In Taoist tradition, before a soul is born into this world, it must pass through a process in the spiritual realm. Think of it as taking out a “loan” from a cosmic system before beginning life on Earth. The Origin of Life Debt in Taoism According to the Taoist scripture Taishang Laojun Shuo Wudou Jinzhang […]
Legend has it that Zhuge Liang once set up an altar at Wuzhangyuan to perform a ritual known as “star purification and life extension.” This ritual centered on offering sacrifices to the Big Dipper lamp. It was believed that if the main lamp remained lit for seven days, one’s life could be prolonged. However, on […]
Introduction When people think of Taoism and Taoist priests, two very different impressions often come to mind. Some see them as recluses who have withdrawn from the world, completely detached from human affairs. Others reduce Taoism to fortune-telling, feng shui, and superstition. However, both views miss the deeper truth of Taoist philosophy. Unlike a set […]
Introduction When people first encounter Taoist taboos, they often assume these are arbitrary superstitions — a list of things to avoid simply because tradition says so. This impression, however, misses the deeper logic behind these customs. In Taoist culture, taboos are not arbitrary restrictions. Instead, they reflect deeper principles of harmony between Qi and Yin-Yang, […]
Introduction The year 2026 marks the Bing Wu (丙午) Year of the Horse, a combination of the Heavenly Stem Bing (丙) and the Earthly Branch Wu (午). In traditional Chinese calendrical thought, both are associated with the Fire element, which is why 2026 is commonly described as a Fire Horse year or a year with […]
Introduction When people first hear that a new year brings a new “Tai Sui,” they often wonder whether this applies to them specifically, or only to a select few zodiac signs. Within traditional Tai Sui interpretation, each zodiac sign is discussed in relation to the annual branch, with particular relationships emphasized for some signs. This […]