《太上七星神咒經》

The Scripture of the Seven Stars Divine Incantation of the Most High records a dialogue between the Yellow Emperor (Huang-Lao Primordial Sovereign) and the Celestial Elder Immortal at the Purple Palace Golden Tower in the Shangqing (Highest Clarity) celestial realm.

The Yellow Emperor inquired: "What is the root cause of calamities befalling the common people below?" The Celestial Elder replied: "In the primordial chaos before Heaven and Earth separated, all things existed as one. After Heaven and Earth took their positions and the Five Phases (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) began their cyclical movements, celestial inspections revealed that wherever states lack the Dao or inauspicious individuals dwell, the fate of all living beings becomes tied to celestial phenomena. When stellar movements become aberrant or comets collide, this triggers warfare, floods, droughts, and mass displacement. Those who foresee these calamities and take timely refuge may preserve themselves, while those defying celestial will suffer continuous disasters, sinking the people into seas of suffering."

The Yellow Emperor responded: "How can I bear to witness such suffering? What method can deliver them?" The Celestial Elder then transmitted the "Seven Stars Divine Incantation" along with Yu Steps (a Daoist ritual walking pattern), advising daily recitation seven times while facing east to dispel celestial and terrestrial calamities, causing malevolent spirits, venomous creatures, and spectral entities to retreat without harming practitioners. This incantation rectifies aberrant Qi, prolongs lifespan, and eliminates all misfortunes—but must be guarded carefully, never casually revealed to unworthy recipients.

The scripture concludes with the incantation's content, invoking the radiant divine light of the eastern sun to summon celestial guardians and establish auspicious gates. Practitioners gain充盈 (abundant) Three Primordials (Jing-essence, Qi-energy, and Shen-spirit) with protection from Eight Directional Deities, while transgressors face retribution and all inauspicious forces are expelled. The formula ends with the traditional Daoist imperative "Swiftly, swiftly, in accordance with the statutes and ordinances!"

(Note: "Yu Steps" refer to ritual footsteps imitating Yu the Great's flood-control journeys; "Three Primordials" denote the fundamental human energies of essence, energy, and spirit; "Eight Deities" represent the guardian spirits of eight directions.)