, you may instead invite trouble. Losing something can lead to complications, and acting rashly is ill-timed. Think first about how to respond, make plans early, and keep a low profile. Overall, you are likely to lose money. Hold on to your present position and do not make changes lightly.

Questions about business, land and houses, household members, or livestock are all difficult to resolve. If a piece of merchandise seems suitable, buy it promptly. If the price must be raised further, it is better not to sell; keeping it may prove more advantageous. For illness, the outlook is worse for the elderly and for children. If an event does not come to pass right away, things may first turn bad and then improve.

The household is unsettled, and marriage is unfavorable for the husband. Undertakings take effort but yield little; farming is hard and the harvest poor, so it is best to keep things as they are. Selling goods is more favorable. Lawsuits are unlikely to go smoothly. Plans may meet with setbacks at first but could improve later. An established foundation is favorable, while a new venture will be hard to launch. Finding a missing person or animal will be difficult. Childbirth will be difficult, with danger to both mother and child; doing good deeds and praying for blessings may help bring about the birth of a son. Asking someone to handle a matter is unlikely to succeed, and obstacles may arise along the way. Documents and official paperwork are unfavorable and may lead to financial loss. Moving house is inauspicious. Borrowing or trading is unlikely to work out, and business is also unfavorable. Holding to the old situation may still bring good fortune, while making changes rashly will bring toil and danger. This is like a cauldron missing one of its legs: cooking must suit the conditions at hand, and should not be forced.

This is the fourth lot, graded “moderately favorable.” It advises the person seeking guidance to act cautiously and preserve what is already established.

Do not worry excessively over a minor illness, but time does not stop, and a good opportunity will not last. Make plans early and follow the proper course; perhaps you can avoid danger and protect yourself.

Toiling and worrying in pursuit of success, you must still wait for the flowers to bloom and the right moment to arrive. You will also need a little help from the Spring Deity, Dongjun, who governs spring. Time will continue to pass; if you plan early and follow the proper course, you may pass through danger safely. Perhaps another red flower will appear in the distance, a sign that a turning point is still possible.

When the wind rises, lightning follows, and thunder sounds like a messenger. There is a flood dragon in the water, and strange spirits appear on dry land. If you can face these two forces without fear and act in keeping with the season and its proper measure, that is the right course.

The meaning of the lot is this: In your affairs, act with care and attention to detail, keep to your proper place, and devote yourself wholeheartedly to the deities. Fulfill as soon as possible any vows you made in the past, lest disaster befall you. Lawsuits are unfavorable, and it is unwise to consult about marriage. It is best to postpone travel; those already on the road should proceed with caution. Finances are ordinary. A sick person may yet escape danger, but must still act in accordance with the Way of Heaven. Though there are obstacles at present, matters will gradually improve.

For questions about illness: If you have made a vow to the deities, the illness may first worsen and then improve. A prolonged illness is not necessarily cause for serious concern, but the outlook is less favorable for the elderly. Those suffering from smallpox should pray for protection. If complications arise in childbirth, act as quickly as possible. Overall, the outlook is again poor at first, then favorable. Profits from buying and selling will be modest; visit others sooner rather than later. If you have planted two or three kinds of crops, an early harvest is favorable, while delay is not. Settle the terms for goods as soon as possible. Marriage is inauspicious. Moving into a new home or changing residences is unfavorable. You may be thinking about traveling, but may not actually set out. A traveler you are waiting for should arrive in about two or three days; if they do not, there may be further delays. Legal proceedings, however, are favorable.

If you have lost money and want to buy livestock, it is best to do so quickly; delay may mean the purchase falls through. In seeking an official post or promotion, recognition will come late and may not meet your hopes. Buy goods or acquire land and property promptly; if you wait, the deal may not go through. A lost item may still be found, but if it has not turned up within a day, it may be difficult to recover. Act quickly, since delay can bring changes and affect the peace of your household and the well-being of your family. Prayers for protection can bring security, and requests made through an intermediary should be handled promptly. If a person of influence is slow to arrive, the matter may not succeed. Trade negotiations will be difficult to conclude; if you are in the business of selling goods, act quickly. Moving is inauspicious. Borrowing something, however, should go smoothly, with someone willing to help. A document may turn up soon, but will be hard to find if you wait too long. Delays in seeking medical care or pursuing studies make matters more difficult. Take precautions against risks at home as well. Even people deeply attached to one another may part. For now, a satisfactory outcome remains out of reach, so prepare in advance for possible losses.

Fifth Lot: Moderate fortune; favorable for seeking gain and taking action.

When people join together in consultation and planning, benefits will keep coming, and their aims will be fulfilled. Do not let this make you forget to do good and accumulate De (Virtue/Power). To keep yourself safe, be as cautious as a small boat amid wind and waves.

A boat sailing with the wind need not worry. The time is right to cross the river. Even the Great Wall, though thousands of miles away, may be reached; your plans can proceed smoothly and on schedule.

Two companions seeking profit through trade should set out from their local area at once. They may reach Chang’an in three, five, or seven days. Seize the right moment to trade your goods; do not linger in the marketplace, waiting and watching.

The lot interpretation says: This is an especially favorable time for trade. People will benefit by consulting and planning together in harmony. If asking about an elderly person’s illness, the situation is dangerous, like a lone boat drifting into peril. Marriage is auspicious, and the matter being sought can be pursued. The patient’s condition may improve and worsen in turn, but if there are no other ominous signs, there is no need for excessive worry. Someone who has set out will reach Chang’an—here, a general term for the destination—in three, five, or seven days. When delivering goods, do not cling to the market price; be prepared to act flexibly.

Another interpretation says: This is an especially favorable time for trade, and for making plans together in mutual accord. If asking about an elderly person’s illness, the circumstances are dangerous. Marriage is auspicious, and the matter being sought can be pursued. The patient’s condition may fluctuate, but as long as there are no other ominous signs, there is no need for concern. Someone who has gone away will return soon. A legal case will not lead to detention or prolonged entanglement. Fields and silkworm raising are both auspicious, and household life will be stable and comfortable.

If asking about money, buying and selling or acquiring goods will be favorable, but going into business with partners is inauspicious. Legal cases will proceed without trouble, marriage is auspicious, farming will yield a harvest, and travel will go smoothly. Someone who has gone away will arrive sooner or later. Seeking an official post or promotion is favorable, as is recovery from illness. People between thirty and fifty will meet with no obstruction in their affairs. Those over forty should decide promptly whether to advance or withdraw when circumstances arise, so as to stay safe. Smallpox will remain stable, though an elderly person may be in danger of losing their life. Buying fields or houses, or acquiring people or livestock, is auspicious. An elderly person in the household is at risk, while the young are safe. If you entrust someone with a task, acting quickly will bring success. Moving house is highly auspicious. A lost item will take some time to find. Plans can succeed, but it is best to carry them out within two or three days; delay will make success difficult. For childbirth, delivery on an even-numbered day is safer and more auspicious. Goods can be sold at a profit; trade and transport are also favorable. Transactions involving documents are unlikely to succeed.

The parts of the carriage have already been made, but a skilled artisan must still refine and fit them. Layer upon layer of mountains will eventually be woven into brocade; after the flowers fade, they will bloom again.

The sixth lot is greatly auspicious and suited to seeking profit and taking action. If you hope to establish a foundation through writing and learning, there is no need for repeated doubts or elaborate scheming. As long as you act with fairness, trade will naturally bring profit.

A pair of mandarin ducks is kept apart and flies away in separate directions; plans and the pursuit of wealth will not go as hoped for the time being. This is a time to keep to established ways and postpone change. For now, there is still hesitation about whether to advance or retreat. As long as you act fairly, trade will ultimately bring profit.

Staying in your home village is the right choice. If you want to move, there is no need for concern. Even in isolation, you will remain safe and unharmed. Profits and possessions will change in unpredictable ways.

The oracle says: Matters involving documents, examinations, or lawsuits will not bring loss. Plans and wishes will proceed safely and smoothly in every respect. If you ask about relations with friends or relatives, reconciliation is likely, and the related contracts and documents can also be completed. You will have the stronger case in a lawsuit, and an illness will not become critical. Taking action or moving house will not lead to any serious mistakes, provided you give the matter careful attention.

Earnings from seeking wealth will be modest, and you should be patient when visiting someone. Your financial prospects are fair; buying and selling goods are both auspicious. Handle troubling matters with care; the lawsuit is in your favor. The harvest will be small, and it is best to set out early when traveling. Someone you are waiting for will arrive soon. An elderly patient will face no serious danger; a young patient should recover in two or three days. If an illness has already lasted a long time, recovery will be more difficult. A pox will subside, and marriage arrangements will go smoothly. Marriage and moving into a home are auspicious, and everyone in the household will be safe. A transaction can be completed quickly; if delayed, it will be harder to bring about. Buying farmland or a house is greatly auspicious for the home and its occupants. Plans and undertakings will be difficult at first, then easier. Childbirth will be safe, and the birth of a boy is auspicious. Seeking an official post or promotion is greatly favored. Moving will go smoothly. Asking someone to handle a matter or dealing with documents will be difficult at first, then go well.

When a fish transforms into a dragon, circumstances will change. Do not say that the long rain will go on. The blue sky appears again, bringing joy; with one peal of spring thunder, the prolonged rain will cease.

The seventh lot: uppermost auspicious, the Fine Marsh hexagram, with the second line changing.

Fortune has just begun to emerge; things are auspicious.

When a fish transforms into a dragon, circumstances will change. Do not say that the long rain will go on. The blue sky appears again, bringing joy; with one peal of spring thunder, the prolonged rain will cease.

As soon as you gather your strength and sincerely pray to Heaven, a grave illness will swiftly improve, as though aided by divine power.

Young and old alike can receive this blessing. Your undertakings will be like farming in a year of plenty: the harvest will come smoothly.

A withered tree meets spring, and signs of blossoms gradually appear. Its branches suddenly flourish and new shoots emerge. Do not let anyone chop it down for firewood; when spring reaches its height, it will flower once more.

You had intended to travel to eastern Zhejiang to trade, but news arrives from Jiangxi of fresh tea. Set aside the trip to eastern Zhejiang for now. If you can buy the tea, things will go even better.

The oracle says: When the heart is single-minded and sincere, it is easy to communicate with the spirits. Even if you are caught in sorrow and hardship, there is no need for excessive worry. The sick will gradually recover, and old ailments can also be cured. Blessings come through Heaven’s protection and also depend on one’s own cultivation. Young and old in the household will be safe, and no one will be detained in a lawsuit. Plans and business ventures hold promise; farming and sowing will bring a good harvest.

There is perhaps only a thirty to forty percent chance of gaining wealth. Buying goods may become a burden, and selling them will take a long time. Legal cases are favorable, as are moving and getting out of disputes. Asking someone to handle a matter will cause delays. Goods involved in a transaction, or lost items, will be hard to recover. Travel will go smoothly, and those who are away will return within a day or two. The illnesses of the elderly and children are not serious; prayer to Heaven is advised. Pox will subside, an auspicious sign. Buying livestock, land or houses, or people, as well as marriage and plans for the future, will all be favorable. Though petty people may cause trouble while you conduct your affairs, there is no need to worry; losing money may even bring good fortune. The household and its members will be safe, and there will be good news in business. Childbirth will be safe, and seeking an official position will go smoothly.

You have not yet attained the rank of a high minister, but further advancement in your career remains possible. Though petty people may obstruct your affairs, they will cause no serious harm; losing money may even bring good fortune. The household and its members will be safe, and there will be good news in business. Childbirth will be safe, and seeking office will go smoothly.

You have not yet risen to the rank of a high minister, but your career prospects remain open. Spring’s scenery is boundlessly beautiful, as sunlight shines over the Jade Pool, the legendary garden where immortals dwell.

□□ Eighth Lot: A Very Inauspicious Lot; Stagnation and Holding to the Old (circumstances are blocked and unfavorable, so it is best to maintain the status quo).

Your foundations are precarious, and keeping them in place is exhausting. You bustle about all day, yet cannot see when the time is right.

Livestock may be lost; this is a minor concern. Pay closer attention to the people in your household, who may become a cause for worry.

It is like a fishing boat struggling upstream toward a shallow shoal: once it reaches this point, it can only stop and drift about.

You cross the shallow shoal before you and think that all will now go smoothly, only to find an even more difficult stretch of rapids ahead.

What you hope to accomplish will not be easy. If you force the matter, you may suffer losses instead.

This is a time when wealth may slip away and travel is difficult. The waves are fierce, and even a precious pearl may sink beneath them.

The lot’s meaning says: Though you originally had an inheritance from your ancestors, you failed to preserve it. Greed knows no contentment; you exhaust yourself scheming and making plans to no avail. Your property will suffer, and your family will grieve. Your plans are unlikely to succeed, and a sick person will recover slowly. You will lose a lawsuit, and any action you take may bring hardship and danger. For now, hold on to what you already have and make no other plans.

As for seeking wealth, profits from buying and selling will be limited. Be cautious and steady when purchasing goods; what you seek is unlikely to succeed. Though you have some grounds to rely on in a legal case, moving will be favorable. Goods will be difficult to sell, and a sick person will recover slowly. You will lose a lawsuit, and any action you take may bring hardship and danger. For now, maintain the status quo and make no other plans.

When divining about financial prospects, the scale of buying and selling will be modest; you can seek wealth steadily by stocking goods. What you have planned will be difficult to accomplish for now. In a lawsuit, you have sound grounds; moving house is auspicious. Goods may be slow to sell, and farming depends on the season. Travel is inauspicious. Someone who has set out will probably arrive in two or three days; if they still have not arrived by then, you may suffer a loss of property. An elderly person’s illness is dangerous, while a young person’s prolonged illness is unlikely to cause serious harm. Smallpox may be slow to heal, and business dealings are unfavorable. A first marriage presents no problem, but remarriage is unsuitable. Seeking a child is inauspicious. A lawsuit will be difficult at first but easier later. Buying farmland, a house, people, or livestock is inauspicious. Plans and undertakings are more likely to succeed, but a trading or transport business is unfavorable. Lost belongings will be hard to recover; someone in the household may face misfortune, an inauspicious sign. Childbirth and pregnancy may be difficult. Asking someone to handle a matter for you is unlikely to succeed, and an official appointment or promotion may remain unsettled for a long time.

