Taoist Snake Magic (蛇术)

 

There are many streams of snake magic, below system is originated from Hunan, China. Since the transmission of this type of magic is only from mouth to ear, there are bound to be many errors in recording down these type of magic spells, so please do bear with me.

 

Anyone who is inspired to learn snake magic must first rear a small cock about one year old and feed it with realgar wine. Then on the 5^th day of the 5^th Chinese Calendar month, the cock will be slaughtered and its blood be mixed with realgar wine to be consumed by this inspired practitioner. The taboos must be observed by the person are: refrained from eating turtle (hard and soft shell), eels and snake. This person must also continue to consume realgar wine annually in order that his snake magic to be effective.

 

First step is to invoke the blessing of lineage guru (起师) by reciting the below mantra:

 

“I call upon lineage masters, especially master so-and-so (your master) to me (your name). Acknowledge in the cloud if you are in the cloud, acknowledge on the road if you are on the road etc. Hear my pleas thousands time, as my will, so mote it be!”

    

 “今请祖师、本祖师、祖王，玉请香檀渡水山木祖师，邹法林师祖，萧法郁、法名刘信林师祖，陈法林师祖，陈法云师祖，李法林师公，郭法礼师公，郭法千师父，***（师傅名讳）口传心度弟子***（弟子名字）。师父你在云中云中应，师父你在路中路中应，师父你在影中影中应，师父你在水中水中应，师父你在去云蒸霞蔚中勒住云头，师父你在影中勒转码头，师父你在水中勒转船头，千叫千应，万叫万灵，不叫不灵。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

 

After that, as with any other Taoist rituals, one must “hide” his body (藏身):

 

“I am hiding my body, my body changed to masters of the north. I am wearing armor and holding a sword, stepping on the mountain of the south. I am holding cuffs first to lock the snake’s head, and last to lock the snake’s tail. The snake will not open its mouth, locking the snake head and tail. I am transforming to the masters of the north.”

      

“藏变吾身，化变吾身，吾身不是非凡之身，化为北方真武祖师为众身。头带真武帽，身穿真武衣，手真武手。手执毫毛七星剑，脚踏南山八卦归，时来时去斩妖精。手拿铜锁铁锁，先锁蛇头，后锁蛇尾。逢蛇不开口，逢虎不现身。逢蛇要作，逢虎要拿，逢山要过，逢水要行，手剑、药剑不离身。铜锁蛇头，铁锁蛇尾。吾身化为北方真武祖师为正身。吾奉太上老君急急如灵!”

 

It is only after invoking the blessings of lineage gurus and hiding one’s body that this person is said to be ready to receive further snake magic teachings. Below are just some of the items:

 

·         Snake catching method (捉蛇法)

o   Various hands-on techniques must be learnt in person from a qualified master with the aid of mantra: “My left hand transforms into an copper fork, my right hand transformed into an iron fork. I use the copper fork to nail the snake’s head and the iron fork to nail snake’s tail.”

o    “一请左手化为铜叉，右手化为铁叉。铜叉叉蛇头，铁叉叉蛇尾。铜钉蛇头，铁钉蛇尾。逢蛇要捉，逢虎要拿，逢山要进，逢水要行，手剑药剑不离身。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Neutralizing odor of a snake (收蛇气)

o   The following mantra neutralises the foul odor of a snake: “I am sending the snake toxin to the farthest mountain back, the snake toxin never return to me. As my will, so mote it be!”

o    “一落蛇捞、送在万年山背，二落蛇捞、送在万年山背，三落蛇捞、弟子顺风一口，吹落蛇捞、永不归身。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         To make a snake coil (盘蛇)

o   The following mantra causes a snake to coil up hence preventing it from attacking people:  “This is not an ordinary snake; it is the emperor of the east. You must move under the 5 thunder’s order.”

o   “此地不是非凡之地，此蛇不是非凡之蛇，化为东方大帝，不去不行，任请五雷诀”

·         To lift a snake (挂蛇)

o   Recite this mantra when lifting a snake: “This is not an ordinary snake, the snake turns into a silk ribbon, you must move under the order of golden knife.”

o   “此处不是非凡之处，此蛇不是非凡之蛇，化为丝带一条，不去不行，任请金刀诀。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Returning the snake to mountain (送蛇归山)

o   Recite this mantra when releasing a snake: “Master of the north, I am holding the snake to return it to the mountain. Go with haste. As my will, so mote it be!”

o   “真武祖师，蛇拿弟子手中，我今送你归山去，山中树木两边分，弟子复起蛇捞，开蛇口，快马加鞭，急急快走。吾奉太上老君急急如灵!”

