New Year Blessings

In Daoist tradition, food is more than sustenance—it is a sacred tool to harmonize the body with nature’s rhythms. Known as "Yang Sheng" (养生, nourishing life) , this 3,000-year-old practice teaches that what we eat directly influences our Qi (vital energy) , spiritual clarity, and longevity.

1. Wu Xing (五行) Balance : Foods are classified by the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) to restore internal equilibrium.

- *Example*: Huangjing (Earth element) strengthens the Spleen and Kidneys, grounding the body.

2. Seasonal Eating : Align meals with nature’s cycles—root vegetables (like Huangjing) in winter to "store energy."

3. Light & Pure : Avoid overly processed foods to reduce "turbid Qi," which clouds the mind.

"Fasting Aid" : Used during *Bigu* (辟谷, grain abstinence) to cleanse while nourishing.

- Spiritual Symbolism : Its golden color represents the "Elixir Field" (Dantian), the body’s energy center.

*"In Wudang’s kitchens, herbs like Huangjing are cooked as mindfully as talismans are drawn—each ingredient a prayer for balance. Discover how Daoist recipes can transform your meals into rituals."*