Have you ever felt listless and plagued by misfortune, as if shrouded by an invisible cloud of "bad luck"? In Daoist culture, this can be due to your personal energy field being disturbed after encountering places with negative energy. This article introduces two simple, traditional Daoist methods for cleansing: Mugwort purification and the "Five-Fragrance Bath," to help you disperse negativity, boost your vital energy (Yang Qi), and improve your luck.

1. Mugwort: The Preferred Choice for Home Purification
Mugwort (Ai Cao) is a widely known sacred herb for warding off negative influences. The smoke from its combustion has strong cleansing properties.

• Smoke Cleansing: Light a mugwort stick or dried mugwort and slowly walk through your living space, allowing the smoke to reach every corner. This effectively removes pathogenic energy, stale luck, and undesirable atmospheres.

• Foot Soak: Boil mugwort with a few Sichuan peppercorns (Hua Jiao) and use the water for a foot bath. This raises the body's Yang Qi, improves sleep, and boosts immunity.

• Moxibustion Therapy: Using moxa wool made from mugwort aged over three years for moxibustion is a traditional way to warm the meridians and tonify primordial energy.

• Incense: Making incense from aged mugwort for daily burning can help maintain a clear and positive environment consistently.

2. The Five-Fragrance Bath: Deep-Level Purification of Body and Mind
For personal cleansing of negative energy, Daoist texts record the "Fragrant Soup Bath" method, which involves bathing in a decoction of specific Chinese herbs.

• Classic Formula: Herbs often used include Costus Root (Qing Mu Xiang), Angelica Dahurica (Bai Zhi), Aquilaria Wood (Chen Xiang), Sandalwood (Bai Tan Xiang), and Spikenard (Gan Song). Combined, these herbs are believed to "dispel impurities and summon the genuine," driving away evil and inviting purity.

• Bathing Method: Boil the herbs in water, wait until the temperature is comfortable, and then pour it over your body. Regular use is said to not only clean the body but also gradually wash away unfavorable energy fields, bringing about better fortune.

• Textual Basis: This method is documented in Daoist classics like The Scripture of the Three Sovereigns (San Huang Jing) and The Secret Book of the Great Elixir (Tai Dan Yin Shu), considered an essential part of fasting and purification rituals.

3. Simple Alternative
If the full formula is hard to obtain, a simplified version can be used: boil bamboo leaves and peach tree bark (Tao Bai Pi) in water for bathing or wiping the body. This also has the effect of warding off malign influences and removing impurities.

Conclusion
When feeling down on your luck, besides adjusting your mindset and connecting with nature, consider trying these ancient Daoist practices. Through the smoke of mugwort and the fragrance of herbs, a thorough "spring cleaning" for both body and mind might just bring you a refreshed state of energy.