Stick #60
Average太白和番
Li Bai's Refusal of Imperial Favor
Poet Li Pak enjoyed himself so much in drinking wine.
The more drunk he was, his poem was more refined.
A high post was offered him by the Emperor; Yet fame and wealth, he would prefer to ignore.
Asking about: Study
The Story Behind This Stick
Li Bai (also called Li Pak) was Tang Dynasty China's most celebrated poet, known for his wild lifestyle and extraordinary talent. According to legend, Emperor Xuanzong summoned him to court around 742 CE, offering prestigious positions and wealth. Li Bai initially accepted, serving as a court poet, but court politics disgusted him.
The story goes that he was too free-spirited for bureaucratic life — he'd show up drunk to imperial audiences and demanded that a powerful eunuch help remove his boots. Eventually, he left the capital voluntarily, choosing a wandering poet's life over official honors. This tale became legendary in Chinese culture, representing the eternal tension between artistic integrity and worldly success.
For Chinese scholars, Li Bai embodies the romantic ideal of choosing creative freedom over conventional achievement.
Your learning journey mirrors Li Bai's choice between conformity and authenticity. This sign suggests your studies aren't about chasing external validation — grades, rankings, or impressing others. Instead, focus on genuine understanding and personal growth.
You might find that unconventional approaches work better for you than traditional methods. That weird study technique you've been considering? Try it.
The subject that fascinates you but seems 'impractical'? Explore it. Your mind works best when it's engaged, not when it's forcing itself through rigid requirements.
This doesn't mean being lazy or undisciplined. Li Bai was incredibly productive, just on his own terms. Think about what truly excites your curiosity rather than what you think should excite it.
Your learning style might be different from your classmates, and that's perfectly fine. The sign warns against getting caught up in academic competition or status-seeking. Those classmates obsessing over rankings?
They might miss the actual joy of discovery that makes learning worthwhile.
What To Do Next
Start a personal learning project outside your formal curriculum — something that genuinely interests you. Set aside dedicated time for exploring topics your way, without grades or external pressure. If you're struggling with motivation, examine whether you're studying for others' approval rather than your own growth.
Consider study methods that match your natural rhythms, even if they're unconventional. Join study groups where discussion and curiosity matter more than competition.
Sometimes the best learning happens when you stop trying to impress anyone else.
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 #60 (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 #60 for study?
- 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.