The fortunes of your wealth and property depend on a change in timing. Why have things not yet fallen into place? It is like pointing a finger toward the slanting sun while a lone boat still refuses to stop.

Ninth Lot: Superior Fortune, Enjoying Blessings and Rising Beyond the Dust

For a long time, you have wanted to leave the past behind and begin anew. Now, at last, a favorable moment has arrived, and your wishes can unfold.

The household is safe and peaceful, with no other cause for worry. You should temper your ambition and keep away for a time from worldly turmoil, so that you may rise beyond the dust of ordinary life.

Orchids bloom in spring, their fragrance lovely and pleasing; chrysanthemums release their scent in autumn, even more beautiful.

Heaven and Earth each follow their own seasons and rhythms. They do not make everything bloom in order simply because people wish it.

You want to ask about the outcome of two matters. For now, you should only follow the moment, proceed with care, and remain mindful of what could go wrong.

Wait a little longer; the right moment will soon arrive. Though you cannot leave the worldly life behind all at once, you will make progress.

Orchids bloom in spring, their fragrance lovely and pleasing; chrysanthemums release their scent in autumn, even more beautiful.

Heaven and Earth each follow their own seasons and rhythms. They do not make everything bloom in order simply because people wish it.

You want to ask about the outcome of two matters. For now, you should only follow the moment, proceed with care, and remain mindful of what could go wrong.

Wait a little longer; the right moment will soon arrive. Though you cannot rise completely beyond the world, things will gradually improve.

Meaning of the Lot: When a period of obstruction and hardship reaches its end, a period of peace and flourishing will follow, giving you the chance to realize your ambitions. You will be content in the place where you have long lived, and your achievements will stand out from the crowd. Most of what you undertake or plan should go smoothly. If you cling to the old situation, you will remain ordinary and may hold yourself back through inaction. Transactions will meet no obstacles, and arrangements for land can be settled soon. If you make changes or take action, the outcome will surely satisfy you.

In seeking wealth, changing the present situation is likely to bring good fortune. Buying or selling goods, moving, and legal disputes are all auspicious. Most other undertakings are unlikely to achieve much; farming may yield only two or three tenths of a harvest. A first marriage is auspicious, while a second is merely average. Seeking children is auspicious. Travel is auspicious, and those away from home should return in about two or three days. An elderly person’s illness is unlikely to improve easily; a younger person’s illness may linger and also be difficult to cure. If smallpox strikes, praying for blessings may bring an auspicious sign. Lawsuits are auspicious. It is also auspicious to buy farmland, houses, people, or cloth. Plans are favorable, and matters should be handled as soon as possible. If something is lost, look for it immediately; if you wait too long, it will not be found. Seeking an official post or promotion is unlikely to succeed. The household will be safe; there is little need to discuss borrowing things. Pregnancy and childbirth will go smoothly. Documents may be delayed, but will ultimately bring favorable results. If a transaction drags on, it is unlikely to be completed; asking someone to handle a matter for you may not succeed, while doing business is highly auspicious.

There will be many matters to deal with over the coming months, so handle them as soon as possible. If something is lost, look for it immediately; if you wait, it will not be found. Seeking an official post or promotion is unlikely to succeed. The household will be safe; there is little need to discuss borrowing things. Pregnancy and childbirth will go smoothly. Documents may be delayed, but will ultimately bring favorable results. If a transaction drags on, it is unlikely to be completed; asking someone to handle a matter for you may not succeed, while doing business is highly auspicious.

For months, cloudy and rainy weather has been frequent. Light will return only toward evening. Look up at the sky: the dim moon will gradually become clear. This means that obstacles are common for now, but things will gradually become clearer later.

The tenth lot is supremely auspicious and signifies good fortune. A fine reputation spreads far and wide, and joyful events fill the household. Why does the phoenix appear as an auspicious omen? Because bright virtue can bring prosperity from generation to generation.

Bees gather the nectar of spring flowers both on level ground and on mountain peaks. After visiting all the flowers and making honey, for whom have they labored, and for whom is it sweet? These lines use bees gathering nectar as a metaphor for labor and its rewards.

The imperial examination list calls for worthy candidates, making this the right moment for a bold and capable person to sit the exam; spring is also about to enter the household. In the end, you can obtain an official post and distinguish yourself in office. Yet compared with holding office, a peaceful household and secure possessions are more practical blessings.

The lot says: when the noble person rises to power, the petty person falls from it. Seeking fame and success will go as hoped, and you will distinguish yourself at court. A pregnancy will result in the birth of a worthy son, and the household will enjoy abundant blessings in the years ahead. Presenting memorials and offering plans may give you a chance to gain the advantage and rank among the foremost. Ordinary people who draw this lot should not expect to become rich and powerful overnight. In general, they should maintain their existing way of life, and thereby avoid misfortune.

For financial gain, matters favor gentlemen and influential patrons. If petty people obstruct you, it is best to purchase goods only in small quantities. Goods put up for sale can be sold smoothly; moving house is auspicious, and lawsuits are favorable. Farming depends on the season. Ordinary transactions will generally succeed, but delays make success difficult. The home and family will be safe, and travel is auspicious. Petty people should keep to their old ways. Those who have gone away will arrive within a day or two.

Among the sick, older people and the young are less likely to recover; the same applies to cases of smallpox. In marriage, gentlemen and influential patrons offer help at first. Remarriage is auspicious, as are joining a household through marriage and entering a household in search of a child. Small-scale trade is favorable. Buying fields, houses, people, or livestock is auspicious with a gentleman’s help, but difficult when handled by petty people. Official documents and other written matters are favorable with an influential patron’s help, but unfavorable in the hands of petty people. Plans can be carried out: a gentleman may attain prominence, while a petty person gains nothing. In matters of childbirth, a gentleman may have a worthy son, while a petty person faces separation. Borrowing is auspicious for a gentleman, but of no use to a petty person. Search patiently for lost belongings. Moving house is auspicious; seeking medical care or an education is favorable. If you entrust a task to someone, a gentleman can complete it, while a petty person will prove ineffective. Seeking office, promotion, or accepting an appointment is auspicious.

Carry out your affairs calmly and steadily. Once you have settled yourself, your fortune will gradually improve. Though your glory is like a fading flower, it will regain its former appearance; the blossoms before you, too, will bloom abundantly.

The eleventh lot, a supreme auspicious lot: diligence in one’s affairs is advised.

Do not grieve over a long period of obscurity, unknown to others. Fortunately, among those gathered at the table is a rare and genuine scholar. Hold fast to your principles; you should not always withdraw from the world. Wait quietly as you undergo trials, and in time you will gladly set out on a path of success.

The prisoner will be released, and the dispute will be settled. Then you can buy sweet melons and visit a tavern.

By chance, you meet an old friend, and the two of you drink together. Once the bill is paid, you exchange gifts in return.

How could what you hoped for when you set out come true so quickly? Even if you hurry toward Chang’an, the journey will take three days. Better to stay at home and await news. In the end, this matter depends on you before you can attain glory.

The sacred oracle says: Those with talent and skill may remain trapped in worldly circumstances for a long time, unable to put their abilities to use. When the time comes, they will find a way forward, progress smoothly, and have a chance to make their plans succeed. This is an especially favorable time to take the initiative and make plans; do not hesitate or waver. Marriage will be stable, and you will not be disadvantaged in a lawsuit. Do not cling to old ways, however, or you may face suppression or setbacks.

When asking about wealth: A scholar who goes into business can make a substantial profit. The cost of buying stock will be low, and selling it will be easy. Moving house is inauspicious. A lawsuit is favorable, but many other matters will meet obstacles. Someone who is away may take two or three days to return.

When asking about wealth: A scholar who goes into business can make a substantial profit. The cost of buying stock will be low, and selling it will be easy. Moving house is inauspicious. A lawsuit is favorable, but many matters will meet obstacles. Someone who is away will arrive within two or three days; if they do not, reliable news will come, and travel will go smoothly. A sick person will begin to recover in three to five days. If the illness has lasted a long time, making a good vow may also bring improvement. Those with smallpox will fare well. Marriage will go smoothly, and moving into a new home or seeking wealth will also be auspicious. It is best to settle a lawsuit through reconciliation. Buying goods, land or a house, hiring people, or acquiring livestock may meet obstacles, but these matters are likely to succeed in the end. A pregnant woman will be safe and may give birth to a child of distinction. Act on matters as soon as possible; if you delay, they will be difficult to complete. It is auspicious to ask someone to intervene on your behalf. The household and its members will be safe. Good news will arrive concerning documents. Complete transactions promptly, as they will be difficult to finish if delayed. Moving and doing business are favorable; seeking medical care or official appointment, and gaining promotion or recognition, are also auspicious. Return borrowed items as soon as possible, or someone may damage them.

The desired outcome is already within reach, though others may not know it. When the time comes to rise like a dragon and leap from its mountain ravine, the welcome rain will arrive just in time.

The twelfth lot is the lowest lot, and concerns conduct that is impure and lacking in integrity.

Those who behave improperly deceive themselves and conceal the truth from Heaven. Spirits are always watching people’s words and actions. To treat this lightly and act recklessly will diminish one’s blessings. Know that no other good deed in the world can take the place of upright conduct.

Like willow fluff swept away by the wind, it vanishes without a trace. It is like King Xiang of Chu meeting a goddess in a dream, only for everything to disappear when he wakes. In the deep night, beneath the bright moon and a gentle breeze, petals fall in vain and scatter among the flowers.

To treat this lightly and act recklessly will diminish one’s blessings. Know that no other good deed in the world can take the place of upright conduct.

Like willow fluff swept away by the wind, it vanishes without a trace. It is like King Xiang of Chu meeting a goddess in a dream, only for everything to disappear when he wakes. In the deep night, beneath the bright moon and a gentle breeze, petals fall in vain and scatter among the flowers.

It is strange: I once knew someone who was poor at the time, but later came into money. If you are unwilling to apply yourself, you will ultimately gain nothing. Know that there will still be an opportunity ahead to bring matters to a successful conclusion.

People within and outside your circle may deceive you, so the spirits will not offer their protection either. Take care to guard against danger and misfortune in all your actions; whatever you plan or undertake, success will be hard to achieve. You should correct your faults and sincerely seek forgiveness; this may help avert disaster. If matters do not go as you wish for now, keep to the situation as it is. On the surface, this lot says “great fortune,” yet it also warns that many things may go wrong. It cautions against acting rashly.

For finances, trading and purchasing goods are relatively auspicious, and selling goods promptly may bring a profit. A lawsuit is relatively favorable, but moving house is not. Undertaking affairs or traveling on days or at times associated with four, twenty-six, forty-eight, or thirty-four (the numbers listed in the original; their precise meaning is unclear) is said to bring disaster. Those traveling away from home are expected to return within two or three days. If they do not arrive on time, they may have encountered difficulties on the road.

Regarding illness, pay attention to both the elderly and children. The original says “offended the earth and made a vow,” meaning that one may have offended the earth deity or made a vow or prayer that was not properly fulfilled. Pray to the ancestors or household spirits and fulfill the vow as soon as possible; delay may bring harm. Those living away from their clan and hometown may face danger while traveling. Smallpox is inauspicious, but rest and careful recuperation are favorable. Marriage and moving into a new home are both highly inauspicious. Seeking a government post, promotion, or recognition is unlikely to succeed. Buying farmland, property, people, or livestock is inauspicious, and plans or undertakings are likewise unfavorable. Pregnancy and childbirth may be difficult, and the household and its members may be unsettled; prayers for blessings and protection are advised. Entrusting someone with a task is unlikely to succeed, and finding a person or object will also be difficult.

Matters that were going smoothly may turn into hardship, bringing greater anxiety. You have not yet passed through the present danger. Pray for blessings and protection to avert misfortune.

□□ Thirteenth Lot, Moderate Fortune: It is advisable to hold to the present situation.

Conduct yourself with respect and diligence, and do not neglect the spirits. Deal fairly with others in business. Rash action may bring resentment and retribution. It is better to steady your mind and, for the time being, hold on to what you already have.

Flowers will bloom and bear fruit, and happy events will arrive at the right time. This depends on the growth and changes of spring and the natural turning of things. What you seek and plan will eventually go smoothly, and you may return home in glory.

Matters will gradually improve, and the timing will grow more favorable; one period in particular will go especially well. When the time is right, you may act, but do not become careless because things are going well for the moment. You may return home in glory and pay your respects to your parents.

The lot’s message is this: keep respect in your heart and wait patiently. When the time is ripe, a better period will arrive. Act in accordance with the season and do not slacken; you may return home in glory and pay your respects to your parents.

The divine message says: Keep reverence and faith in your heart at all times, and do not neglect the spirits. Act fairly and do not deceive others. If you make others resent you, you may bring trouble upon yourself. It is best to seek calm and keep to your proper place. This is not the time to pursue new ventures: hold on to what you already have and wait for circumstances to change.

In matters of money, steadily trading goods brings no good fortune, and recklessly using your assets does no good either. Legal disputes are unfavorable; farming depends on the season. Travel will not go smoothly, and those who have gone far away have not yet returned. Whether young or old, if illness drags on, patiently recuperate and wait for the right moment. In an acute illness, escape from danger may not come quickly, so pray for the spirits’ protection. The same applies to smallpox. Marriage and taking a son-in-law into the household are ordinary prospects, as is seeking a child. Search patiently for people or belongings that have gone missing; they may turn up later. Put off buying land, houses, dependents, or livestock. An official appointment or promotion may be possible if there is a recognized basis for it. The household is safe, and plans may succeed, but patience is needed; do not press ahead too quickly. Pregnancy and childbirth can be approached with confidence: the course should be smooth, though somewhat difficult. Borrowing something is unlikely to go as hoped. Be patient when seeking medical care or learning a craft. Moving house is unfavorable, and the relevant documents will be slow to arrive.

