When do you want to get married?
Umm… not 2026…
WHAT?!
No… not 2026… it doesn’t sound that good in Mandarin…
Really?! (Googling this…) I can’t find any information about it!
I prefer 2027 or 2028… I just feel that 2027 and 2028 are better, numerologically…
That’s not a word…
I know, but anyways. I don’t like 2026 in Mandarin. It reminds me of “poverty” and “loss”…
REALLY?!?! I’m going to ask other Mandarin speaker friends…
Fine, ask them. Maybe I’m weird… but I just don’t like it…
It doesn’t make sense. It’s just a number. Why can’t I just marry you as soon as possible?!
Well… can we at least consult a proper fortune teller? One in Taiwan? One that can do the 八字
What is that?
It’s a fortune telling thing… I don’t know how to explain it in English!
Google Translate says “character”
Yeah that’s not it… how about Korean?! (성격)
I have no idea if that makes any sense…
Why does it have to be THAT specific form of fortune telling? What about all your Western astrology and other things that you like calculating?
In terms of marriage, I need the 八字 blessing. I need the full and proper calculation. There are days for getting married. I need it calculated by 八字 yes I do. It’s a Taiwanese thing, maybe. Okay, it’s a me thing. It’s a superstitious me thing. But it is also quite prevalent amongst Taiwanese, yes.
How do we calculate it?
Does your name have actual Chinese characters?
Yes.
Okay then, that’s how it’s calculated. Your Chinese-characters name… and MY name in Chinese… it’s calculated by those names.
Oh? I didn’t know this.
(Chuckling) I think your date of birth is factored in, too. But there is a calculation as well with the names… the Chinese character names… it’s always off when Westerners just translate a Western name into “Chinese” characters, it’s just a gimmick. Just a quirky, fun hobby thing… but when it is the Chinese names — Chinese characters — it’s very accurate, in my opinion. I think because your name was given by Ancestry — there’s just something to that calculation. I feel like… it makes sense to me.
(Sigh) So you really need that calculation. And I can’t even get it calculated beforehand because I don’t know your FULL legal Chinese character-name…
You don’t?! Didn’t I tell you once?!
Did you?!
I can’t remember…
I can’t remember either…?
Well, then, yeah… we’ll have to… get it calculated together one day. Sometimes they also factor in our faces…
Faces?
Yes! The fortune teller has MANY things to calculate — Your Chinese character name, your date of birth, and even your FACE. Your fortune is on your FACE.
And what if I changed my face?
So then you changed your fortune… something changed, when you changed your face…
(Chuckling)
What?!
I think I changed it to make sure that I never lose you again.
(Smiling)
What if we don’t like the result of the calculation? What if it’s a bad fortune?
Then we’ll try my other name.
(Surprised!) You have ANOTHER Chinese name?!?!?!
(Laughing) I have… a Buddhist Chinese name…
Oh?
So, if the fortune isn’t good with my normal Chinese name, then let’s try my Buddhist Chinese name… perhaps, if the fortune is even better with THAT name — then I need to live my life — with you — very much focused on the Buddhist path. I have to really dive in to the Spiritual dedication… to be a good wife, to be a good partner… all of that… I think that’s what it will be, if the calculation is really weird with the normal name…
What if the calculation is worse with the Buddhist name?
(Chuckling) I don’t think it will be.
How do you know?
I just have a feeling… I think, even with letting the fortune teller know, “Okay, let’s try this calculation again — with the Buddhist name — ” That will also make the fortune teller make their own adjustments… and I just think, a Buddhist name — has its own blessings. So… it wouldn’t matter that much anyway.
SO why can’t we just get married in 2026 with your BUDDHIST NAME?!
(Laughing) No!!! I want the other calculations first!!!
What is your Buddhist name?
昕慧
In English, I often translate it as… “Dawning Wisdom”…
You’re happy to let everyone reading the blog know this?
Yeah. It’s my Buddhist name. It’s got the most Spiritual Protection of anything… it’s more powerful than an Evil Eye amulet.
Even with all the shit you’ve written so far on this blog?! Your Buddhist Name has the most Protection?
Yes. 1000%. YES.
More protection than Kundalini yoga?
Oh yeah… I actually dropped that practice by Day 11… in case anyone was wondering…
(Chuckles)
Why is this name so special to you?
Because I received it from a Buddhist Master in the mountains of Taiwan.
I have memories of being peaceful there… It was a spiritual pilgrimage. Nobody can take that away from me.
And being my wife? My girlfriend? My partner?! My horny little angel devil?! All of that makes sense within this Buddhist paradigm?
Yes… (Nodding)… It makes sense… to me, it makes total sense…
Wow you’re so not Christian.
(LOL) Isn’t that FUCKING obvious?!?!!?
Virgo Sun Pisces Moon 