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The *Shenxian Jing* (Scripture of Immortals) states: The Yang path is strong and firm but prone to exhaustion; the Yin path is soft and subtle yet enduring. The Sage closes his mouth, allowing all things to be concealed. By revolving essence and maintaining clarity, one alters the state of Yin and Yang. When speech is due but withheld, divine spirits are transmitted; when words are needed but silence is kept, divine spirits commune with one. Thus, among all methods, "closing the mouth" is paramount; this is the prohibition method for concealing one's form, which illuminates the divine spirits of the Five Zang Organs (Liver, Heart, Spleen, Lung, Kidney). While others play and frolic, I remain solitary and still; while others are noisy, I remain quiet; while others talk incessantly, I remain silent. These practices constitute the unique way of cultivating prohibitions.

The *Xian Jing* (Immortal Scripture) states: Whoever undertakes the method of prohibitions must first observe a fast for one hundred days, focusing the mind and abstaining from sexual intercourse. One may only bathe in pure water and wear clean, fresh clothes. One must never speak foul or abusive words, concentrate on deep thought and quiet contemplation, and avoid stray thoughts, exactly as described in the previous chapter. Furthermore, for seven days, one must keep the mouth closed and not speak to others before receiving the method:
On the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 7th day of the 7th month, and the 9th day of the 9th month. Within three years, receive the method on these dates during these months. If one wholeheartedly observes the fast without violation, the practice of prohibitions will be effective, as miraculous as a god.

Method for receiving prohibitions on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month:
At dawn during the Yin hour (03:00–05:00) on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, bathe and rinse the mouth cleanly. In a secluded, pure place where no one can see you, wear fresh, clean clothes. Burn various fragrant incenses. Stand facing East. Perform the Yu Bu (Great Step ritual) three times without turning around. Kneel long and recite the petition text: "I petition the Three Masters, Divine Child Jade Maid, Heavenly Doctor Lu Yi, all other masters, Supreme Lord Laojun, various Immortal Spirit Kings, Sun, Moon, Five Planets, Twenty-Eight Mansions, Big Dipper and Three Stars, all spiritual officials and great spirit kings, please know that disciple So-and-so accepts and holds the method of talismanic prohibitions. May it relieve and extract the suffering of sentient beings, eliminate poison and dispel evil, ward off treachery and all misfortunes. As commanded, swiftly as the Law of Supreme Lord Laojun."

General Text for Receiving Prohibitions:
Visualize the Wood Prohibition of the East within your Liver (Gan); visualize the Fire Prohibition of the South within your Heart (Xin); visualize the Metal Prohibition of the West within your Lungs (Fei); visualize the Water Prohibition of the North within your Kidneys (Shen); visualize the Earth Prohibition of the Center within your Spleen (Pi).
Visualize Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right, Vermilion Bird in front, Black Tortoise behind. The Heavenly Master drives the prohibitions; nothing causes suffering. Dong Wang Gong and Xi Wang Mu. My prohibitions follow and stop as appropriate. Swiftly as the Law of Supreme Lord Laojun. Afterward, recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Bow twelve times. Then, for another seven days, do not speak a single word to anyone, nor use abusive language. Do not wash your hands for seven days.

Method for receiving prohibitions on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month:
At dawn during the Yin hour on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month, go to a flowing stream moving eastward. Stand facing East with upright heart and intent. Recite the preceding petition text as in the method for the 1st day of the 1st month. Petition the Rivers, Four Great Streams (Yangtze, Yellow, Huai, Ji), all Water Officials, and the Great Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, wishing them to know that disciple So-and-so accepts and holds the prohibition method. Wish that the Great Spirit King immediately establishes the covenant. Recite the received prohibition texts six times each. Bow nine times.

Method for receiving prohibitions on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month:
At noon on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month, burn incense in a quiet place. Stand facing South. After finishing the petition text, recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Bow twelve times.

Method for receiving prohibitions on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month:
At the crowing of the rooster during the Chou hour (01:00–03:00) on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, burn incense in a quiet place. Stand facing West. After finishing the petition text, recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Bow seven times.

Method for receiving prohibitions on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month:
At dusk during the Hai hour (21:00–23:00) on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month, stand facing North in a quiet place. Fill a basin with water. Hold a knife in your mouth. Recite the petition text. Cast incense fire and kneel long. Recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Bow nine times. The procedures for these five days are identical to the method for the 1st day of the 1st month, except for the direction faced and the number of bows.

Method for receiving prohibitions from the Taibai Immortal:
From the 1st day of the 4th lunar month, observe a fast until the 8th day. Establish a Daoist altar, hanging spells on all four sides. Cover [the area], burn incense, and light lamps. Offer sacrifices to the Five Emperors of the Five Directions, the Five Directional Prohibition Masters, and the Five Directional Essence-Swallowing Poison-Eating Yaksha Spirit Kings. Wish them to know that disciple So-and-so accepts and holds the prohibition spell. After the spell, recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Observe a fast for seven days.

