Rituals and Worship

Sacred Time
Sacred time is experienced
when one is aligned with the
movement of nature through its
regular cycles. It is also
experienced as a return to the
state of the cosmos before
creation occurred.
Sacred Space
Before Taoist ritual begins, a
sacred space is created that
links heaven and earth.
Mountains and caves are also
considered sacred spaces, and
are often occupied by Taoist
hermits.
Rites and Ceremonies
Taoist rituals are elaborate
dramas, lasting over several
days, incorporating costume,
music, recitations, and stylized
movements, and culminating in
an ascent to the gods to present
a written memorial on behalf of
the participants.
Worship and Devotion in Daily
Life
Lay people may consult a Taoist
priest when they have an illness
or a problem. Priests participate
in daily rituals of self-cultivation
to prepare themselves
spiritually for their role.
Symbolism
There are a multitude of Taoist
symbols, some representing
immortality, others related to
nature or the stars. A
constellation of symbols
revolving around writing is
essential to Taoism.
Beliefs
Sacred Narratives
While it lacks a primary and
foundational sacred narrative,
Taoism has many sacred stories.
Among these are narratives
describing encounters with
spirits and journeys to spirit
realms.
Ultimate Reality and Divine
Beings
Tao existed "before heaven and
earth." From Tao came a
primordial matrix of
undifferentiated energy, and
from this matrix, all of
existence, including myriads of
Taoist gods, emerged.
Human Nature and the Purpose
of Existence
To maintain or recover a natural
alignment between humanity
and the world, many perform
self-cultivation techniques.
These are believed to improve
one's health, and potentially
even lead to immortality. They
also promote order and
harmony within the community.
Suffering and the Problem of
Evil
Taoist ideas about suffering and
evil come from a variety of
sources and are quite diverse.
Many look to Taoist priests to
resolve illness or misfortune by
communicating on their behalf
to the gods.
Afterlife and Salvation
Early Taoism focused on this-
worldly goals or on immortality
of the physical body. Later, in
reaction to Buddhism, Taoism
incorporated concepts of
heaven, hell, and rebirth.