Process and Methods
After all these, how does one receive a poem from the gods? Every temple has a set of distinct system, and everyone has a distinct fate, which includes the past, the present, and the future. Therefore, there is no absolute step-by-step procedure in doing so. However, only with a genuine and sincere heart can a believer be guided by Matsu.
The author grew up in Beigang. Since the fourth grade, except the days out of Beigang, he has been visitng Chaotian Temple to pay his respects to Matsu. Following the elders’ methods and perspectives, he frequently prayed to Matsu three positives for a poem as guidance.
As instructed by YDM Matsu, one must receive three positive moon block signs to be certain that a poem is the correct guidance. The three positive signs respectively represent major concerns. The first consists of time, place, people. The second includes opportunities, necessary actions, and dealing with people. And the third is a sign of the past, the present, and the future. Receiving three positives consecutively is not easy; one must be patient, decisive, and confident. If not meeting such situation for an hour, one must consider changing methods of asking questions, changing the time for asking, or perhaps waiting for a while before keeping trying.
YDM’s process and methods for receiving the right poem are as the following:
1.Be sincere.
Sincerely prepare offerings and start paying respect from the main furnace, followed by the main god of the central palace and the gods in each palace. If you are in need of guidance, you must describe the situations in details to the main god in the central palace. After paying respect to all of the gods in all of the palaces, return to the main palace and get down on your knees to sincerely describe your questions in details. Then, you may take a rest for ten minutes before the next step.
2. See if you can draw lots.
Describe the questions in details before the god(s) and ask whether or not you may draw the lots, which are inscribed with the numbers of designated poems.
If you cannot receive a positive sign, you may cast the moon blocks to see whether or not you should wait for a little to keep moving on? Maybe you can ask the questions to other gods? Or maybe you should return and repeat the process some other day? If you still cannot acquire a certain answer, you may ask the staff for help. Remember, you must acquire the permission to draw the lots before moving on to the next step.
3. Drawing the lots.
Grab all of the lots inside the can, lift and turn the lots either clockwise or counterclockwise, then, release the lots and pick the one standing the tallest among the lots. Now, ask the god(s) whether or not the picked lot is the right one. Again, three positives must be given. If not, repeat the lots-drawing step. If no certain sign is given after an entire hour, return to step two.
4. Analyze the given poem.
When given a poem, one may reference to the analysis for each poem on the YDM site www.ydm.com.tw in order to feel and realize the guidance of the gods. Or, one may directly take the poem to a professional interpreter at the temple and ask for advices.
5. Verify the answer and advices with the god(s).
Finally, one must direct cast the moon blocks to verify that the answer to your questions and the given advices match the true guidance. The verification takes two positives. If not, each answer and advice must be corrected and verified one by one. Most importantly, one must carefully read through the words from the gods again to see whether or not there is anything to be added. One may cast the moon blocks until there is no more detail to add to the analysis.
As long as one bears a sincere heart, he or she will surely receive guidance from the gods. Will the guidance be of actual help? That entirely depends on one’s own behaviors and productivity in following the guidance.
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