Stick #45
AverageAsking about Love · one of the deck's middle grade signs
The short answer
Your relationship situation has this dreamy, suspended-in-time quality that Wang Zhi experienced.
Reviewed 2026-06-08
Full readingStick No. 45
王質遇仙
Asking about Love · one of the deck's middle grade signs
The short answer
Your relationship situation has this dreamy, suspended-in-time quality that Wang Zhi experienced.
Reviewed 2026-06-08
Full readingPlucking firewood the woodcutter strolled into a forest, There he watched two fairies engaged in a game of chess.
Preparing to go home he found his axe became rotten, For centuries have elapsed and our earthly years forgotten.
Wang Zhi was a simple woodcutter during the Jin Dynasty who stumbled upon something extraordinary while gathering firewood in the mountains. He discovered two immortals playing chess and became so absorbed watching their game that he completely lost track of time. In the celestial area, time moves differently — what felt like an afternoon to Wang Zhi actually lasted centuries.
When he finally tried to leave, his iron axe had rusted to nothing, and returning to his village, he found that everyone he knew had died long ago. This tale became a classic warning about being swept away by fascinating distractions, losing sight of earthly responsibilities and relationships. It's also about the subjective nature of time — how moments of deep engagement can make hours feel like minutes, while separation can make minutes feel like years.
Your relationship situation has this dreamy, suspended-in-time quality that Wang Zhi experienced. Maybe you've been so caught up in the romance or potential of someone that you've lost track of practical realities. That intense connection where hours fly by unnoticed?
It's intoxicating, but there's a gentle warning here about staying grounded. The "Average" grade suggests your love life isn't heading for disaster, but it's not exactly accelerating either. You might be in that chess-watching phase — observing, fascinated, but not actively participating in your own romantic story.
Perhaps you've been so focused on someone unavailable or on the fantasy of what could be that you're missing what's actually happening around you. This sign often appears when people are caught between worlds — maybe long-distance relationships, workplace crushes with complications, or situations where the timing never seems quite right. The rotten axe represents neglected practical matters.
While you've been mesmerized by this person or situation, have you let other relationships deteriorate? The centuries passing unnoticed suggests that what feels urgent to you might actually benefit from a slower, more patient approach.
Step back from the chess game and check your surroundings. If you're fixated on someone, deliberately spend time with friends and family you might have been neglecting. Set specific time limits for romantic fantasizing or endless text conversations — use a literal timer if needed.
If you're in a relationship that feels suspended between casual and serious, initiate a practical conversation about where things are heading. For single people, this means less time scrolling dating apps dreamily and more time engaging with your actual social circle. The key is balancing the magical with the mundane.