With your thoughts in turmoil and unable to make up your mind, do your utmost in farming or in pursuing your plans. Wait for the right moment, and you will have a chance to put your abilities to use. When the dark clouds disperse, the moon will appear again.

The fourteenth lot is of the lowest grade and signals unrest.

Disputes and quarrels keep arising, and lawsuits drag on without end. Money is lost, friends and relatives are scattered, and setbacks abound. Protect yourself, keep away from trouble, and carefully examine your own faults.

Dragons and serpents are mixed together, and the situation is temporarily beyond control. Before fortune changes, it is hard to make your abilities count. Only when the day comes to soar among the clouds and return to the sea may the dragon’s powers become visible again.

Hearing that the road ahead is dangerous can make setting out seem difficult. Yet what looks hard may not truly be impassable. If you can begin the journey and cross the water, you may still return safely after completing your business.

The divine message says: Disputes entangle you as people compete to bring lawsuits. Friends and relatives are scattered, and money is lost; the trouble is difficult to dispel. Do not chase after action or launch anything rashly; you may yet be able to protect yourself. Traveling far is unfavorable, and marriage is unlikely to succeed. The sick have not yet recovered, and should pray for Heaven’s protection. Keep to your usual place and proper duties to avoid disaster.

Inquiries about business indicate that buying stock is inauspicious, while selling goods is more favorable. A lawsuit will come to no harm. The sick will suffer financial loss. If a taboo has been violated through construction or ground-breaking, perform acts of merit and pray for protection. The crops are not yet ready for harvest. Those traveling far from home will return soon; setting out yourself is unfavorable, and you may encounter misfortune. Lost items will be hard to find, business dealings will not go smoothly, and marriage is unfavorable. Buying land, a house, people, or livestock is also unfavorable. Documents are ill-timed, and borrowing something is unlikely to go as hoped. There will be unrest among the household members. Seeking office or promotion will be difficult for now; moving house is unfavorable, and asking someone to handle a matter will not go smoothly. In childbirth, either the mother or the child may suffer harm, which is inauspicious.

When sorrow turns into words, what is heard is mostly untrue. The scene ahead is dim, as if one has lost the way. A beautiful woman goes to the well to draw water, but in the end returns empty-handed.

□□, Lot Fifteen, supreme auspiciousness: uphold integrity and the virtue of the year.

Matters have already been properly arranged and accord with the principles of Heaven. Do not believe the words of shamans and spirit mediums, or let them stir up discord.

Hold firmly to the right way and do not follow others down crooked paths. In this way, the household will naturally prosper and its reputation shine.

Tonight the moon rises from the sea. People of this age are moved to admire it, radiant as spring.

Where the moonlight shines clear, the stars recede. When a noble person plans a career, an official position will come within reach.

Last year, one was still living quietly here. Now, returning once more, one has simply revisited a familiar place.

This is a favorable time to seek wealth and live in peace and good fortune. But those around you have already been driven away by evil people.

The lot’s meaning is this: When a person accumulates good deeds over a long time, they may face obstacles for now, but in the end things will gradually open up. Seeking the gods’ guidance through divination and making wild guesses are often futile. Stand firm in what is right, and do not grow weary because circumstances are difficult. Great achievements come late; when the time is right, a fitting opportunity will appear. Press forward and seek good fortune, and your undertakings will go smoothly. The sick will recover on their own. Beyond that, there is no need to become suspicious or superstitious about other matters.

In matters of wealth, buying and selling are both auspicious, including selling goods. Farming will miss the proper season, and the harvest will be meager. It is better to delay purchasing farmland or a house, and matters concerning the household’s people, cattle, and horses. Travel is best postponed until the date named in the lot or the change of a solar term. Those who are away on long journeys will arrive on the first, eighth, fifteenth, or twenty-third day of the month. Asking someone to handle a matter will be difficult at first and easier later.

If the question concerns illness, it is a kind of cold damage disease. For both young and old, the illness may drag on, with a change in its course only when the solar term changes. Those who develop smallpox should pray for blessings and protection, and the condition may remain stable. A woman asking about illness receives an inauspicious sign. Marriage will be delayed, and someone may try to obstruct it. Remarriage, or bringing a second wife into the household, can succeed. Having a child will take time, but the outcome will eventually be auspicious. Legal disputes are favorable. Lost objects and missing people will not be found until the solar term changes. Asking someone to handle a matter remains difficult at first and easier later.

Plans can succeed, but only if they are carried out around a festival or the change of a solar term; if delayed, they will bring little gain. Moving house will be beneficial only after a delay, and documents will also arrive late. For those seeking office or promotion, the appointment will take effect only when the solar term changes, after the paperwork is complete. Pregnancy and childbirth will come around the change of a solar term, and a child of distinction may be born. The household and its members will remain safe and settled. Borrowed items will be returned after a delay, with little to show for it.

The jade has not yet been clearly distinguished, and worry fills the heart as doubts deepen. Ahead lies a broad, open road. When the flowers bloom, signs of withering are already on the branches.

The Sixteenth Lot, the lowest grade. Keep to your proper place. On a dangerous path, you encounter a hungry tiger; crossing the water by boat, you meet raging waves. By keeping to your place and living quietly, you may yet weather disaster. You should repay others’ labor with kindness.

An oil lamp, once lit, is easily extinguished. You have only just raised the wick to make it burn brighter, and soon it dims again. Constantly struggling to adjust the wick is futile; better to withdraw and go home in good time. To seek wealth, you must understand the principles involved and judge the market. Remember, too, to repay others’ labor with kindness. An oil lamp, once lit, is easily extinguished; just as you make it brighter, it begins to fade. Struggling without end is futile, so withdraw in good time.

To seek wealth, you must understand the market and how it works. By the time you see things clearly, the profit may have been substantial; yet the price stays high for only three days, then suddenly falls on the fourth, like a clap of thunder across a clear sky.

Forgetting the root and chasing after the branches, while indulging excessive greed, is like encountering a ferocious tiger on land or having your boat sink while crossing water. For now, it is best to hold to what is already in place and avoid rash action. Only after your efforts have brought some return will you be able to rest. When circumstances improve, even a long illness will gradually heal. At present, most matters are ill suited to action; if you lose all restraint, you will only add to your worries. Recognize your mistakes and correct them. Only after enduring this spring and autumn will a change for the better come.

As for wealth, doing business alone is risky. Buying goods is unfavorable, but selling them off is auspicious. A lawsuit should not cause serious trouble, though after a transaction is completed, disputes and arguments may arise. Travel is unfavorable. Those who have gone away will return soon; if they have still not arrived within a day or two, something inauspicious may have happened. Moving house is unfavorable: older people may be delayed and held back for a long time. Younger people should practice goodness, accumulate De (Virtue/Power), and pray for the ancestors’ protection to avoid calamity. Marriage and moving into a new home are both unfavorable. The household should pray for protection against danger. Requests made through an intermediary are unlikely to succeed; lost things will be hard to find, news difficult to obtain, and arguments may arise. Pregnancy and childbirth will not go smoothly, so prayers for protection are advised. Seeking an official post or promotion will not bring a secure title.

To turn things toward good fortune, you will have to cross one mountain range after another. Returning to your hometown to handle affairs is also unlikely to succeed. Lost things will be hard to find and news hard to obtain, and disputes may arise. Childbirth will be difficult; prayers for protection are advised. Seeking office or promotion will not bring the desired title. To attain good fortune, you may still have to pass through many obstacles; returning home may only bring sorrow. A lone boat lies beneath the moon—who could know its desolation?

Lot Seventeen, the lowest of the low lots: Wait for the right moment and act with goodness.

Worries and calamities have their causes. Plans meet setbacks, and money may be lost.

There is little need for the young and frail to worry excessively, though matters will drag on for a long time. The elderly, however, should fear that sorrowful events may befall them.

At first things may seem to go well, only to end in loss. Though you are now in a troubling and precarious situation, matters may not actually reach their worst.

If you receive help from a noble person, even a withered tree a thousand years old can sprout branches and leaves again.

Time is pressing, like a sudden gust of wind that passes in an instant, and circumstances may change direction between morning and evening. If you delay for more than three days, trouble may come. Set out at once; the journey is best undertaken now.

The sacred pronouncement says: Breaking ground or building at the four corners of a house may offend the Earth Court, the direction and taboos governed by the earth deities, and thus bring calamity. To avert disaster, especially if a long illness has not healed, do not delay. The elderly and frail are at a disadvantage, but the young in the household will be unharmed. Perform a rite of appeasement as soon as possible to pray for calamity to be dispelled; afterward, circumstances will gradually improve. Plans will proceed slowly but can ultimately succeed. Marriage, too, requires patient waiting. All matters face obstacles and their fortunes rise and fall unpredictably. For now, it is better to follow these changes and wait for the right moment.

At present, divination about trade is favorable. Buying goods and stocking food are both auspicious, and selling goods is also suitable. After seeds are sown in the fields, the seedlings may fail to thrive. Travel is inauspicious. Someone who has been away from home for many days will return, but the journey will be delayed and obstructed. For questions about illness, take care with both the elderly and children. If the illness is caused by a ground demon, make offerings as soon as possible to deceased ancestors or relatives. The elderly person’s illness may be difficult to overcome. Jaundice and sores heal slowly; treatment can be timed according to the Seventy-Two Pentads, the traditional seasonal divisions of climate.

A missing person is far away and difficult to find. Paperwork is hard to complete. A first marriage will be delayed; remarriage is inauspicious and may affect the household. Having a child may take time, but the final outcome is auspicious. It will be difficult to borrow things, and trade and business are unfavorable. Divination about a lawsuit is auspicious. Buying farmland or a house, as well as adding household members, is unfavorable. Moving is inauspicious, and plans are hard to bring to fruition. Pregnancy and childbirth should proceed smoothly and quickly; delays may make it difficult to receive protection. Asking someone to handle a matter can succeed, and there is hope of securing an official post or promotion. Paying a visit to a person of rank is auspicious. It is better to wait before receiving acupuncture treatment.

Dark clouds gather in layers; for now, efforts to gain recognition may not succeed. Avoid disturbing the earth in the four directions and at the four corners. Praying for blessings and warding off misfortune can preserve peace and safety.

This is the eighteenth lot, of middling fortune, and counsels you to follow circumstances. The current period favors drawing in and storing away, making it best for harvesting and preserving what you have. Act in keeping with opportunity and do not force things from outside. Those with long-term illness and the elderly who are frail should be cared for and protected. Matters are more likely to go smoothly and settle well in the Plum Month and the Twelfth Month, the fifth and twelfth months of the lunar calendar.

Raising you has taken many years. Now the cage is opened, but that person is nowhere to be seen, leaving your heart troubled. Perhaps he is by the river on an autumn day; yet, with only the bright moon and reed flowers before him, he does not know where to search.

It is best to keep to your proper place and live quietly. As for your financial prospects, the profit you receive will become clear to you: this sign of peaceful and favorable fortune will bring you much joy, and when the time is right, you may gain abundance within a single day.

The overall meaning of this fortune is that affairs tend to go smoothly in spring and summer, while autumn and winter bring more obstacles. If an older person falls ill, it is advisable to pray for blessings. Those traveling far may also pray for protection, so their journey is not delayed. Act according to the season in all matters; praying for blessings and safety can ease one’s worries.

For seeking wealth, spring and summer are favorable. When selling goods, proceed within your means. Farming will yield a harvest. In lawsuits, spring and summer are relatively smooth, while autumn and winter are unfavorable. For someone who has been ill for a long time, the illness is likely to be milder in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, older people may find it harder to recover, while younger people are less affected. Pray for blessings and make a good vow. For pox eruptions—a traditional term for rash illnesses such as smallpox—spring and summer are favorable, while autumn and winter are unfavorable.

Set out on journeys in good time. Those traveling in spring and summer may arrive in about three days; in autumn and winter, they may encounter delays. For marriage, the match may be settled and the bride welcomed into the household. For seeking a child, the first half of the year is favorable, while the second half is unfavorable and may bring misfortune. Documents, trade, and business dealings are unlikely to go smoothly. Buying land or a house, or adding household members, is also unfavorable. Lost items will be hard to find. The household is in an unfavorable position. If borrowing something, it may be possible in the first half of the year, but difficult in the second. Entrusting someone with a task is favorable in the first half of the year and unfavorable in the second. Spring and summer are suitable for moving house. A birth may bring a distinguished son, and childbirth in autumn or winter should also pose no serious problem. Plans are likely to succeed. Sell goods as early as possible, and spring is a good time to buy them.

From then on, auspicious events are likely to occur often. The family’s livelihood will be abundant, and the household will be protected and supported. In the twelfth lunar month, if a favorable opportunity arises, that is the right time to pursue an ambitious plan.

The nineteenth fortune is of the highest auspicious grade and is titled “Fine Wood Meets Spring.” All things grow up from the soil as spring arrives; the warm breath of spring quietly returns, and the scene is renewed. If one’s fortune and actions happen to meet this favorable season, then after a long period of hardship, good days for putting one’s talents to use may be expected. As spring deepens, clouds gather and rain falls; plans and the pursuit of wealth are mostly likely to go well. In disputes and court cases, one is likely to be in the right, and benefactors and joyful events will follow one after another.

Do not listen to others’ talk about who is right or wrong. Even if you gain something for now, it will not amount to much. Look for another suitable path, which may prove more beneficial. After some time, your fortunes will turn favorable and things will go smoothly.

The verse says: The old passes and the new arises; your livelihood gradually flourishes. Plans are likely to succeed, and seeking an official title may bring you recognition. Those traveling afar will have a clear passage, and lawsuits will not lead to punishment. If obstacles arise in autumn or winter, many matters will be delayed and hard to resolve. Divinations made in spring or summer are auspicious, and affairs will proceed smoothly. A pregnant woman will be safe, with no need to fear danger.

