Fire in the Gourd Valley
Neutral
The poem
Original: 炎炎烈火焰连天 / 焰里还生一朵莲 / 到底得成终不害 / 依然生叶长根枝
The story
After the defeat at Red Cliff, Cao Cao fled north through country where Zhuge Liang had laid ambushes. Resting at the mouth of Gourd Valley and seeing the ground dangerous but empty, he laughed at Zhuge Liang's lack of foresight, and the guns sounded, Zhang Fei came down on him, the valley took fire, and he escaped in disorder toward Huarong.
What it means
This is the sign of a lotus opening in fire: the appearance of danger without the substance of it. The blaze is real and the flower survives, still growing leaf and root. You will pass through the danger without losing yourself, and people will help you at the points where help is needed. The requirement is to endure this scorching stretch without running about in the flames. Keep one cool place inside you and the lotus has somewhere to open.
By area of life
Wealth
Investment will meet a shock. If you hold your position and are not shaken out, there is a great deal ahead.
Love
Obstacles stand in the way here. Only persistence will carry this through the difficulty and turn it into a settled attachment.
Work
The business is in trouble and a period of scorching is unavoidable. Endure it and you can carry on trading.
Health
The condition looks bad and yet it is holding. Get through this stretch and matters improve steadily from there on.
Travel
A hard passage lies ahead of you. Hold to your principles with real determination and the longer prospects remain genuinely promising.
Advice
A lotus can open in fire, so do not thrash about in the flames.