Photo: Protection Spell

Chinese New Year: Protection Spell
Originally uploaded by shaire productions

Chinese New Year is a time of celebration and rememberence -- memories, relationships, and the deceased. I was lucky enough to celebrate Chinese New Year with my grandparents. They are practicing Buddhists, but also incorporate Taoist traditions.

After bowing three times to honor the ancestors, joss or spirit papers were burned as an offering to the ancestors--so they would have "money" and other items to use in the afterlife. After the items were placed in the flames, a "protection spell" was chanted. During this, my grandfather poured wine while walking in a circle. In many old religions and mysticism, a circle is a commonly used symbol--protecting everything within a circle and preventing negative energies from corrupting the elements.