Chicken Divination (鸡卦)

正统的拜神法是需要用到一整只鸡的；而现代人却先将鸡砍头砍脚方才上供。这是不懂拜神仪式所致。

拜神后的鸡头和鸡腿是有学问的：

如果要知道所供奉的神是否会施与财运与福气，可以在拜神仪式完毕后随意将一个鸡腿撕下来；再将鸡肉移除。最后查看鸡腿骨上针筒般的黑点：一个孔的财运差，两个孔的运气一般，三个孔以上的财运最好。

如果要知道家里所拜的神有没有问题，可以把鸡头摘下再看鸡头下巴的软骨：如果软骨的形状是一条直线而且向内弯曲的就表示神明欢喜，如果软骨向外弯曲的就表示不吉利；但是如果软骨呈细条状则表示非常不吉利。在这种情况下，通常是要重新安神的。

如果是家里亲自杀鸡的，即可看鸡血占卜：如果鸡血有气泡，那表示气泡多的一方有财运；气泡小的地方则不旺。必须记得的是在杀鸡时，碗朝什么方向；放在神台上的时候就朝同样的一个方向才算准确。

The correct way to pray to Taoist gods and goddesses is to offer the whole chicken but this rule is largely overlooked by modern folks.

After the completion of offering ritual, if a person wanted to know if his or her gods/goddesses will bring him luck and fortune, then he/she only needs to tear down one of the drumsticks; and removes the meat. After that he/she should observe the number of needle holes on the chicken bone: One hole means bad luck, two holes means so-so; and three holes and above means very good fortune and luck.

If we intend to know if the gods or goddesses are okay, then we can plug the chicken head and observe the soft bone beneath the chicken head: If the soft bone is thick and curves inwards; the gods/goddesses are happy. If the soft bone is thick but curves outwards, then the gods/goddesses are unhappy. But if the soft bone is thin, then it is extremely inauspicious and a new empowerment ritual should be in place.

In the event that the chicken is slaughtered in the household, then a chicken blood should be collected and the directions where most of the air bubbles accumulated represents the most fortunate direction; otherwise no fortune or the place is overlooked. One thing to remember when performing the chicken blood divination, the direction of the bowl should be consistent during the slaughtering of the chicken and the presentation of the bowl on the altar.