Method for receiving prohibitions with Unified Power:
When the first thunder sounds, look up at the lightning. Hold a knife in the right hand and rub it with the left hand. Spell: "Assist me in practicing prohibitions; let my voice shake like a roaring thunder. Let ten thousand poisons lie hidden and hold their breath." Wait until the thunder sound ceases completely. Observe a fast for seven days without speaking. Another version says: When the first thunder sounds, take whatever object you see, chant that your voice is like thunder, causing all evils to fear and tremble. Discard it only after the thunder sound ends. (One version says: hold a knife in the mouth, grasp a large axe with the hand and rub it, saying: 'Mouth like poison, hand like poison, voice like roaring thunder,' etc.)

Method for receiving prohibitions from the Shenxian Wang:
When swallows first arrive, look up at them. Press your hand to the ground and say: "Mouth like poison." Stop when the swallow flies away and is no longer visible. All these require pure fasting and cleanliness, just like the 1st day of the 1st month, without distinction, even refraining from washing hands for seven days.

Method for receiving prohibitions from the Tiandi Taiyi:
Upon initially receiving prohibitions, sit on a mat in a silent, uninhabited place. Set up a table and burn incense. Stand upright with feet together and mouth closed, facing North. Hold a knife in the left hand. Visualize according to the pattern: Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right, Vermilion Bird in front, Black Tortoise behind. The Big Dipper Seven Stars covers the head, with the handle pointing forward. Next, visualize the Great Prohibition Master of the East governing, wishing he holds weapons. Wan Shi Zhao Hou, Piaoji General Su Pingnan, Eight-Department Generals, Seventy-Two Prohibition Masters, Chen Shi, Zhao Shi, Zhifu Minor Official, Zhiri Tongzi protect today. Do not mistake left for right or front for back. If there is inversion or error, punish according to the laws of the messenger. Swiftly as the law. Mentally recite this three times. Then perform the Yu Bu three times approaching the perfumed water. Click teeth three times. Spell: "Azure Dragon of the East brings water; Vermilion Dragon of the South brings water; White Dragon of the West brings water; Black Dragon of the North brings water; Yellow Dragon of the Center brings water. Throw all into the cup of water at the Three Stars. This water of the Three Stars is not ordinary water; it washes away heavenly filth, earthly filth, and thirty-six types of filth. Filth of disciple So-and-so’s body is purified. Swiftly as the law." After reciting the spell three times, use the water to wash the eyes and the four directions above and below. Drink the remaining water to cleanse the abdomen internally. Imagine purity. Read the preceding petition text again. Then kneel long and recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Bow twice to each of the four directions. This completes the process, proving spiritually effective. The knife and water basin must not have previously held wine, meat, or the Five Pungent Spices (garlic, chives, leeks, onions, asafoetida).

Another method:
On the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, bathe when the Eastern Morning Star appears. In a pure, uninhabited place, use white cogon grass as a mat. Place a seat and set up a table burning incense fire. Wash face and eyes well with spring water. Stand facing East with feet together. First raise the left hand to call the Azure Dragon; then raise the right hand to call the White Tiger; move forward to call the Vermilion Bird; move backward to call the Black Tortoise. Finish. Following the previous method, hold the knife in the left hand. Sequentially visualize the spiritual masters. The daily talisman prohibition follows the same method, with no other differences. If desiring to receive talismans and seals, store them in silk or a bag, hang them, and hook them onto the left finger. Then hold the water basin, hold breath, perform Yu Bu, and invoke sequentially according to the method. This is effective.

Method for receiving spells from the Seven Stars:
On the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 7th day of the 7th month, and the 9th day of the 9th month.
First bathe in fragrant water. Take water from an east-flowing stream in an unused clay vessel. Recite the received prohibition text once as a spell over the water. Have the person themselves bathe in a wilderness uninhabited place. Use clean grass as a seat. Place seven bowls of water in clay vessels, arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper, facing North. Say: "Respectfully petition the Seven Holy True Lords. Disciple So-and-so wishes to uphold the prohibition method, prohibiting evil ghosts and poisonous qi, saving and managing the people. Humble prayer: descend true qi, flow through my body, so that the talismans and prohibitions I perform cure diseases upon hearing the command, and heal upon touch." Drink a small amount of the aforementioned waters in sequence. Wash hands with the rest. Do not touch unclean objects with hands. This yields great efficacy. (One version mentions the Seven Buddhas spell method, followed by the self-visualization spell method, which are not adopted here.)

Method for Huangdi Yuejin (Yellow Emperor’s Transcending Prohibition):
Huangdi said: Anyone accepting talismans and prohibitions must maintain purity and fasting for one hundred days. Do not approach places of death, childbirth, or nursing rooms. Do this three times within three years. On the 1st day of the 1st lunar month, the 3rd day of the 3rd month, the 5th day of the 5th month, the 7th day of the 7th month, and the 9th day of the 9th month, under the night stars, place a spirit seat, set up a table, burn incense. Fill a basin with water. Face North, click teeth, pinch the eyes of the Three Masters. Sequentially visualize the deities. Finish. Perform Yu Bu three times. Kneel long and read the petition text. Recite the received prohibition texts three times each. Spiritually effective. The water basin must not have previously held wine, meat, or the Five Pungent Spices. Just before transcending, write in cinnabar on white silk. Hold it in the left hand, pinch eyes, and secretly recite the spell. When desiring to practice prohibitions, hold breath, write in cinnabar on white silk. Hold it in the right hand, pinch eyes, and secretly recite the spell.