For wealth, trade is more favorable in spring and summer. Spring is a good time to buy goods, and the twelfth lunar month is also favorable; other months are not. Selling goods will be slow. Lawsuits pose no serious problem. In farming, sow in spring and harvest in autumn; the yield will be average. It is easy to borrow things in spring, but difficult in other months. Travel is auspicious. If you ask in spring about someone traveling afar, news may arrive; departures in other months are likely to be delayed or may not take place. If the patient is elderly or a child, spring, summer, and the tenth lunar month are more auspicious; recovery in other months will be slower and more difficult. Documents and written matters proceed more smoothly in the first, second, and tenth lunar months, and are easily delayed in other months. A first marriage is auspicious, but remarriage is unfavorable; it is best to seek a child sooner rather than later. The household and its members will be safe; spring and the tenth lunar month are more favorable, while other times are less smooth. For plans and undertakings, the first and tenth lunar months bring financial luck; other months are unsatisfactory. Asking someone to handle a matter for you is more likely to succeed in spring and the tenth lunar month, and less likely in other months. Giving birth in spring may bring a distinguished son; giving birth in autumn or winter is unfavorable.

Relentless rain and snow blanket the land in layer upon layer. The tender willow branches must wait until spring to meet a favorable season. Most plans are much the same: for now they are held back, and their promise will show only when the time turns favorable.

This lot is ranked number twenty and is a most inauspicious lot, signifying danger and emptiness: what is sought may come to nothing or prove difficult to bring about. When an urgent matter arises, even sincere prayers to the gods may not immediately lift the many layers of difficulty. In a perilous situation, safety may be hard to secure, and what you hope for seems unlikely to succeed. It is like having a boat but no oars: you cannot steer it or carry people across, and the current may sweep it out to sea, making the situation even more precarious.

Alas, people in the world often seek what they cannot obtain. Instead, they are led astray, rushing from place to place.

Some find that nothing goes smoothly when they try to handle affairs. By the time they finally bring something to completion, they themselves have already passed away.

If you keep asking, the outcome will not be auspicious. If you have already asked and received this lot, set your mind at ease for now.

The lot says: People’s hearts have grown lax, and they show no respect for the spirits. If you seek an oracle about danger or calamity, peril is likely; if you ask about illness, it will drag on. Plans are hard to bring to success, and marriage is difficult to arrange. For now, it is best only to cultivate virtue and pray for blessings, seeking the spirits’ protection so that affairs may be completed. In lawsuits, your case lacks merit; in trade, losses are likely. If you wish to travel and handle business successfully, pray to Heaven as soon as possible.

Asked about finances: It is auspicious to acquire goods in small quantities; if you sell them off, you can free yourself from the burdens associated with them. Asked about a lawsuit: Progress will be obstructed. Asked about marriage: Auspicious. Other matters: They can be accomplished. Farming: It is unwise to cultivate the land. Asked about illness: It may be held back because the household spirits have been offended. The illness is serious, so pray for blessings and the removal of misfortune. Though it has dragged on for a long time, the condition is still unsettled; it usually begins severely and then eases, but beware of another illness taking hold. Travel is unfavorable, and those traveling far have not yet arrived. Buying fields, houses, or people is inauspicious: even if the transaction is completed, it will not last. A missing person or lost object will be hard to find; asking someone to handle a matter poses no serious problem. Documents and correspondence are likely to come to nothing, and the household and its members are unsettled. It will be hard to borrow what you need. Seeking an official post or promotion, or requesting an audience with a person of influence, is unlikely to go smoothly or turn out as hoped.

Twenty-first lot, the lowest of the low: Hold to the old ways and meet obstruction; affairs are delayed.

Fine jade and bright pearls are hard to obtain, because good fortune and celebration must accord with virtue accumulated in the past.

If you can understand the truth about lifespan and Heaven’s mandate, you will no longer spend your days in restless labor and worry, working in vain until your hair turns white.

The Kun fish transforms into the great Peng bird, as waves surge across the sea. When Yin-Yang Qi is harmonized and joined, peace can prevail throughout the realm.

An ordinary person suddenly gives rise to lofty ambition. Even standing on level ground, they can make a sound like thunder that shakes the four quarters.

The situation at hand is difficult. Day after day, you turn it over in your mind, hoping to change your former circumstances.

The chance to trade and seek wealth has already passed. When spending money, do not let this make you lose heart.

The lot says: Accumulate virtue and do good, and blessings and joy will come to your household; accumulate evil and commit violence, and calamity will descend upon it. This is the natural principle of cause and effect, so do not sink into sorrow and distress over it. It will be difficult for children to survive, and going out or returning is inauspicious. For now, do not undertake any major affairs; hold to your original resolve and keep to your course.

In seeking wealth, dealing in or buying and selling secondhand goods is favorable; selling other items is unfavorable. Farming will bring a harvest, though it will not be abundant. Travel is unfavorable, and those going on long journeys may fall ill. For people both young and old, the next day or two should go fairly smoothly; if matters are delayed, difficulties will arise, and jaundice or sores may also result.

Marriage is auspicious, but seeking a child is unfavorable. A transaction will be difficult to conclude, while a lawsuit is favorable. Buying land or a house, or purchasing people or livestock, is unfavorable. Lost things will be hard to recover, and plans will be difficult to carry through successfully. Childbirth will not go smoothly; borrowing things is unfavorable, as is learning a skill. Seeking an official post or fame will not bring the hoped-for result for now. Moving is unfavorable, as is asking someone to handle a matter for you; paperwork will be difficult to complete.

The bright moon is veiled by dark clouds, so the road ahead should not be traveled too far. Seeking wealth may easily bring losses, and illness or misfortune has yet to improve.

□□ The Twenty-Second Lot: Greatly auspicious; what follows will be even more auspicious.

Practice your craft diligently and devote yourself to the study of learning; keep your nature clear and calm, lucid as deep water.

You have long possessed precious talents. How could they lack value? Only when you are truly recognized will you know how much they are worth.

The phoenix flies out from the woods, spreading its wings as it comes, surpassing all the other birds.

One day, your name will rise to prominence and you will enter court as an official. People in all four directions will admire you and spread your reputation.

Mount your horse and set out on the long road, urging it on with firm strokes of the whip. Perhaps within a day or two, you will be able to travel to court.

To live freely as a guest in the capital and take up an official post soon seems to be your destined good fortune.

The lot’s meaning is this: You have always studied diligently and accumulated knowledge, but your fortune has not yet turned in your favor, and you have long been mired in hardship. For now, the plans you have made are difficult to bring to fruition. When the right moment arrives, your former circumstances will improve again, and even a withered tree will put forth new growth. Do not worry too much; many things will eventually be accomplished. A lawsuit will be favorable, your undertakings will go as you wish, your plans will succeed, and your comings and goings will all go smoothly.

In matters of wealth, trade currently brings only a small profit. Goods are inexpensive when purchased, but selling them requires waiting for some time. Travelers will arrive, and lawsuits will turn out favorably. Long-distance travel is unfavorable. Among the sick, the elderly and young children may be more seriously ill, but there is no grave danger; jaundice and skin sores remain stable. Crops are growing well, though a harvest is not guaranteed. Marriage and seeking a child are unfavorable.

It is suitable to buy farmland or a house, add household members, or acquire livestock; the people in the household will be safe. Plans and undertakings can succeed, but it is better to proceed slowly and wait until later, when the outcome will be more favorable. Lost belongings will take a long time to recover; borrowing things will be favorable later. Business and trade are auspicious, and it is better to move later. Pregnancy is more likely to bring a boy, and the child will be clever and fortunate. It is better to seek medical care or pursue studies later. The prospects for seeking office or promotion are favorable in the long run. Written matters are very auspicious, and waiting a little is also favorable. Transactions should be completed promptly; delay is unfavorable.

Reform initially brings changes, and conditions may seem unsettled on the surface, but the way gradually opens. Matters involving documents, planning, postal relay, and stipends can ultimately be completed, bringing a year of abundant harvest and good fortune.

This is the twenty-third lot, of moderate fortune, symbolizing a period when one’s luck is obstructed.

Things remain, but circumstances among people have changed; do not dwell on this. There is a risk of injustice and litigation, which may instead lead both sides to press one another. Though your heart is as clear as a bright mirror, your fortune is out of season, and blessings have yet to arrive.

The courtyard to the east is full of peach trees, but when they bloom, wind and rain strike. You had hoped to gather peaches to eat, yet now, when the time has come, nothing is left.

What, after all, is the wondrous art of the immortals? If you can cultivate yourself beyond the ordinary world, you may attain the Dao and refine the Neidan (internal alchemy). When the right moment arrives, you can ascend through the Golden Gate, the gateway to the immortal realm.

The lot poem explains that fortune is troubled, with many setbacks and disputes; however much effort you expend, worry is hard to avoid. You should hold to established ways and wait for the right moment. Things begin inauspiciously but end well, and your plans will be delayed. Marriage will take a long time to come about; those involved in lawsuits face no danger. Take a relaxed and patient approach to everything; there is no need for worry or doubt.

In matters of wealth, the later a transaction takes place, the more favorable it will be. It is suitable to buy goods, while selling goods or lending money should also be postponed. In all matters, remain calm and steady. Travel is ordinary, and the traveler has not yet arrived. Though you may feel inclined to act, you will remain inactive, and matters will be obstructed, leaving you worried and uncertain.

For seeking wealth and asking about business, purchasing goods is suitable, and the later the transaction takes place, the more favorable it will be. Money or goods lent out should also be dealt with later rather than sooner. For other matters, it is best to wait calmly and steadily. Travel will be safe, but the person you are waiting for has not yet arrived. Though you have plans in mind, circumstances are holding you back. If you face a lawsuit, it is best to encourage reconciliation, and trouble will be avoided. An elderly person with typhoid fever should not be visited outside the home; an illness that has lingered for a long time may become serious, but someone with smallpox will be safe. It is more auspicious to delay buying land or a house, or adding a new member to the household; the family will remain safe. Lost belongings will be hard to recover. Plans will be difficult at first but will go smoothly later. Moving is auspicious. A government post or public recognition is not yet within reach, but the eventual outcome will be very favorable. Documents cannot be completed for now, but may succeed later. You will be able to borrow what you need, but it is best to wait before asking someone to handle a matter for you.

You gaze inwardly toward the bright moon, yet after reunion comes separation. Though your efforts bring a lovely prospect for now, you should remain cautious throughout life and avoid becoming excessively fervent or attached.

The Twenty-Fourth Lot: Supreme Auspiciousness, signifying benefit and blessing.

A hero’s spirit runs high, fortune in wealth is strong, and auspicious spirits offer protection. When you act according to your wishes, you will naturally win people’s trust. If you are generous, you should dare to take risks, as though venturing into a tiger’s lair. Then, through diligent effort, you will carry the task through and ultimately gain a precious reward, like obtaining a dragon pearl.

The bright moon hangs high, shining everywhere. Its radiance dispels confusion. Your plans can succeed and bring recognition, and good fortune will come to your household. This is a time of prosperity and flourishing, with auspicious spirits lending their support. Things will go as you wish, and it will be easy to gain people’s trust. Dare to take responsibility and work hard to carry things through; in the end, you will gain a precious reward. The moon shines in every direction, dispelling darkness and bewilderment. Your plans can come to fruition, your household will be blessed, and this is the right time for prosperity and success.

If you wish to make this matter even more auspicious, do not entrust it to someone else. If you hand it over to another person, things may go astray. Cultivate your nature early and distance yourself from worldly distractions, so that entanglements in worldly affairs do not throw everything into confusion.

The lot’s meaning is this: it corresponds to someone of strong, bold character, suited to pursuing lofty goals. The spirits will lend their aid, and you will gain both material benefit and moral integrity. Whatever you do, whether advancing or withdrawing, you will win the confidence of those around you; there is no need to worry over legal proceedings. A pregnancy will bring a noble son, and all kinds of matters will proceed smoothly in succession. The sick will recover soon, and the news you hope for will arrive before long. Your plans can succeed, and you may receive a promotion.

In seeking wealth, those engaged in trade and those with renown or status have better financial prospects. Ordinary people should avoid buying goods, as they may be hard to sell once they accumulate. In marriage, after the couple has joined households, one partner may be quick-tempered and stubborn, making communication difficult for a time. Yet the relationship can endure, and the outcome will be auspicious. Documents and official matters are favorable, as are travel and seeking office or wealth. Ordinary people face unfavorable prospects, and those away from home have not yet returned. Among the sick, the elderly and young children may suffer some pain and recover slowly, but their condition is not serious. Borrowed items will be difficult to retrieve. Plans can be carried out, though the beginning will be difficult and things will go smoothly later. Lost people or belongings will be hard to find, but a transaction will ultimately succeed. Continuing in trade will bring benefits, and seeking office or promotion favors gaining rank and recognition. Entrusting someone with a task will also be difficult at first, then easier.

The Twenty-Fifth Lot, a Very Inauspicious Lot: No calamity, but action is ill-advised.

The current period is fraught with danger, and good fortune has yet to arrive. Keep out of the limelight and stay hidden; do not act rashly. In business, it is best to stick with established methods. Plans that seem clever are often attractive only on the surface. What you hope to accomplish cannot yet come to pass, and the road to fame and success remains long. It is auspicious to remain calm and keep to your old ways; in time, you will become prominent. Once the time is right and matters are in place, the results will earn praise. Persevere over the long term, and you will eventually prosper and grow wealthy. Things in the world succeed and fail amid many changes; a melon may look large, yet taste both bitter and sweet.

The lot’s meaning is that the times are difficult and one’s fate is unfavorable, so it is best to withdraw and avoid danger. Even if you force yourself to act, you will find it hard to sustain your efforts. You may encounter thieves while traveling, and journeys by the elderly are especially likely to be futile. Crops will yield poorly, and marriage matters will bring many complications. For now, simply hold to your established way of life and do not act rashly.

In seeking wealth, do not rush to sell goods; they may be difficult to move. Even if you press ahead with farming, it will be hard to see lasting results. Travel may bring encounters with thieves, and journeys by the elderly are futile. Crops will yield poorly, and marriage matters will be beset by complications. For now, keep to your old ways and make no new plans.

For questions about money and profit, it is best to wait and see. Do not rush to buy or sell goods; a sale may be delayed. Crops may sprout, but the harvest will be poor. The sick will be unsettled, and jaundice sores are especially dangerous. Travel is unfavorable, though someone you are waiting for will arrive. Trade and transport are unlikely to bring profit, and moving house will also go poorly. A marriage may fall through because of a dispute, and lawsuits are inauspicious. Transactions may be difficult to complete, and even if concluded, they will be unstable.

