Chinese Fortune Stick Reading of the Day

TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION
You are surrounded by illusions, and many concealed dangers await you. While your future prospects may appear good, this may not really be the case. You should consider any seeming chance to make extra money extremely carefully, as it could be a trick. Equally, somebody in your personal life may be deceiving you, especially about children. Hidden ailments might be troubling you physically, and you should try to get a thorough medical checkup soon.

REFLECTION
This could hardly be clearer. The things you currently value most - the material aspects of your life - are not what is really valuable. Indeed, they are traps. Look very deep within, and see what truly lies there.



TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATION
This fortune describes the harmony of the universe, with the dragon and phoenix representing yang and yin respectively. It prophesies good fortune, especially in love. If you are currently single, you will probably find a new partner soon, and existing relationships will be strengthened. In general, everything will go harmoniously for you, and your own health and safety - if you maintain the right balance of yin and yang in your life - is guaranteed.

REFLECTION
All things will work out positively. Yin and yang are the basic building blocks of the universe and, when in balance, all goes well. You need to find someone who will complement you, bring a sense of balance and harmony to your life. Forget excitement and danger: you need someone who can offer you what is missing from the dynamics of your life. It is for you to work out whether that is yin or yang!



Each day I sit down, take up the cup of sticks and ask the same question, “What does the Keen community need to know or hear today?”  I shake the cup until a stick (or 2 or 3…) falls out.  I then post the stick number and the meanings for you to get what you can out of them.

The sticks themselves are a form of I-Ching.  There are a total of 64 sticks in the set that I use* with a poem and small interpretation/story to go along with each stick.   The poems, meanings and reflections are meant to be read and (as a good friend of mine once said) marinated in.  In our culture, we’ve grown accustomed to getting instant gratification.  In other words, we’re used to everything being given to us with little or no work on our parts.  These readings are the exact opposite of that type of attitude.

Chinese Fortune sticks are meant to make us slow down and reflect on what is being said.  As each sticks’ meaning can be profoundly personal to each person who reads them, it’s more important for you to read them rather than have someone give you a watered down version.  These readings are meant to sing to a level of your consciousness and bring you a measure of peace, or at least enlightenment.

The best way to get the most you can out of these readings is to approach them with an open mind.  Before sitting down to read that morning’s reading, make some quiet time for yourself.  Sit still for a moment and clear your mind.  Silence the chatter in your head and take a few deep breaths, letting them out slowly.  Once you feel yourself slow down a little (or a lot), read through the reading of the day.  Go over it a few times if you feel the need.  Then take a moment, sit back and think about what that reading means for you.  Some will be very straightforward; others require a bit more thinking.  Either way, let the reading from the sticks guide you that day on the decisions or experiences you have.  These aren’t meant to tell you what to think, but rather to help you look at things in a different way or to allow you to access truths you already have.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me!!


* written by Zhao Xiaomin & Martin Palmer