A New Year Fortune

Kau Chim, also known as "The Oracle of Guan Yin" or Siam Si in Thailand, is a type of fortune-telling which is popular in Buddhist temples.

In front of the temple shrine is a small bamboo cup painted red. Inside it are a number of long red sticks, each painted with a number. To get your fortune, hold the cup between your hands and shake it. The number on whichever stick falls out is your fortune!

This past weekend on the walking tour, we all gave it a try. My fortune was ok, but I'm going to read it in a hopeful and positive way for the new year. Luck and fortune are far from reach, but if I'm patient, I'll be happy, joyful, and rich. That's not too bad!

my fortune

It's not something that people tend to take too seriously, though. It's more of a game, like a magic 8-ball. I once asked someone what to do if you get a bad fortune. "Just try it again", they told me.