When buying fields or a residence, profit is still possible if the land, household members, and livestock are already part of the family’s inherited estate. Otherwise, there is no benefit. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and even if carried out, they may not last. Lost items will be hard to find. Borrowed items may be returned, but little will be gained. Pregnancy and childbirth may be difficult to safeguard, but there is no grave danger. Entrusting someone with a task can bring it to completion. For a time, there will be little peace among the household members, and matters involving documents will also go poorly. There may be a chance to seek office or promotion, but the appointment will not last.

The Twenty-Sixth Lot is of middling fortune and is governed by impartial justice.

Natural disasters and difficult circumstances come with one’s allotted fate. Sincere prayers alone may not move Heaven. Good outcomes and karmic ties have long been arranged in the unseen; one cannot rely on selfish motives to protect oneself.

Stay settled and tend to the family’s existing livelihood. The household may prosper, with signs of increased income and promotion, though an appointment will not last. Clouds gather in the sky and thunder sounds on the earth. Advancement in office and a rise in reputation may bring honor and wealth to the family. By keeping to the Dao and acting accordingly, there is still hope of gaining wealth; when a suitable opportunity arises, act with discretion. If the question concerns a lawsuit, it may ultimately reach the prefectural authorities or even a higher court.

The lot’s message says: One must endure all kinds of natural disasters and hardship, and should not expect to escape without loss. The spirits are impartial and will not favor those who flatter or curry favor. For smallpox, there is no need to use medicine; do not be quick to believe claims of evil spirits or rely on shamans. It is fitting to appeal in a lawsuit, though it will be difficult to make plans at the outset. Do not act rashly in any matter. Marriage is temporarily unfavorable. Keep to your former way of life and existing property, lest you add needless worry.

On a further inquiry about finances, purchasing goods will bring no return, and the goods will be difficult to sell. Farming may yield about half a harvest. Marriage, becoming a son-in-law in another household, and seeking a child are all inauspicious. The illness is said to be linked to the Northern Dipper. Whether young or old, even those who have made a good vow will need many days to recover from their suffering. Matters are especially unfavorable in the cold season, when most of ten planned undertakings are likely to go badly. This is no time to act rashly. Marriage is unlikely to go as hoped; for now, keep to the old ways and avoid needless travel and worry.

As for seeking wealth, profits will be small. It is unwise to stockpile goods, which will also be difficult to sell. The harvest from farming will be only half the usual amount. Marriage, becoming a son-in-law in another household, and seeking a child are all inauspicious.

As for illness, one may have violated a taboo associated with the Lords of the Northern Dipper. Whether young or old, even if one makes vows and does good deeds, the illness may drag on for a long time. If the patient sweats on the eighteenth day of a cold season, they may find some relief. For the elderly, life may be in danger, though they may survive after coming close to death. Travel is unfavorable, though those who have gone away will return. Moving house is unfavorable, and lawsuits are inauspicious. Reconciliation is advisable, as is buying farmland or a house, but the household’s people and livestock are at risk. Matters involving documents are auspicious, though they may not turn out as hoped. The home is unsettled, and plans will be difficult to carry out. Learning a skill and seeking office or promotion will go poorly, and one’s status will be hard to establish. Lost belongings will be difficult to find; childbirth will be difficult; asking someone to handle a matter will bring no help; deals will be hard to conclude; and things lent out may never be returned.

The person seeking an oracle lot seems like a visitor from Penglai, advised not to sail far in a lone boat. Wealth and rank are determined by fate. If rough waves rise when there is no wind, unexpected setbacks are at work.

The lot called “Turning Toward Goodness” says: When setting a net and laying a snare, one focuses entirely on the catch, rushing about in every direction and exhausting every means, yet in the end catches nothing. One looks only to one’s own gain and accuses others of being corrupt, without realizing that, in the end, calamity falls upon one’s own household.

The household is uneasy and fearful, chiefly because there is unrest within the family. The lot attributes this to calamities left behind by the ancestors. At such a time, one should do good deeds and build up blessings, pray for calamities to be dispelled, and show reverence to the household deities.

For now, matters can be handled steadily, but money will come slowly. Traveling far over rivers and mountains will bring little reward. Later, genuine benefits may come from various directions, but there is no need to seek too much.

The lot’s meaning is that people’s hearts are treacherous, and what one seeks is as difficult to obtain as something shut inside a cage. If one recognizes only the harm one has suffered, how can one preserve what one already has? Many matters at hand are going poorly. There is no need to flee from danger; instead, proceed slowly for a time and do more good deeds. The illness may worsen, and a lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. Be patient in all things and keep to one’s proper course; only then will matters eventually open up.

For questions about financial prospects, trade is best conducted through quick buying and selling; both are favorable. Farming, however, will yield a poor harvest, and market prices will be unfavorable whether high or low. Lawsuits are favorable, as is travel. Those traveling from afar may arrive within a day or two. If they have not yet arrived, they may have been delayed on the road, or held up by old age, frailty, or illness. It is advisable to pray to the Northern Dipper and make a vow to do good. Jaundice and sores will gradually subside.

In marriage, a first marriage, bringing a bride into the household, and seeking a child are all very auspicious. A pregnancy may result in a boy; if it is a girl, there may be a false alarm. Trade and selling are favorable, but buying farmland, houses, people, or livestock will bring loss rather than gain. Plans can be carried out; do not hesitate, but act promptly. Applications for office, promotion, or formal recognition should also be handled without delay. Moving house is auspicious; documents will arrive soon, and errands entrusted to others can be completed quickly. Lost items will not be recovered, but the people in the household will be safe.

This passage repeats itself: it again says that buying farmland, houses, people, or livestock will bring loss; plans should be pursued decisively; applications for office and promotion should be handled quickly; moving house is auspicious, documents will soon arrive, and errands entrusted to others are easily completed; lost items are hard to find, while the household and its people remain safe. The household will prosper, but if travel by carriage or horse involves someone born in the Year of the Ox, beware of financial loss. Present troubles have not yet passed, and there may be another death in the family.

Twenty-Eighth Lot, Moderately Auspicious: Proceed with Caution and Preserve What You Have.

Calamity and sorrow have just begun to emerge, but will not cause harm for the time being. Take precautions early and do more good deeds. Do not count on lasting, reliable help from relatives or in-laws; plans made through clever schemes will yield no more than ordinary results.

A benefactor will make an introduction, bringing new joy, and lawsuits and disputes are likely to stay away from the household. From this point on, the sick will become stable and recover. Plans and financial prospects may both change.

If you have entrusted someone with a matter weighing on your mind, you should turn back soon and return to your hometown. For now, it is best to keep yourself safe and preserve your well-being. If you greedily pursue high office and wealth, you may instead invite calamity.

The lot’s meaning is this: minor troubles are gradually appearing, but have not yet harmed anyone. Be cautious and take precautions early; do not delay. A lawsuit will be lost because you are in the wrong, and an illness may worsen. A marriage is unlikely to satisfy both sides, and a hoped-for outcome is easily lost. At this time, accumulate good fortune by doing good deeds, and in this way change your circumstances and gain new blessings.

For questions about financial prospects, bring buying and selling to a close as soon as possible, settling matters steadily. Farming will yield no harvest. Travel is unfavorable, and those traveling from afar have not yet arrived. The sick may grow worse; a marriage is unlikely to satisfy both sides, and a hoped-for outcome is easily lost. For now, accumulate good fortune by doing good deeds in the hope of turning danger into safety.

In matters of fortune, it is best to stop buying and selling early and keep your current gains; farming will bring no harvest. Travel will be unfavorable, and those on long journeys have not yet returned. Moving house is inadvisable. The sick should take medicine. Doing good deeds and pursuing a lawsuit are favorable. Marriage, becoming a son-in-law in another family, and seeking a child are all auspicious, though there is a sign of a wife being harmed, and the marriage may not last. Buying fields or a house, or buying people or livestock, is unfavorable. Goods will be easy to sell, but running a trading business is unfavorable. Complete paperwork as soon as possible; something borrowed may not be returned. A transaction will be hard to conclude, and asking someone to handle a matter for you will not go smoothly. Pray for blessings and protection to ensure the safety of everyone in the household.

The water beneath the bridge flows away without pause, while incense smoke rises softly from the burner. Offer support and protection, do good deeds and build up blessings, and pray for calamities to be warded off.

The twenty-ninth lot: an exceptionally auspicious sign, promising success and wealth.

Though traces of the past have been buried, circumstances will suddenly shift and open up. You will receive Heaven’s grace and blessings, and also benefit from the support of teachers or your religious community. Within a single day, blessings and authority may come to you; the good fortune that follows will continue without end, bringing prosperity to generations.

Yin and Yang come together, the road opens, and matters proceed smoothly, like someone walking beneath the moon with a clear path ahead. Harmony between husband and wife brings good fortune to the household, and honor and wealth will gradually arrive.

After ten years of diligent study by lamplight, news is soon to come that the court has posted its call for worthy candidates. A swift horse can reach its destination in two days; by the third day, the news may become uncertain.

The lot’s meaning is this: prolonged danger will turn to good fortune, and long-lasting blockage will gradually give way. Those in high positions will offer help, and authority will steadily become secure. A lawsuit can reach a fair outcome, and plans and fortune will align at just the right time. Marriage is favorable, and joyful events will follow one another; the sick will recover only after a delay. Transactions can proceed smoothly. Do not cling to old methods, or you may remain troubled.

The divination text for this lot says that efforts to make money or do business are currently hectic and confused, with earnings amounting to no more than three or five tenths. Arrangements to purchase goods, hire help, or sell goods should be made promptly. Farming is auspicious, and journeys are best begun early. Those who are away will return, and business dealings will be profitable. When elderly people or young children fall ill, recovery will be slow; lawsuits are unfavorable. Marriage is auspicious, and relocation should be carried out as soon as possible. Borrowing something in good time will make it possible to obtain it. The household will be safe. Plans can succeed, with help from a benefactor; a benefactor will also recommend you for an official post or promotion. Lost items will be found. Matters involving documents are unfavorable at first, though another reading says there are signs of good fortune. Pregnancy and childbirth will bring a promising son; if a daughter is born, she will belong to the Metal Star, which is also auspicious. Transactions should be handled quickly and can bring profit; asking someone to take care of a matter for you will bring the help of a benefactor. If you choose the right direction when digging a well, you will find a spring.

Jade receives the Qi bestowed from the beginning; Lantian reveals a new aspect. Whether at court or among the people, two people will meet, and before long they will cross the river and come here.

The thirtieth lot is among the lowest-grade lots. It signifies emptiness and loss: what you seek will be difficult to achieve.

The lawsuit will drag on without end, your wishes will be hard to fulfill, and you will lose money and expend effort to no avail. You should begin doing good and accumulating merit early, without delay, to avoid further hardship brought on by misfortune.

The flowers are just about to bloom when they are struck by wind and rain through the night; the moon has only just grown bright when clouds cover it again. Do not mock the peach and plum blossoms for failing to bloom in their season. Once the clouds disperse, a time of changing fortunes will surely come.

For now, proceed with caution and take precautions. Even when the sky is overcast that day, there may still be signs of good fortune. Observe how things change over the next three or four days, and you will soon be able to recognize the right moment and judge what to do.

The lot’s meaning is this: the lawsuit will be delayed, and even a slight mistake may cost you money. Do more good deeds to ward off disaster. Plans are unlikely to succeed, and marriage matters may also suffer setbacks. Nothing is favorable. A merchant who travels may return empty-handed; relocating or taking action may invite misfortune. A sick person’s illness will linger, and there may be cause for sorrow.

As for seeking wealth, the lot again warns that lawsuits will drag on and money will be lost; plans are unlikely to succeed, and business may bring no returns. Proceed cautiously and do more good deeds to avoid increasing your losses through delay or rash action.

In matters of wealth, complete purchases and sales as soon as possible; delay will bring disadvantage. It is also unwise to stockpile goods or buy everyday necessities. Do not begin farming too early. A marriage may proceed with bringing the bride into the household. Seeking a child is unfavorable, as are moving house and traveling. If thieves are involved, wait until another day to consult the oracle.

Most matters indicated by this lot should not be undertaken rashly. Those away from home have not yet returned, and transactions are unlikely to succeed. It is also unfavorable to enter a business partnership or sell goods at someone’s suggestion. Asking another person to handle a matter is unlikely to succeed, and there is no good news concerning documents. In a lawsuit, it is best to make peace. If a sick person once made a vow, they should fulfill it as soon as possible. Doing good can avert misfortune brought on by others, while official matters may be settled fairly quickly. Buying land or a house, and buying or selling people or livestock, are all unfavorable. You may be able to resolve an immediate difficulty fairly smoothly, but plans for new ventures are unlikely to succeed. The outcome of lending or borrowing is uncertain. As for the household and its members, it is advisable to do more good deeds. In matters of pregnancy and childbirth, do good and pray for blessings to ensure safety. Seeking medical care or a skilled physician is unfavorable. Buying and selling goods, including selling them off, is unfavorable. Seeking office or promotion may bring a result, but not necessarily a favorable one. In general, things are inauspicious.

At present, it is as if the tails of two oxen are tangled together, bringing many disputes. When will you escape this hardship? Only when the “Rat” appears will things settle into peace.

The Thirty-First Lot, Great Fortune; its theme is integrity:

Serve the public and uphold the law; act impartially and do not fear hard work. From now on, your reputation will spread and your aspirations will soar.

In all that you do and refrain from doing, follow Heaven’s principles. How could a slight evil thought be allowed to disturb your peace?

Serve the public and uphold the law; act impartially and do not fear hard work. From now on, your reputation will spread and your aspirations will soar.

In all that you do and refrain from doing, follow Heaven’s principles. How could a slight evil thought be allowed to undermine your integrity?

Your heart is often troubled and restless, leaving you little happiness. Just when you have managed to find some temporary peace, unease arises again.

Your efforts have not gone as hoped. It is like the bright moon hidden behind clouds, its light unable to shine through.

