RITUALS
Taoism rituals frequently involve confession or expiation and involve the purification of the body through bathing and fasting, the purification of the heart through confession of transgressions or moral impurity, and a communal feast celebrating the re-established harmony between human community and the spirit world.
Other rituals are acts of communal renewal, which are the main rituals carried out today. In contemporary jiao-rituals an altar is erected, written invitations are sent to the gods, the gods descend into the sacred space around the altar, incense is offered and an audience takes place between the sponsors of the ritual and the gods. The ritual can last from one day to several weeks.
Communal chanting is done before the main altar, usually dedicated to the Sanqing (Three Purities), in the morning and in the evening. This is supposed to be performed daily, but often only occurs on the new and full moon, seasonal nodes, and major festival days. This is do to purify the heart, purify the mouth, purify the body, purify the earth, purify the cosmos, and Emphasis is placed on self-purification and cosmological attunement.
Other rituals are acts of communal renewal, which are the main rituals carried out today. In contemporary jiao-rituals an altar is erected, written invitations are sent to the gods, the gods descend into the sacred space around the altar, incense is offered and an audience takes place between the sponsors of the ritual and the gods. The ritual can last from one day to several weeks.
Communal chanting is done before the main altar, usually dedicated to the Sanqing (Three Purities), in the morning and in the evening. This is supposed to be performed daily, but often only occurs on the new and full moon, seasonal nodes, and major festival days. This is do to purify the heart, purify the mouth, purify the body, purify the earth, purify the cosmos, and Emphasis is placed on self-purification and cosmological attunement.