PRAYING TO TAI SUI FOR THE RABBIT YEAR

For the year of the Rabbit, there are 4 animal zodiacs which are in conflict with Tai Sui.  The Taoists believe that those who are in conflict need to pray to Tai Sui or the Grand Duke Jupiter for a safe and good year. 
Those who are conflict this year are the Rabbit, the Rooster, the Rat and the Horse.
My mum and I who belong to the group who are in conflict went to the temple yesterday morning to pray to Tai Sui.  Before we went, my mum bought fruits, Fa Gao (a type of cake) and a bottle of oil as offerings.

 When we reached the temple, we had to wait for our turn for one of the temple volunteers to help us write our names and particulars on a special prayer paper.  I gave her a packet of Lai See (red packet containing money) for her help.  We also included the names of my sister and my nephew who were in conflict. 

I paid RM17 for the prayer paraphernalia above that would be used as offerings during the praying to Tai Sui ceremony.  As yesterday was a good day to perform the prayers, there were a lot of people at the temple and so we had to wait a while for our turn.

There would be a temple helper who would help to perform the ceremony.  Those in conflict with Tai Sui have to kneel in front of the Tai Sui statue during the ceremony. 

After the ceremony is over, the helper will stack the joss paper under the Tai Sui Statue.  This symbolises that the luck of those who prayed to Tai Sui would be lifted and be improved.  They would also be blessed by Tai Sui.

The joss paper being stacked under the Tai Sui statue.  After the ceremony, the offering paper with the names of those in conflict with Tai Sui would be burnt.  Then the worshippers would be given a paper charm to be kept for protection.  They would be given a small packet of tea leaves.  One has to brew the tea leaves to drink at home.