The outcome of this matter will be ordinary, and it will be difficult to bring it to a successful conclusion. Even if it has already been settled, it may not satisfy you.

If you consult the lot about a lawsuit, it will most likely be settled in the end. In business and the pursuit of wealth, the gains will be limited.

The lot’s meaning is this: One should be upright and reasonable, and avoid crooked or improper paths. If a lawsuit has the support of the community, you may receive Heaven’s blessing and enjoy lasting stability. Even if you encounter a small hardship, it will not cause serious harm. By acting in accordance with the right way, you can move toward good fortune and smooth progress. Your comings and goings will be unhindered, and life will gradually become peaceful and prosperous.

When asking about one’s financial fortunes, the harvest or prospects are only moderate to begin with. Goods bought for resale can be sold as soon as they are put on the market; farming will yield a harvest; lawsuits pose no problem; and travel is auspicious. Someone who has gone on a long journey has not yet returned, but news will arrive. Lost items cannot be recovered. The household is safe, and the family is well. Do not readily believe what others say about a marriage; this will bring benefit and good fortune. A remarriage, however, may bring illness. It is favorable to seek a child, and illness poses no obstacle, whether the patient is young or old. Matters concerning land and property, family members, and livestock are generally free of trouble, though there may first be a small loss; in the end, things will work out. Lost items cannot be found. The household is safe, and the family is well. Do not readily believe what others say about a marriage; this will bring benefit and good fortune. A remarriage, however, may bring illness. It is favorable to seek a child, and illness poses no obstacle, whether the patient is young or old. The undertaking will succeed, and gaining power or a position is an auspicious sign. A pregnant woman will give birth to a noble son. Trade requires careful attention, but will ultimately go smoothly. Asking someone to handle a matter brings difficulties at first, then benefit; moving house is less advisable than staying where you are. Seeking medical care and doing business are both highly auspicious. Something lent out can soon be recovered, though there may later be a small loss. Seeking an official post or promotion is obstructed at first, but turns auspicious later.

Though there is trouble at present, circumstances will change. Like a great roc spreading its wings and soaring ten thousand miles into the sky, you will soon encounter a vast open world.

The thirty-second lot, highly auspicious: even the bitter cold at the end of the year need not cause concern.

You often wipe away tears and sigh as news from afar is slow to arrive. You waste your efforts consulting the divination, hoping to find good tidings. Do not take strange dreams as signs of impending trouble. The pine stands firm and steadfast, true to its nature.

The stars press close to the moon, so matters call for caution. The young in the household may suffer misfortune, and trouble may follow. If you learn of it in time and take precautions, the harm can be reduced. You should do good deeds and pray for blessings in advance, giving thanks to Heaven.

Those who live in peace wish to leave home and travel far away. For trade or the pursuit of wealth, it is best to seek opportunities in distant places. With the protection of the Buddha and the gods, matters are more likely to turn out well; when undertaking something, go to a local shrine or temple to pray.

The lot’s meaning is this: after a long stay far from home, friends and family will worry and sigh because they miss you. Though they are concerned and yearn for you, the person far away is in fact safe and well. Plans and undertakings will go smoothly, and livestock will prosper. A marriage will be harmonious, and a lawsuit is likely to be won. Matters begin badly but end well; in the end, everything will go smoothly. There is no need for the sick to worry, and they may enjoy a long life.

For questions about wealth, buying and selling may yield profits of roughly 30 or 20 percent; both purchasing goods and selling them are favorable. Farming will bring a harvest, and lawsuits will turn out well. There is usually no illness, but older people and young people may become seriously ill; the young should do good deeds. Marriage presents no problem. Moving into a new home and seeking a child may seem hopeful, but the wish may ultimately go unfulfilled. Someone in the household may suffer a small loss. If the home is unsettled, do good deeds and pray for blessings. Buying farmland or a house, or adding a member to the household, may bring a small loss at first, but success will follow. Plans and undertakings can move forward, though they will involve a small initial loss that will not affect the overall outcome. Borrowing things is fine. There is no need to consult many doctors; focusing on a craft or skill will bring good fortune. Pregnancy will be steady and favorable. Documents will bring good results, lost items can be recovered, and moving or traveling will be auspicious. Seeking office or promotion can bring an appointment, and trade and sales will also go well.

Like a small boat gliding across misty waters, carried forward by the current, wealth will come from afar. Going out on business and seeking wealth through trade will both go smoothly.

The thirty-third lot: great fortune, receiving blessings and celebration, and rising beyond the ordinary world.

Trees and plants flourish beneath curling clouds and mist, creating a fresh and lovely scene. The household is auspicious, its joy as abundant as spring.

Those who are expecting a child will in time celebrate the birth of an heir to carry on the family line. Merchants are likely to encounter rare and precious treasures.

A newly sharpened Dragon Sword gleams with keen force; its vigorous energy surges toward the Dipper and Ox constellations, and no one dares stand against it.

Now that the treasured sword is in hand, the hero is bold and confident, fully able to handle ordinary affairs.

An inquiry made early in the morning is auspicious; one made after a meal is less favorable.

In all matters, follow what this lot poem says. Your reputation will spread far and wide, and others will praise you.

The sacred pronouncement says: Deep virtue brings abundant blessings, good fortune, and harmony. If plans are unsuitable, they will be difficult to carry out smoothly. Marriage will be harmonious, and going abroad to do business will go well. Pregnancy will bring a noble son; moving house is not advised. No calamity will occur, and there will be harmony both inside and outside the home. In general, things will go as hoped, with auspicious events and joyful news.

When asking about financial prospects: Small businesses will run smoothly. Buying goods will be profitable, as will selling them. Farming is better undertaken later. Lawsuits will go favorably, and moving house will bring great good fortune. For illness, the outlook differs for the old and the young: illnesses are milder in spring and more serious in autumn and winter. Do more good deeds, though the stars are moving unfavorably. A marriage should be arranged early; delay may make it impossible. The household will be safe. If someone is missing, look for them in the capital; you may find that your family has prospered. Trade and business will become profitable later. It is more auspicious to delay buying farmland or property and adding members to the household. Paperwork is easier in spring and more difficult in autumn and winter; do more good deeds, though the stars are moving unfavorably. A marriage should be arranged early; delay may make it impossible. The household will be safe. If someone is missing, look for them in the capital; you may find that your family has prospered. Trade and business will become profitable later. It is more auspicious to delay buying farmland or property and adding members to the household. Documents will not be completed until later. A pregnancy will result in a boy, with safety and great good fortune. Plans and undertakings will succeed: press ahead and act early, since delay is unfavorable. Escaping hardship calls for patience. Seek medical care early; rushing toward a quick result will go poorly, so take more time. When asking someone to handle a matter, it is more auspicious to wait; the later you sell your goods, the more profitable it will be.

The sky is filled with layer upon layer of mist; wine vessels are piled high, and the wine overflows. A heavy burden or an old matter will depart only after a long time. Once the fruit has ripened, it should bloom again.

The Thirty-Fourth Lot, the Highest Auspicious Grade: Good Tidings; Casting Off the Old.

When building a house or burying the dead, auspicious spirits will lend their aid. It is a good time to begin; do not hesitate.

Whether traveling to trade or running a shop, your aims will be achieved smoothly. There is no need to trouble yourself with plans: good news will come of its own accord.

A dragon ill and unable to summon clouds or bring rain meets a rainbow. This is not a favorable sign for inquiries about illness or one’s own well-being.

Your rise and transformation will come in time. For now, keep to your existing arrangements and wait for an auspicious moment.

Remember: what should be done in a day should be completed that day. Do not leave your mistakes to be dealt with later.

If something is unsuitable, recognize that it is inauspicious. Persisting in it will only waste the efforts of people of virtue.

The lot’s meaning: Cast off the old and open a new chapter; relocating a grave and conducting a burial are both suitable. If the year, month, day, and hour are in harmony, and an auspicious star shines upon the undertaking, it will be even more fortunate. Business is especially favorable and can bring satisfying profits. Marriage will go smoothly and can be arranged without deliberate scheming. There is hope in a lawsuit, and your undertakings will go as you wish. All matters will proceed favorably, and prosperity and peace will endure.

When asking about financial prospects: Small-scale trading should be undertaken promptly. Buying goods will be profitable, while selling them is better delayed a little. Farming should begin early, with a harvest in prospect. Your undertakings will go as you wish; all matters will proceed favorably, and prosperity and peace will endure.

In matters of earning money, small transactions should be completed quickly. It is favorable to buy goods, while selling them is better delayed a little. Farmers should seize the moment: planting early may bring an early harvest. Trade and transport are highly auspicious, and travel should be prompt. Someone you are waiting for will arrive within a day or two, without much delay. The fortunes of household members are unfavorable. Transactions should be handled quickly; delay makes it difficult to reach a result. Marriage arrangements, too, should be settled early, since postponing them will bring difficulties. There is no serious obstacle in legal disputes. The purchase of fields or a home, and matters concerning household members, should be handled slowly; rushing is unfavorable. Plans, work, and all kinds of affairs should be advanced as soon as possible, since delay makes success difficult. In seeking medical care, the illness or treatment is likely to progress steadily. Paperwork should be completed promptly, which is auspicious. Seeking an official post or promotion, and moving house, are both favorable. Lost items will be difficult to recover. If you ask someone to handle a matter for you, a benefactor will assist, and the outcome will be auspicious. A move should be postponed for now.

What you hope for is gradually taking shape, and matters are generally going as you wish. The hopes people hold in their hearts are like flowers blooming again after they have faded: there is still a turn of fortune.

The Thirty-Fifth Lot, of Moderate Fortune: Do not force matters, and do not act rashly.

If directional spirits said to bring harmful influences are present around a house, it is unsuitable to begin construction there. Preserve your existing property and remain content with your established livelihood; do not seek development elsewhere.

Disturbing a grave or breaking ground is especially inadvisable. If you promptly accumulate De through good deeds, cultivate blessings, and pray, you may receive great protection and good fortune.

A crane cries out and rises straight into the clouds, its presence reaching the heavens. The long journey of ninety thousand li seems close at hand. Official fortune will rise day by day, and wealth will increase as well. If you live quietly and preserve what you have, you can pass your days in good fortune and celebration.

What was once lost will later be made up for, and seeking it again will bring a brighter prospect. If this lot is drawn at around twenty years of age, it may foretell abundant wealth and plentiful harvests.

The lot’s meaning says: You can pass your days in good fortune and peace.

What was once lost will later be made up for, and seeking it again will bring a brighter prospect. If this lot is drawn at around twenty years of age, it may foretell abundant wealth and plentiful harvests.

The lot’s meaning also says: When building a house or breaking ground, if harmful spirits occupy the relevant directions, do not proceed rashly. At such a time, preserve the old and avoid acting carelessly. Burial is especially to be avoided, for it may bring serious misfortune. If you have already committed some minor offense, pray and offer thanks for forgiveness in order to seek peace. Public and private affairs alike will go poorly, and you must also guard against calamity. Quickly perform good deeds and accumulate blessings, and good fortune will follow.

When consulting this lot about financial prospects, buying and selling, as well as purchasing goods, are reasonably favorable. The things you wish to sell can also be disposed of smoothly. Legal and official matters are auspicious. Hold on to your existing livelihood, and pay attention to the numbers thirty-one, four, and ten. Acting rashly or traveling far is unfavorable. Travelers may meet with obstacles, and those who have gone away will not return. Seeking a child while staying at home is unfavorable.

As for illness, the condition is more serious for the elderly and children. If you have offended the earth deity or the tomb deity, you should perform rites of appeasement and thanksgiving to pray for calamity to be averted. During an outbreak of smallpox, you may pray for protection according to the “Seventy-Two Pentads,” an ancient calendrical concept that divides seasonal changes in the climate. Plans are difficult to bring to success, and transactions are hard to conclude. Seeking medical treatment or pursuing a livelihood is unlikely to be effective, and getting out of trouble is also difficult. Lost items are hard to recover, and the news you are waiting for will not come. Moving is unfavorable; you may be deceived or toyed with by petty people. Lawsuits are unfavorable. Calamity may strike, damaging land, houses, or members of the household, with little benefit to be gained. Business and trade will go poorly, and seeking office, promotion, or recognition is also unfavorable.

Where do the sounds of singing and rehearsal come from? Even close kin are about to part. Only when one side is bathed in sunlight can it escape a flood of tears.

Lot Thirty-Six, the lowest grade; it is best to hold to the old ways.

Busy all day, yet losing your way, you are often caught unprepared through carelessness. When trouble suddenly breaks out, there is no way to stop it. Only after your wealth has been scattered do you seek blessings anew. Why not have been more careful from the start and avoided the loss?

A fish leaps through the spring waves beneath blossoming peach trees; in the third month, it joyfully transforms into a dragon. Those seeking office and income must wait until the time is ripe. Afterward, things will be free of worry, and good fortune will arrive.

By chance, a drought year comes, yet you sow in low-lying fields. If water arrives then, the rice will be hard to save. Word spreads that locusts and other pests are on their way, but it proves to be a false alarm. In the end, the danger passes and the crops are preserved.

The Holy Pronouncement says: If a person does not keep to the rules and is often lax and careless, a fire or theft may cause the family’s livelihood to collapse and be lost. Regret afterward will bring nothing but sighs. Travel will bring losses, and marriage proposals should not be pursued. Illness and lawsuits are beset with difficulties. Do more good deeds and pray for the deities’ protection, but business and trade will still be hard to secure.

In matters of wealth, those who do business solely to make quick gains through clever schemes are likely to lose money. Buying stock is unfavorable, but selling goods already on hand is auspicious. In farming, transplanting rice seedlings will bring a poor harvest; broadcasting seeds may yield around two or three tenths of a crop. Travel may bring misfortune, such as thieves or fire. Someone who has gone away will return; if they do not, they have been delayed along the way. If you suffer from typhoid, sweating on the seventh or eighth day may be followed by a worsening of the illness. It is advisable to offer prayers to the household ancestors and the local earth deity; medicine may bring improvement.