·         Stopping snake poison (下箍)

o   When a person is bitten by a snake, to prevent its poison in attacking the heart; the snake magic practitioner uses his hands to grip at the bitten area three times while reciting the following mantra: “I am inviting my master,  the medicine king, the copper hoop master, the iron hoop master and the like. As my will, so mote it be!”

o   “一请天师父母，二请地师药王，三请铜箍罗汉仙师、铁箍罗汉仙师、左箍左断仙师、右箍右断仙师、不箍自断仙师。 吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Blessing water (化水)

o   After a person is bitten by a snake, the practitioner will bless a bowl of water and let the patient to consume as this will calm his/her mind with the following mantra: “ I lift my head, the masters of the north are at my side, it is falling cold dew, followed by frost and finally heavy snow. It is frozen all over until the snake poison retreats. As my will, so mote it be!”

o   “起眼望青天，真武祖师在身边，手拿霜雪在眼前。一更时候下冷露，二更时候下冷霜，三更时候下大雪，四更时候雪上又加霜，五更时候金鸡未报暮，山中树木响叮当，龙来退尾，虎来虎退威，山中百鸟退毛衣，弟子手拿霜雪在眼前，右手拿起千年雪，左手拿起万年霜，一口霜，二口霜，三口呷口，蛇毒远走，左手右手，金针银针，弟子手中一针，吾奉太上老君急急如律令。“

·         Performing snake show (玩蛇)

o   Recite the following mantra in a snake show then the snake will not retaliate：”You are coiling, and I am also coiling. Here you come, you are a snake! This is not an ordinary tie; it is a thousand pound tie. As my will so mote it be!”

o   ”你来盘，我来盘。你来了，此蛇一条！此蛇不是非凡之蛇，此扎不是非凡之扎，化为千斤扎。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Removing Sha (收煞)

o   It is believed that snakes bring bad aura, so after one is bitten by a snake; the bad aura must be removed. The practitioner holds a bowl of plain water and stand at a distance of around 3 feet from the patient. First he will take a sip of water in his mouth, storm his right foot and spit towards the patient and recite the following mantra: “I am collecting the sha of 5 directions in my hand and throw the sha into a deep well. As my will, so mote it be!”

o    “一收东方甲乙木，二收南方丙丁火，三收西方庚辛金，四收北方壬癸水，五收中央戊己土，弟子尽行收在手中，打落万井之中，无能动作。天煞归天，地煞归地，凶神恶煞，各归原位。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Stop bleeding (隔山封血)

o   The following mantra stops bleeding of a snake bite, the practitioner hold the wounded part gently and recite the mantra: “I am sealing the seaport and the Changjiang, I am holding my breath, inviting Lupan to stop bleeding. As my will so mote it be!”

o   “起眼望青天，罗汉在身边，上封海口，下封长江，闭决一口气，鲁班来封血，神鬼不敢当。吾奉太上老君急急如灵！”

·         Herbal formula for treating snake bite (治蛇毒药方):

蛇头草、蛇腰草、蛇尾草、百节藕、石菖蒲、南蛇藤、半边莲、金银花、海金沙、路边羌、飞天蜈蚣、过路蛇蚣、斩蛇剑、八叶拿、山苦瓜、双合草、绣花针、秤星树、野鸡头、映山红、淡青木、过气樟、米腊叶、七叶一枝花、七叶黄荆、见风消、柿子树、茅粒蔸、金瓜柴、车泉叶、黄金松。

Medicinal usher (药引): 矮茶、黄栀子、南蛇藤。Sorry, I won’t translate all the Chinese herbs into English. Too pooped :P

 

The above herbs are boiled together and the soup is consumed to reduce fever and reduce toxicities.   It is not necessary to collect all, suffice with the first 10 herbs. Do not wash with water but chew them in your mouth until mud like and apply at the wound and then wrap the wound up. You should change the medicine once a day; in general case, the patient will recover after three changes.

 

Just a final word, the above incantations and formula are for your reading pleasure only.