Stick #70
Average塞翁失馬
The Old Man Who Lost His Horse
Remember the old Shepherd who lost his horse.
How he rejoiced over what he had lost!
For something lost would mean something gained, Today's puzzle would be in future explained.
Asking about: Study
The Story Behind This Stick
This stick references one of China's most famous philosophical parables about Sai Weng, an old man living near the northern frontier. When his prized horse ran away, neighbors offered sympathy, but Sai Weng simply said 'How do you know this isn't good fortune?' The horse returned with a whole herd of wild horses.
When neighbors congratulated him, he replied 'How do you know this isn't bad luck?' His son tried to tame one of the wild horses, fell, and broke his leg. Again, Sai Weng remained neutral about the 'misfortune.
' Later, when war broke out and all young men were conscripted, his son was spared due to his injury. The story teaches that apparent setbacks often contain hidden opportunities, and what seems like success might lead to future problems. This wisdom became central to Daoist philosophy about the cyclical nature of fortune and misfortune.
Your current academic struggles aren't the disaster they appear to be. That failed exam, rejected application, or difficult subject you're wrestling with? Think of it as Sai Weng's lost horse.
I remember a student who bombed organic chemistry so badly she switched majors from pre-med to environmental science. Five years later, she landed her dream job at a conservation nonprofit—something that never would have happened if she'd stayed on the medical track. Here's the thing about learning: sometimes you need to lose your way to find the right path.
That subject you're finding impossible might be teaching you skills you don't recognize yet. The research project that got rejected could be pushing you toward a better topic. The study group that fell apart might force you to develop independent learning strategies that serve you for life.
The key insight here is patience with the process. Academic setbacks often redirect us toward opportunities we couldn't have imagined. Your current confusion or disappointment might be clearing space for something more aligned with your actual strengths and interests.
This isn't about blind optimism—it's about staying curious about how today's challenges might be reshaping your educational journey in ways you can't see yet.
What To Do Next
Don't make any major academic decisions while you're in crisis mode. Instead, use this uncertain period to explore adjacent interests you've been ignoring. Take that elective you've been curious about.
Reach out to professors in different departments. Talk to people working in fields you've never seriously considered. Keep detailed notes about what you're learning from this difficult phase—both academically and about yourself.
Most importantly, maintain your effort in current coursework even if results aren't immediately rewarding. The skills you're building now will matter in ways you can't predict.
Sometimes academic failure is actually your future success knocking at the door.
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 #70 (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 #70 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.