Ritual on the Day of Doumu Yuanjun

Doumu Yuanjun (斗姆元君) — the Cosmic Mother, Mother of the Northern Dipper — is one of the most venerated goddesses in the Daoist pantheon. From her arise the nine stars of the Big Dipper, which regulate the fate and longevity of all beings. In early Daoism, she did not have an anthropomorphic form, but represented a function of cosmic order — the operating system of the universe — determining time, fate, and the life cycle as expressed in the diagrams of the Big Dipper.

The ritual is performed on the 9th day of the 9th lunar month — the Double Ninth (重九), the day of the strongest yang energy. The number nine symbolizes completeness, longevity, and celestial power. The date also coincides with the traditional Chongyang Festival (重阳节), when people climb to high places.

On this day, followers turn to the cosmic principle of Doumu. As the mother of the stars, she has the power to reverse unfavorable influences of fate and bless a long life.