Ritual of Worshiping the Four-Directional Gods at the Taiji Thunder Altar

On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, take one chi and two cun (a traditional Chinese unit of length; approximately 40 centimeters) of yellow silk, write the "Red Rooster and Purple Goose Talisman" in accordance with Taoist ritual rules. Burn incense and recite the "Mulang Mantra" a hundred times, then submerge the talisman in water in the northeast direction.

Next, return to a clean room, arrange four sets of meat offerings (offerings containing animal blood, a common practice in ancient Taoist rituals), serve wine, and invoke the four gods including Jade Thunder Bright Master. After presenting the wine, the forms of a rooster and a goose will appear; soon after, the forms of the gods themselves will manifest. You may pray for whatever you desire, then burn the ritual paper. In years of drought, prayers made in this way will always be answered.

The Scripture of the Five Thunders states: "These four gods are the spirits of water from the primeval chaos at the beginning of time. When King Yu controlled the floods, he ordered them to guard the four directions (northeast, southeast, northwest, southwest). It is also said that they are the essences of the Eight Trigrams, in charge of clouds and rain. Worshiping them annually can promptly bring forth clouds and rain."