Is Drawing Lots a Reliable Form of Divination?

Folk Knowledge: Are Drawing Lots and Divination Reliable? The methods referred to here involve two practices: First, visiting a temple or Taoist shrine, holding a bamboo tube, focusing on your question, shaking the tube until a bamboo stick emerges, marked with something like "Great Blessing," "Moderate Blessing," or "Great Misfortune." The second practice involves holding two wooden "Yin-Yang Fish," thinking about your question, shaking them, and then observing which side faces up once they fall. Repeating this process several times helps determine if the outcome is auspicious or inauspicious. Some bamboo sticks or symbols can be interpreted independently, while others may require consultation with a master.

In truth, this method of drawing lots and divination can offer reasonably accurate answers for straightforward questions, indicating whether the outcome is favorable or unfavorable, or whether to proceed or not. This is because the stick or symbol captures your personal thoughts during the process. The results essentially reflect your rational prediction about the issue at hand. If doubtful, you can try the process again; you'll likely get the same result as these outcomes typically don't change. Even visiting different temples usually yields similar results. A single divination may influence matters for up to a hundred days, with the information generally remaining constant for about three months. Moreover, when your fortune is good, the result is consistently auspicious no matter where or when you draw lots; conversely, poor luck leads to unfavorable outcomes regardless of time or place.

However, when engaging in drawing lots or divination, it is best to stay calm and consider your question carefully. If you do not understand the result, you can seek interpretation from a master for a small fee, typically around 10 yuan or several tens of yuan. Be cautious if a master demands hundreds or thousands; that's likely a scam. You have the option to pay or simply walk away. If, during the reading, the master insists you have grave misfortune requiring a large expenditure to resolve, be even more wary. Offering a small donation is fine, but if they demand thousands or tens of thousands to avert disaster, it is highly questionable. However, if you can afford it and seek comfort while looking to do good deeds, no one will stop you.

If a master insists on offering a reading of your BaZi or physiognomy, that's even less relevant. For those who have renounced worldly life, compassion should be their guiding principle, and their practice should be righteous; other pursuits are distractions that should be avoided.