Marriage is unfavorable, and a transaction will be hard to conclude, with someone working against it. In a lawsuit, you are in the wrong, and someone will interfere when you present your case in your defense. Moving house is unfavorable, and attempts to get away or settle a matter will not go smoothly. Plans and undertakings carry danger. In childbirth, the mother may be harmed, so pray for blessings and safety. Matters concerning fields, houses, and property are unfavorable, as are documents. Entrusting someone with a task, buying stock, or selling goods will all go poorly.

Your heart is weighed down, and one matter after another brings worry and toil; in the end, it all proves as fleeting as a dream. Once the funeral procession has left the house, a period of travel and exertion may avert calamity.

The thirty-seventh lot is a most inauspicious lot. It is best to remain still and steady, without acting rashly.

Fortune and misfortune each have their roots: blessings have a foundation, and calamities give signs of their approach. People bring them upon themselves. If one’s intentions and conduct are unworthy, danger and sudden misfortune will follow. Even if one is lucky enough to survive, one may lose money.

How can you cross a river when there is no boat? Before you, the waves surge and the situation is perilous. If you act without heeding this warning, you will be unable to advance and have nowhere to retreat.

All your life you are like a traveler, constantly on the road. In business and the pursuit of wealth, nothing is easy to bring to success. Food and daily necessities can be bought with a knife—the phrase “with a knife” may refer to a trade involving knives or butchery—but understand that only by hurrying between east and west might you gain a little profit.

The lot’s message is this: if you have often done harmful things in the past, blessings will be few and calamities many. Now that you face danger, what can you do? Plans are unlikely to succeed, relatives are at odds, you are in the wrong in lawsuits, and trade will bring little profit. It is best to hold to your present circumstances rather than roam from place to place.

When seeking wealth, buying and selling will not go smoothly. If you buy goods first and then resell them, it is auspicious to sell them promptly. Farming is unfavorable. Illness brings ill fortune; if you suffer from a febrile illness or sores and jaundice, you may pray for protection, and there is still hope of being saved. Travel is unfavorable, and childbirth will be difficult; you may pray for blessings and protection. Moving house is unfavorable, and you will have difficulty borrowing things. Trade and transport will bring losses. Lawsuits are unfavorable, and paperwork will not go smoothly. Buying farmland or houses, or adding household members, will bring losses. Seeking an official post or promotion is also unlikely to succeed.

There are many obstacles ahead, and news from the beloved grows increasingly scarce. The strings of the zither have snapped, and its music has fallen silent; the household, too, seems depleted and unsettled.

[Thirty-Eighth Lot, Moderately Auspicious, Because of Poverty]

A lingering illness causes worry and distress. Seeking doctors and medicine, or inviting shamans to pray and ward off calamity, may only waste money and may not secure your safety. Even if everyone joins in earnest prayer, it may come to nothing. Why not quiet your mind, reflect, and consider how you might repay Heaven?

The red sun hangs high, driving away the clouds. Its light reaches even the darkest places, and everyone can see it. If a person of virtue can advance and fulfill their ambitions, they will attain distinction. The household, too, will prosper, flourish, and enjoy peace and good fortune.

When buying, prices are high. If you want to sell at a low price, do not keep haggling over every detail. Though the profit will be small, in the end you will have made the trip for little.

The lot’s meaning says: Calamity clings and will not depart, yet its cause is hard to discover. If you make a vow to purify your heart but fail to fulfill it, it will be difficult to keep yourself safe. Doctors and shamans each offer their own explanations, but spending money may not help. You should promptly do good and accumulate De, in reverence to Heaven. For now, things will move from worry to joy, and from difficulty to ease. Do more good deeds, and the spirits will be able to protect you.

For matters of wealth, it is unwise to buy goods; selling is more favorable. The harvest from farming will be small. Illness in an elderly person bodes ill. If they once made a vow and then broke it, or if they are passing through a time when the stars are unfavorable, their condition may worsen. Travel will not go smoothly, but the person you are waiting for will arrive. Pregnancy and childbirth will be difficult. A lawsuit is unfavorable and may drag on. Marriage, moving house, buying farmland or a home, and adding members to the household will all go poorly; the family should do more good deeds. Seeking medical care or medicine is unfavorable. A lost item will be hard to recover, but the person you are waiting for will arrive. Seeking an official position or promotion is unfavorable. Settle the matter at hand as soon as possible, or success will be difficult. Borrowing something from someone or asking them to handle a task may be difficult at first, but will go smoothly later.

The dispute involving eight knives remains unresolved, and a hidden arrow is aimed at an innocent person. Those who harm others will ultimately harm themselves. When good fortune departs, misfortune is close behind.

Even heroes cannot assume that calamity will spare them. Their ambitions may be thwarted and they may suffer humiliation, which could be hard to endure. Turning back to correct one’s mistakes is no fault; seek a level road anew and carefully look for a way forward.

After entering the deep mountains and losing your way, it is better to turn back and leave rather than hesitate. Neither advancing nor retreating, nor setting out on a journey, will go smoothly. Be especially wary of hidden harm and deception.

Though the goods may be slow to sell, the market will improve later. For now, hold on to your existing trade and wait for the right moment. The matter will turn out well only if someone takes the lead or shows the way; after that, wealth will gradually grow.

The lot says: Thieves and bullies often oppress the good. Old debts for wrongdoing are difficult to pursue, and you may instead suffer humiliation and be driven away. Correct your mistakes, and disaster will disperse, followed by renewed good fortune. Matters begin inauspiciously and end well; the key is to find a way to turn things around. This is not a favorable lot, so fulfill as soon as possible the vow you made in the past.

For seeking wealth, buying goods is advantageous, and selling goods is also auspicious; farming, however, will yield a poor harvest. Travel will not go smoothly, and those going on a long journey will encounter obstacles along the way. Asking someone to handle a matter will be difficult to accomplish. The sick are under inauspicious influences and should pray for the gods’ protection. Marriage will not go smoothly, and those giving birth should also pray for protection. Even if a planned undertaking succeeds, it may bring harm, so it is best to change course. Lawsuits should be settled through reconciliation. Buying an old house will be bad for the people of the household. Documents, moving, and seeking medical care or instruction in the arts will not go smoothly. For seeking an official post or promotion, making another effort through an intermediary may bring success. Borrowing things is unfavorable. Search for lost objects as soon as possible; if too much time passes, they will be difficult to find.

A bare branch will gradually sprout anew, and a waning moon will become full again. Correcting one’s mistakes earns the gods’ approval; when people meet, matters will eventually reach a good resolution.

Fortieth Lot: Initially ordinary, then improving.

Harboring thoughts of harming others and lacking compassion can easily bring discord among relatives. Whether in public or in secret, one may ultimately face punishment. If you turn toward the Dao and sincerely change your old ways, the family’s affairs will gain a firm foundation and continue through the generations.

The swan, a great bird like the wild goose, soars high through the sky in its own time. Before the right moment arrives, however, it may instead invite disaster. When the time comes, it will rise freely and reach the highest heavens.

Hearing that the matter has been settled is certainly cause for celebration. Going there to pay a visit will surely bring good fortune. But if you ask someone to handle a matter, the outcome will still be inauspicious; empty promises will only make worldly affairs more confused.

The lot’s meaning is this: this person may have harmed people or animals in the past and fallen out with close relatives. Now, if they awaken inwardly and vow before Heaven and Earth to repent, abandon their old ways, and begin anew, their fortunes will gradually turn. Illness will ease, and planned undertakings will go more smoothly. Marriage and lawsuits may ultimately be settled through reconciliation. Misfortune will turn to good fortune, and happy events may come to the household.

For seeking wealth, it is best to wait a little; later, the prospects will be favorable. Buying and selling goods are both auspicious. Farming will be difficult at first, then easier. Marriage is unfavorable. Few people will fall ill; if a prayer has been vowed, someone with a cold may begin to sweat and improve after about seven days. Overall, misfortune will turn to good fortune, and celebration may come to the household.

For questions about wealth, if you already have goods on hand, it is best to hold on to them for now; farming yields are likely to be meager. Illness is dangerous for both the young and the old, with misfortune more likely than good fortune. It is advisable to pray to the Dipper stars, deities invoked in Daoist rites for averting calamity. Marriage is inauspicious, and lawsuits should be settled through reconciliation. Travel may bring a small loss, though those who are away will return. Land and houses, family members, and livestock are all under unfavorable signs, and official documents will be difficult to secure. Borrowing things is unlikely to succeed, and lost belongings will be hard to find. Pray for safety in pregnancy and childbirth. Buying and selling goods are both unfavorable. When asking someone to handle a matter, maintain the status quo; transactions are unlikely to go through.

If you are asking whether you will meet a certain person or encounter a certain event, beware of obstruction and misfortune at first. As long as you turn your heart toward goodness and return to the right path, you can avoid financial loss.

Forty-First Lot: Mixed, leaning neutral. Proceed cautiously and preserve what you have; avoid rash action.

The road ahead is shrouded in uncertainty, and even the old post station seems desolate. Your present circumstances are unsettling and may easily give rise to disputes. It is best to hold to your established way of life and live steadily; this may preserve harmony and maintain a stable income and livelihood.

Fallen blossoms drift away with the flowing water, each indifferent to the other. Worries and doubts weigh on the household, and the family cannot find peace. The young and the women may be struck by illness or calamity, so pray promptly to the deity who governs the household’s prosperity.

Even if you hear that treasure has appeared in the sea, you should not set out by boat to seek it. In an unfamiliar place, you may ultimately find nothing and return empty-handed.

The lot’s meaning is this: travel and efforts to advance may bring harm and financial loss. Hold to the old ways for now, and you can remain safe. Public affairs can be settled through reconciliation; an illness may have lingered for a long time. Do not break ground, lest sorrow follow. You may often have strange dreams that leave you startled, and nothing you undertake will go smoothly.

For questions about wealth, it is best to keep goods already on hand. Farming yields are poor. Illness is generally dangerous for both young and old, with misfortune more likely than good fortune; pray to the Dipper stars. Marriage is inauspicious, and lawsuits should be settled through reconciliation. Travel may bring a small loss, though those who are away will return. Land and houses, family members, and livestock are all under unfavorable signs, and official documents will be difficult to secure. Borrowing things is unlikely to succeed, and lost belongings will be hard to find. Pray for safety in pregnancy and childbirth. Buying and selling goods are both unfavorable. When asking someone to handle a matter, stick to the old ways; transactions are unlikely to go through.

A joyful occasion may turn into worry, and asking about one’s own affairs may itself bring anxiety. Guard against losing money or possessions when coming and going; troubles and legal disputes may be hard to settle for a time.

Forty-Second Lot: Great Fortune, Awakening

For a long time, you have been dull and clouded, as though drunk. Now you are gradually coming to your senses. Your heart suddenly longs for change, but you have not yet fully sorted out the situation as it was.

The ice and snow melt, and warm breezes follow. Those who have been held down will gradually gain recognition, and what has withered will flourish again.

The fish leaves the water to play freely among the waves, leaping and gliding at ease. Do not let this opportunity pass you by.

Joyful news arrives and fortune improves; many things will proceed smoothly. When difficulties arise, you will also be better able to meet them than before.

In warfare, do not speak only of winning through surprise. Outsiders often cannot know how battles are won or lost. Even victory may come at a cost. Rather than fight, it is better to refrain from battle and let matters settle on their own.

The lot’s meaning is this: After a long period of hardship, you have been as unclear-headed as someone drunk, and may have faced repeated setbacks along the way. But hardship does not last forever, and change will gradually become visible. The clouds begin to disperse, the ice and snow melt, and gentle breezes arrive of their own accord. Matters gradually go smoothly, and your path opens up. There are also signs of improvement in illness and legal disputes, with safety and peace in reach. What you seek is highly auspicious; when you act, there is no need to hesitate.

For financial gain, starting a business in spring is more likely to bring profit; other months are less favorable. Buying goods is beneficial, and most other undertakings are auspicious. Farming will yield a harvest. Arrange travel as soon as possible, or you may not be able to go; someone you are waiting for should arrive within two or three days. Marriage is auspicious, though the course will be difficult at first and easier later. Moving house is beneficial. When elderly people or children fall ill, recovery is likely to come more quickly in spring and more slowly in other months. Act promptly when asking someone to handle a matter for you or when seeking to escape a difficult situation. The household will be safe, and seeking an official post or promotion is favorable.

Clouded and dull as if drunk, at last you gradually come to your senses. After a long period of hardship, fortune steadily begins to flow. When a time of adversity reaches its end, a time of peace and prosperity follows, and all new growth will flourish.

Forty-Third Lot: Moderate Fortune, Responding to Heaven

Life is full of toil and restless striving; few live to the age of seventy. If illness arises from an imbalance of Yin-Yang or excessive desire, seek medical care promptly.

The length of a person’s life is arranged by the Celestial Bureau, the divine office in Heaven that governs longevity. Ordinary people cannot know it at will.

The sun rises from Fusang, bringing light across ten thousand miles. A noble benefactor brings good news, and matters naturally proceed smoothly.

Seeking wealth and making plans will mostly go as you wish. If you seek an official post, you may hope to gain a reputation. Few live to the age of seventy. If you fall ill because of an imbalance of Yin-Yang or excessive desire, seek medical care promptly.

The length of one’s life, as set by the celestial realm, is determined in a previous life. Ordinary people cannot simply know it.

The sun rises from Fusang, casting its light across ten thousand miles. A person of rank brings good fortune, and matters naturally proceed smoothly.

Seeking wealth and pursuing what you have in mind can both go well. If you ask about seeking office, you will ultimately gain a reputation.

Since ancient times, talented people have held lofty aspirations. If a matter arises, there is no need to divine repeatedly. Handle affairs with alertness and care, leaving not the slightest opening, and you may become known in an instant, your reputation reaching the offices of the celestial realm.

The lot’s meaning says: Older people are prone to sorrow, while the young have little to worry about. Do more good deeds and build up De (Virtue/Power); this may help preserve peace and happiness. Legal and official matters are fairly stable, though plans may be delayed. Progress is ordinary; do not try to be clever or manipulative.

