Offering prayers to dispel the year's misfortunes, ritual items, and presentation

According to Eastern beliefs, each person is influenced by a particular star each year. This influence can be either positive or negative depending on the individual's lunar age. That's why, at the beginning of the year, many families and lineages organize star worship ceremonies to dispel misfortunes for their descendants. If you are planning such a ceremony, don't overlook the following prayers for dispelling misfortunes at the beginning of 2023.

On which day to perform the star worship ceremony, sharing a sample prayer for seeking peace at home, ritual items, and how to conduct the ceremony according to Vietnamese cultural beliefs
 

1. When to Perform Star Worship for Dispelling Misfortunes?

Performing star worship for dispelling misfortunes at the beginning of 2023 is a question on many people's minds. Corresponding to each star, there will be different times for worship. However, typically people conduct the misfortune dispelling ceremony from the 15th day of the Lunar New Year onwards.

- Worshipping the Kế Đô Star: Worship on the 18th day of every lunar month or worship once at the beginning of the new year. Invocation when performing the ritual: 'Celestial Court Guardian La Hầu Tinh Quân'.

- Worshipping the Thái Bạch Star: Worship on the 15th day of every lunar month or once at the beginning of the new year. Invocation during the ritual is 'Western Direction Canh Tân Kim Đức Thái Bạch Tinh Quân'.

- Worshipping the Thổ Tú Star: On the 19th day of every lunar month or once at the beginning of the new year. Invocation during the ritual is 'Central Mậu Kỷ Thổ Tú Tinh Quân'.

- Worshipping the Vân Hán Star: Worship on the 29th day of every lunar month or once at the beginning of the new year.

The invocation during the ritual is 'Southern Direction Bính Đinh Hỏa Đức Tinh Quân'.

- Worship the Thủy Diệu Star on the 21st day of every lunar month, or once at the beginning of the year. Invocation during the ritual is 'Northern Direction Nhâm Quý Thủy Đức Tinh Quân'.

- Additionally, worship offerings to the Mộc Đức, Thái Âm, and Thái Dương stars respectively on the 25th, 26th, and 27th days of every lunar month, or at the beginning of the new year.
 

2. Prayers for Dispelling Misfortunes at the Beginning of 2023

Alongside prayers at temples and shrines that have been shared, readers can refer to prayers for dispelling misfortunes at the beginning of 2023, a sample prayer for dispelling misfortunes at home as follows:

'I humbly bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of Buddhas, and Buddhas in ten directions.

Homage to the Great Heavenly Emperor, the Supreme Deity adorned with Golden Scepter and Jade Crown.

I respectfully pay homage to the Virtuous True Essence Lord of the Northern Pole, the Great Emperor born from the constellation of Tử Vi.

I reverently pay homage to the Great Emperor of Longevity and Fortune, the Divine Star of Six Generations in the Southern Dipper.

I respectfully pay homage to the Divine Huu Bac Đẩu with its nine stars of Resolving Obstacles.

I respectfully pay homage to (in this section, if any family member's fate aligns with a particular star, write a dedication to that star, otherwise, do not write about other stars):

- The Radiant Sun, the Celestial Ruler, Divine Star of Thái Dương (if any family member's fate aligns with Thái Dương);

- The Graceful Moon, the Empress, Divine Star of Thái Âm (if any family member's fate aligns with Thái Âm);

- The Divine Eastern Direction, Divine Star of Giáp Ất Mộc (if any family member's fate aligns with Mộc Đức);

- The Divine Southern Direction, Divine Star of Bính Đinh Hỏa (if any family member's fate aligns with Vân Hán);

- The Divine Central Direction, Divine Star of Mậu Kỷ Thổ (if any family member's fate aligns with Thổ Tú);

- The Divine Western Direction, Divine Star of Canh Tân Kim Đức Thái Bạch (if any family member's fate aligns with Thái Bạch);

- The Divine Northern Direction, Divine Star of Nhâm Quý Thủy Đức (if any family member's fate aligns with Thủy Diệu);

- The Divine Celestial Palace, Divine Star of La Hầu (if any family member's fate aligns with La Hầu);

- The Divine Earthly Palace, Divine Star of Vỹ Kế Đô (if any family member's fate aligns with Kế Đô).

I respectfully pay homage to the Supreme True Origin, the Original Divine Master of the Heavenly Mandate.

Our faithful followers are:.............................years old......................................................................

Along with all members of the family (list names and ages of each family member):

- ................................................................................................................................

- ................................................................................................................................

Today is the ........... day of the ........... month of the year Quý Mão 2023, I devoutly prepare offerings, fragrant flowers, fruits, and burn incense at (address)........................... to perform the star-resolving ceremony (this part writes the names of the stars influencing the family members this year)....................... fate.

We bow in hope that all of you will graciously attend this ceremony to dispel misfortunes; grant blessings, prosperity, and longevity to us, avoiding all evils, ensuring peace and prosperity within our family.

I, as a faithful follower, sincerely conduct this ceremony, humbly seeking divine protection and assistance.

Respectfully submitted!'

The complete and accurate prayers for dispelling misfortunes in 2023, Year of the Quý Mão
 

3. Considerations for Conducting New Year's Misfortune-Dispelling Ceremony

3.1. Ritual Items for Misfortune-Dispelling Ceremony

The misfortune-dispelling ceremony requires meticulous preparation with the following ritual items:

- Lanterns/candles (quantity varies depending on each star).

- Altar offerings (color of the altar offerings varies according to each star), accurately write the name of the star on the altar offerings (for each star, write the name of that star).

- Golden hat.

- Golden nails.

- Rice, salt.

- Betel leaves, areca nut.

- Floral incense, fruits, ceremonial offerings.

- Water (1 bottle).
 

3.2. Considerations for Performing New Year's Misfortune-Dispelling Ceremony

- To determine auspicious and inauspicious stars, you need to accurately know your lunar age. Refer to the article 2023 lunar age calculation chart to determine the exact lunar age of the 12 zodiac signs.

- After completing the ceremony, the homeowner should transform all the money, gold, prayers, and altar offerings.

- You can perform the misfortune-dispelling ceremony at home or in a temple.

- When performing the family's misfortune-dispelling ceremony, you can choose any day in the month of January.

- When offering to the stars, it's best to do it outdoors: it could be in the front yard or on the rooftop.

- During the misfortune-dispelling ceremony, dress formally and solemnly; recite the prayers clearly, avoiding whispering.

Prayers for the New Year's Misfortune-Dispelling Ceremony in 2023 and the information provided about the misfortune-dispelling ceremony are for reference purposes. Readers can follow them if suitable. With any worship ceremony, whether it's the misfortune-dispelling ceremony or the 2023 Wealth God's Day ceremony, sincerity is always paramount.