Stick #23
Average夢中得寶
Treasure in Dreams
Endless illusion is the dream for wealth and fame; Years of prosperity are nothing but a false game.
The fruit of success is hardly ripe to reap; One will mourn lost glory after waking up from sleep.
Asking about: General
The Story Behind This Stick
This sign references the famous Chinese tale of Lu Sheng's dream at Handan Inn. Lu Sheng was a poor scholar who met a Taoist priest while traveling. The priest gave him a magical pillow, and Lu fell asleep on it while rice was being cooked nearby.
In his dream, he lived an entire lifetime — marrying a beautiful woman, becoming a high official, accumulating vast wealth, and enjoying decades of glory. When he woke up, the rice wasn't even finished cooking. The whole "lifetime" had been just minutes.
This story became a cornerstone of Chinese philosophy about the illusory nature of worldly success. The phrase "Handan dream" still means chasing empty ambitions in Chinese culture. It's not about giving up goals, but recognizing when we're chasing mirages instead of substance.
You're currently caught up in some version of Lu Sheng's dream. Maybe you're fixated on a promotion that promises more than it delivers, or chasing social media validation, or believing that one big break will solve everything. The thing is, you're not delusional — there probably are real opportunities in front of you. This isn't about abandoning ambition.
The issue is scale and expectation. You've inflated what success will actually bring you. That dream job might come with a fancy title but also 80-hour weeks and office politics. That investment opportunity might have real potential, but you're already spending the profits in your head.
I met someone last year who got obsessed with becoming an "influencer" after one video went semi-viral. She quit her stable job, bought expensive equipment, and spent months creating content that barely anyone watched. She'd tasted that brief moment of attention and confused it with sustainable success.
Right now, you need to separate what's genuinely valuable from what just looks impressive. The "fruit" isn't ripe yet because you're picking from the wrong tree entirely. Focus on building something real and lasting rather than chasing the highlight reel version of success.
What To Do Next
Stop making major decisions based on best-case scenarios. Write down what you actually want from your current pursuits, then honestly assess if they're delivering that. If you're job hunting, research the day-to-day reality, not just the salary.
If you're investing time or money somewhere, set concrete milestones and deadlines. Most importantly, keep your current foundation stable while exploring new directions. Don't quit your day job for the dream job until the dream job is actually offering you a contract.
That shiny opportunity might just be fool's gold wrapped in LinkedIn posts and Instagram success stories.
What you feel reading this is already part of the answer.
Next comes specific guidance — when to act, how to move, what to watch for.
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Further Reading
FAQ
- Is Stick #23 (Average) good or bad?
- "Average" is a middle-tier fortune. It suggests your situation has room for growth but requires attention and direction. The real value is in the specific guidance — fortune sticks are tools for self-reflection, not prediction.
- How accurate is Wong Tai Sin Stick #23 for general?
- Fortune sticks work as a mirror for self-reflection rather than prediction. If the interpretation resonates with you, that's the stick doing its job — revealing what you already sense but haven't articulated.
- Can I draw fortune sticks for the same question again?
- Traditionally, you should ask about the same matter only once. Drawing repeatedly often means you're seeking the answer you want rather than the guidance you need. To explore different angles, try a different life topic for the same stick number.