Stick #83
Average人心不足
The Heart Never Has Enough
In this busy world, hard we have to strive.
Our problems pile like mountains in this miserable life.
Even the wealthiest may suffer for having no son.
So behold!
Flowers bloom, flowers fall, why worry at all?
Asking about: Love
The Story Behind This Stick
This sign carries one of Chinese culture's most enduring warnings: 人心不足蛇吞象 (the human heart is never satisfied — a snake trying to swallow an elephant). The image comes from ancient folklore about a greedy snake that attempted to devour an elephant, only to burst from overambition. In traditional Chinese thought, this represents the fundamental human flaw of endless wanting.
The wealthy merchant desires noble status, the noble craves imperial favor, the emperor wants immortality. The poem's reference to 'even the wealthiest suffering for having no son' reflects ancient Chinese values where male heirs determined a family's continuation and status. This wasn't just about gender preference — it was about ancestral worship, inheritance, and social survival.
The final line about flowers blooming and falling echoes Buddhist teachings on impermanence, suggesting that our constant striving blinds us to life's natural cycles.
When this stick appears in matters of love, it's calling out relationship greed. Maybe you're constantly comparing your partner to others, wondering if someone better exists out there. Or you're in a good relationship but fixated on what's missing — why aren't they more romantic, more successful, more like your friend's boyfriend?
This sign isn't saying settle for less, but it's highlighting how endless wanting can poison what you already have. The 'mountains of problems' often come from our own expectations, not actual relationship issues. Think about it: even couples who seem perfect from outside have their struggles.
Social media makes this worse — everyone's posting highlight reels while you're living the behind-the-scenes reality. The wealthy man suffering 'for having no son' represents how we create suffering by demanding life fit our exact script. In dating, this might show up as having an impossible checklist.
In relationships, it's the 'if only' trap. If only they made more money, if only they were tidier, if only they read my mind better. The flowers blooming and falling?
That's about accepting your relationship's natural rhythms instead of demanding constant spring.
What To Do Next
Make a list of what you genuinely appreciate about your current relationship or dating situation — not what you wish were different, but what actually exists right now. If you're single, stop scrolling through dating apps for one week and notice if the break shifts your mindset. If you're coupled, have an honest conversation about one thing you've been taking for granted.
Set a boundary with social media if it's feeding comparison. When you catch yourself in 'if only' thinking, redirect to 'what is' thinking. Small shift, big difference.
Your relationship isn't broken — your expectations might be too big for reality to hold.
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 #83 (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 #83 for love?
- 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.