When divining about wealth, buy in small quantities and sell when appropriate. The harvest will be modest. For travel, the young will be safe, while the old face danger; those traveling far away will return. Moving house will bring good fortune soon. As for illness, the condition of older people will be more serious, while the young will be largely unharmed. If you pray for protection from the Celestial Bureaucracy and fulfill your vows promptly, there should be no trouble. Pox will mainly appear in pointed forms. Complete transactions as soon as possible. A first marriage is inauspicious; for a second marriage, arranging it promptly will bring good fortune. Settle lawsuits as soon as possible, though paperwork will take longer. Property, household members, and matters concerning the head and feet are unfavorable; borrowing will bring little. Plans and tasks should be completed promptly. Childbirth should be fairly safe; you may pray for blessings and protection. In business and trade, acting quickly will bring profit. As for the household and its members, older people face danger, while the young will be safe. Asking someone to handle a matter for you is auspicious; seeking office or promotion may succeed in winter. Leave trouble behind as soon as possible, for delay will make it harder. Lost things will be difficult to recover.

The sun over the western mountain gradually sets, its light fading as though dusk were near. Counting back over what brings sorrow, one sees that the plans will come to nothing after all, leaving the heart broken.

The Forty-Fourth Lot, a Superior Auspicious Lot, accords with Heaven’s will.

Hardship and peace take turns; this is the natural order. You should live in harmony with your neighbors and, with a resolute heart, follow Heaven’s will.

Calamity and decline each have their appointed measure; now they are melting away like ice. To invite blessings, hold even more firmly to the resolve to pray for blessings and avert misfortune.

Dark clouds cover the moon, leaving everything dim and hazy. There are hidden matters within the household, and things have not yet gone smoothly.

For now, the only auspicious course is to maintain your existing arrangements. When the clouds part and the mist clears, all things will proceed freely.

You have come today to seek a divination, and the doubts in your heart will find an answer. Matters will come and go quickly, and you will travel back and forth between east and west.

Though your wealth is modest, a clear, bright radiance shines before you, making everything plain.

The sacred oracle says: As long as you act with fairness, treat poverty and high status alike with equanimity. If you fail to avoid a dangerous moment, might you not leave trouble in its wake? When your movements—advancing, withdrawing, and going about your affairs—proceed smoothly, good fortune will come. The kind are protected by Heaven and can receive its blessings; they will enjoy good fortune and prosperity. Calamities will gradually fade, and their reputation will spread. Whatever they undertake will go well, and they will enjoy lasting peace and good health.

For questions of wealth, there is a three-part profit. Buying goods is advantageous, and selling them is also auspicious. If you fail to avoid trouble, lingering misfortune may still follow; when your movements proceed smoothly, good fortune will come. The kind are protected by Heaven and receive blessings and good fortune. Calamities gradually fade, reputation spreads far, and whatever they undertake goes well, bringing lasting peace and health.

For questions of wealth, there is a three-part profit; both buying and selling goods are auspicious. Farming will bring a good harvest. If an older person or child falls ill from an external injury, the illness will begin to improve gradually after they sweat, seven or eight days later. A business deal can be concluded, and travel is auspicious. Someone who has set out has not yet returned home. The household and its members will be safe. A marriage should be arranged as soon as possible; if delayed too long, it will be difficult to bring about. The purchase of farmland, a house, people, or livestock should also be completed soon. Delay will make matters harder, though the outcome will ultimately be beneficial. Documents are auspicious, and plans can be carried out; act promptly, since delay will take effort to overcome. Seeking medical care and learning a skill are advantageous. Those seeking an official post or promotion should pursue it soon. Pregnancy and childbirth are auspicious, as is litigation.

Once dressed in plain cloth, now clad in a crimson official robe. Cast off worldly troubles and good fortune will follow; the jade left by your ancestors will shine once more.

□□Forty-Fifth Lot, Great Auspiciousness: Bending and Unfolding.

The wind has its own causes; it does not arise without reason. How, then, can one rely on divination alone to seek good news?

Whether seeking scriptures or engaging in trade, your requests will receive a response. What is dark and unclear now often signals that a turning point is near; after being bent down, you will at last unfold.

Wind and thunder stir, setting all things between Heaven and Earth in motion. From then on, all things sprout and grow, gradually unfolding.

A noble person’s plans will go as intended, while ordinary households will welcome new children and gain wealth.

This lot is auspicious for what you seek; matters will proceed smoothly when the right time comes.

Though younger people may come to disturb and quarrel with you, the Great Way will still stir Heaven and Earth, and all things will sprout and unfold. The noble person’s plans will go as intended, and ordinary households will welcome new children and gain wealth. The omen remains auspicious: what you seek will prosper when its time arrives. Even if younger people cause trouble, you will ultimately remain safe and flourish.

Divine guidance: Inquiries concerning relatives are favorable; this bond has existed for a long time. Seeking scriptures or pursuing a cherished wish can bring results, and wealth will gradually increase. In a lawsuit, you can prevail on the merits, while a sick person’s recovery will be slow. Most actions are auspicious, the household is safe, those traveling away will fare well, and the family may be reunited.

When asking about wealth, you may gain five or six tenths of what you seek. Buying and selling goods are both favorable; sowing later in the season is beneficial. Marriage is highly auspicious, and travel is favorable, though those on long journeys will return late. Litigation is favorable, while matters concerning farmland and homes, family members, or livestock will progress slowly. Escaping trouble is favorable. Plans can be carried out, though they may not bring full satisfaction. Childbirth will go smoothly, but an official appointment or promotion may not be formally secured. There is only a thirty percent chance of getting a loan. Goods will be difficult to sell for a good price, but taking action and handling affairs are auspicious.

If you wish to know what lies ahead, seek news through documents, contracts, or similar matters. Worries and dangers will eventually turn into favorable signs, and what has caused you anxiety all day will naturally subside.

Forty-Sixth Lot: Moderately auspicious; trouble is easily overcome, and wealth is indicated.

Mountains and rivers lie far away, and the road has been beset with hardships. Gatherings and partings are unpredictable; know that things can change in the blink of an eye.

You are currently caught up in a dispute, and it is hard to tell whether it will benefit you in the long run. Your wish is more likely to come true in late autumn or early winter.

Dreaming of the Tengshe, a mythical serpent spirit often regarded as an ill omen, foretells worry and apprehension. Be on guard against deception or intrusion in your home.

Only after removing the old and bringing in the new will things turn auspicious. For now, neither advancing nor withdrawing has found its proper moment.

When asking about wealth, hold on to your goods and pursue profit cautiously; this is more likely to preserve your gains. Keep an open mind and persevere over time. Someone will naturally recognize and refine your talents, just as a piece of jade reveals its brilliance through polishing.

Divine guidance: If seeking scriptures or pursuing plans requires a long journey, you may find yourself wanting more than is enough. Wealth gathers and disperses, and it is difficult for everything to go perfectly. There is hope in autumn and winter; do not expect too much in spring and summer. The same applies to other plans and fortunes. A sick person’s illness will linger and be slow to heal, while litigation will drag on without resolution. If you wish for peace and smooth passage, give thanks to Heaven and pray for its protection.

Financial matters and business dealings will require considerable effort. If you can purchase your goods wisely, autumn and winter will be favorable, and the goods should be easy to sell. Farming is unlikely to yield a full harvest, and marriage is inauspicious. Travel in autumn should go smoothly, and those who are far away will return. Legal disputes are unlikely to proceed smoothly. Items borrowed are expected to be returned in autumn or winter. Elderly people and children in the household may fall ill. Their condition may improve in spring and summer, but they will not recover fully until autumn. The illness may be dangerous, so it is advisable to do good deeds. Any improvement in autumn and winter is likely to be slow.

Purchasing farmland or a house, acquiring household members or workers, and buying livestock are favorable in autumn and winter but unfavorable in spring and summer. Plans and undertakings should go smoothly in autumn and winter, but are inauspicious in spring and summer. The home and its occupants should be more secure in autumn and winter. Trading goods, paperwork, production, and pregnancy are all auspicious in autumn and winter. Seeking office or promotion should go smoothly then as well. Asking someone to handle a matter is unlikely to succeed. If you hope to escape trouble, the first half of the year is unfavorable, while the second half is more auspicious. Transactions should go more smoothly in autumn and winter; the other months are poorly suited.

The seedlings and grain are growing well for now. Wait in hope for a better opportunity. Most of what you plan should be achievable. When the clouds and mist clear, the moonlight will shine bright.

Forty-Seventh Lot, Great Fortune.

When a person has always held to sincere intentions, they can reach the spirits. Whether advancing, withdrawing, or going about their daily affairs, they will meet good fortune at the right time.

If you pursue plans by crooked means, you will stray from the right path. Hold to the path you have followed and align yourself with the true Way.

Dark clouds gather without bringing rain. The sky grows dim at the horizon, easily stirring worry and doubt, and matters are unlikely to go smoothly. Be on guard against harm from petty people, and pay attention to secretive or unclear matters within the household.

You hope to gain wealth smoothly, but those involved are constantly rushing about and hard to locate. Between the third and fifth, there may seem to be some gain, yet in the end everything may come to nothing. When matters are obscure or unclear, proceed with caution.

You hope to gain wealth smoothly, but those involved are constantly rushing about and hard to locate. Between the third and fifth, there may seem to be some gain, yet in the end everything may come to nothing. When matters are obscure or unclear, proceed with caution.

The lot’s meaning is this: a fondness for doing good brings good fortune, while accumulated wrongdoing brings misfortune. Even when following the right path, there is no need to seek blessings deliberately. Legal disputes can be settled peacefully, and there is no need to worry when asking about family members. Most plans can be carried out, though distant journeys still bring cause for worry and doubt. On the whole, things will go as hoped, and usually without delay.

In financial matters, it may be difficult to make a profit for now through legitimate trade, while taking questionable paths may seem more prosperous. Buying goods is favorable, and selling them is favorable as well. Farming will bring an abundant harvest, but lawsuits are inauspicious. The sick, whether young or old, may face obstacles or be affected by a harmful earth influence—a folk belief that construction or the direction of one’s home can bring misfortune. Prayers for blessings and protection may help. Marriage and other affairs are all favorable. Travel will go smoothly, and those away from home will arrive in three days.

For now, matters concerning residence and burial remain unsettled, and conveying news brings trouble. After repeatedly encountering danger, you have at last met someone who understands you.

Forty-eighth lot, moderately auspicious, belonging to Yin-Yang. The union of Yin and Yang has its own reasons; do not try to force the gods to grant your wishes, but instead cultivate good relationships widely. Keep asking yourself who can truly uphold what is right. Guard your possessions carefully and preserve your safety.

The treasured sword has just been polished, and its brilliance shines all the brighter, illuminating every direction and surpassing the ordinary by far. It already had a firm foundation; now that it has been further refined, its reputation will become more widely known.

You hope for a life of abundance and ease, yet did not expect good things to meet with obstacles so often. For now, it is best to hold on to what you already have and remain settled; this is the more auspicious course. In your heart, you have great ambitions.

The lot’s meaning is this: what you seek is highly auspicious, and the bond between the parties was long ago determined. If you resort to other schemes, the matter may instead be difficult to bring to success. Keep your possessions safe, and do not handle official matters carelessly. When asking about the household, be careful to observe taboos. There is no cause for concern about the sick, while travelers will face delays.

When divining about financial prospects, gains from buying and selling are limited. Purchasing and stocking goods is favorable, as is selling them. Seeking medical care, academic success, or recognition is unlikely to go as hoped. A lawsuit is unfavorable, though the financial loss should be manageable. If a sick person makes a sincere vow, there will be no serious harm. Travel will not go smoothly, and those traveling from afar have not yet arrived. Lost belongings can be found later. Marriage is especially auspicious if delayed a little. The harvest will be modest. In any inquiry, beware of numerous obstacles; success in seeking an official reputation, or answers to divinations and other questions, is difficult to predict.

It is best to hold on to what you already have and continue with established ways; this brings greater stability, and prosperity, honor, and income will gradually follow. The phrase “gather four, bring forth a woman” is unclear. The text goes on to say that there is still reason to fear that matters will not go as hoped. Tending an orchard or garden early can increase good fortune and income, and spare the family from calamity.

Forty-ninth lot, supreme auspicious lot, Po Star.

Jade lies hidden in stone—who can recognize it at a glance? Gold is buried in sand, and is not easily sifted out.

Whether a person is poor or prosperous depends on the times, but in the end something will be gained. Why worry over fruitless efforts in the present?

A gathering of crows, cawing loudly, may foretell unusual events. Be cautious: someone may be stirring up trouble behind the scenes and provoking arguments.

Yielding and stepping back for a time may bring a good result. Otherwise, matters can easily become tangled, leaving you anxious and uncertain.

There is no harm in taking things slowly when trying to bring a plan to success. Be patient with delays for now. Given enough time, matters will become clear, so there is no need for doubt.

Wealth and goods are difficult to hold on to for long. If you insist on keeping them, problems may arise, and you will need someone’s help.

The lot’s meaning is this: You are confident in your abilities, but so far you have not fulfilled your ambitions. If you keep working and do not give up easily, you will eventually succeed. The sick will recover on their own, and lawsuits will not drag on for long. Plans for good fortune and advancing your career will receive practical support. The lot also says: Keep striving and making progress, and a benefactor will come to your aid. Matters will proceed smoothly, and your reputation will endure.

When divining about financial prospects, buying and selling may be slow, with roughly a forty to fifty percent chance of success. Farming requires diligence to yield a harvest. Lost belongings will soon be found. Marriage should be arranged promptly, and the outcome will be auspicious. If the sick make vows and pray for blessings, their condition may improve; young patients are more likely to recover, while the outlook is unfavorable for the elderly. Wait before selling goods, as a later sale is more favorable. Selling in haste brings no benefit and is unlikely to succeed. It is best to settle lawsuits by agreement, and then there will be no trouble. Those traveling from afar will arrive soon. Staying at home is auspicious, and matters in general will go well.

The family’s reputation will gradually grow, and documents and contracts will be secure and reliable. Things must go as desired for one to make gains; if one rashly ventures into danger in pursuit of them, it is like fishing in the sea and can easily lead to alarm.