~ Stick # 10 ~
Disease afflicts all folk alike,
No matter how upright their conduct.
Even a faithful student of Confucius
Became a leper and died alone.
TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATIONAlthough your personal conduct is good, troubles may lie ahead. Your personal reputation is in jeopardy, and you should be aware that others may be spreading rumors about you. Unless you are careful and restrained, you may be faced with many creditors and lawsuits. This is not a good time to start new projects; instead, you should try to defend what you already have.
REFLECTION The story of the Confucian student who died sick and alone is well known in China. Sickness was often seen as a judgment meted out by the deities to those who had done wrong. But what 'wrong' had the student of Confucius done? This is rather like the Book of Job in the Bible which asks "Why?" to the issue of sickness and disaster. Ultimately this poem reminds us that wealth, power, and fame are meaningless to disease. In the end, we are all but human and weak.
~ Stick # 32 ~
He endured the bleak north for nineteen years,
His captured banner trailing upon the distant sands.
Snow was his only food; his heart was full of woe,
And his only companions the sheep he tended.
TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATIONThis fortune refers to a famous Chinese general, So Wu, who was taken prisoner by the northern barbarians and forced to work as a shepherd. Like him, at the moment you may seem to be in a position below your true worth. You must seek to take pride and pleasure in the work you do, rather than dreaming of past or future glories. learn to bear adversity with good will, and you may attain the status you truly deserve.
REFLECTIONThis very famous story is about steadfast loyalty. The general was captured by the Mongols, who at first tried to bribe him into betraying the Emperor. When that failed, they sent him into the wilds to guard the sheep. Yet he refused to deny his Emperor. Loyalty is what will bring you through. Do not be tempted by easy solutions, nor expect that things will go smoothly. Stay the course, and you will have done the right thing.
~ Stick 46 ~
For the sake of one child, the ruler's command
Was the death of all children in his own city.
But the orphan was hidden in a far-off state,
And, when a man, earned revenge for his father.
TRADITIONAL INTERPRETATIONThis is a risky time, and you should avoid overreaching yourself. Do not get embroiled in conflicts with others, and try not to strive for wealth and fame, lest you encounter disaster along the way. You may have a tricky time in your personal life, but patience and tolerance will let you win through.
REFLECTIONStories of special children being hunted at birth are to be found worldwide-the baby Krishna and Child Jesus are just two examples. The moral here is that rash, fearful, or vengeful actions will rebound. Trying to destroy what you fear may well lead to that fear returning a hundred times worse. In Greek legend, the basis of the tragic notion was the attempt to kill children destined to overthrow you.