Chiyang Daoren, Eastern Taoism
1. The Core Taoist Theory of Changing Luck and Destiny: Dual Cultivation of Nature and Life
The Taoist approach to changing luck and destiny (especially in the schools of inner alchemy (neidan) and the Quanzhen (Complete Perfection) school) starts from this: because nature and life depend on each other, changing one's destiny requires dual cultivation of nature and life, transforming both together—that is, the mind-nature and the physical body must both change first.
“Nature” = mind and spirit / consciousness / the original spirit.
“Life” = the flesh / the physical body / the original qi.
The principle of changing luck and destiny: intention is the forerunner that gives rise to action, and life (the flesh and original qi) is the organism that carries destiny. If the organism does not change, one's fortune can hardly turn.
Wang Chongyang said: “Spiritual practice must be carried out by means of the physical body.” So the physical body is the vessel that carries the Tao and the foundation for changing destiny.
Classical evidence: “When qi is disordered, the form declines; when qi is upright, the form is firm. When the form is firm, life is established; when life is established, fortune flourishes.”
The Scripture of Great Peace (Taiping Jing) records: form and spirit must not be separated—united they are auspicious, separated they are inauspicious. Life (the form) and fortune (one's allotted qi and destiny) are one and cannot be cut apart.
2. The Sequence of Changing Luck and Destiny
Intention changes first → qi moves first → the physical body changes → destiny turns → one gains what one wishes.
1. The mind (nature) turns first: rectify the mind, reduce desires, guard the spirit—intention changes first.
2. Qi (life) follows: the body, the breath, the meridians, qi and blood are restructured first (refining essence into qi).
3. The physical body shows the change: complexion, bone structure, posture, and energy change together (shedding the mortal womb and exchanging the bones).
4. Destiny takes shape: one's energy field, connections, opportunities, and luck change accordingly.
So to change luck and destiny, one must first “rectify the mind and intention,” and then “the physical body changes.” It is not merely that the flesh moves first; rather, the mind-nature and the breath change first, the bodily form changes with them, and one's outlook and bearing change too.
3. Taoist Maxims for Cultivating Nature Daily to Change Luck and Destiny
The Taoist sequence for changing luck and destiny is: the mind (nature) turns first—rectify the mind, reduce desires, guard the spirit, and intention changes first; qi (life) follows—the workings of qi, the meridians, and qi and blood are restructured first (refining essence into qi); the physical body shows the change—complexion, bone structure, posture, and energy change together (shedding the mortal womb and exchanging the bones); destiny takes shape—one's energy field, connections, and opportunities change accordingly.
Taoism weaves the concrete methods of changing luck and destiny into daily life: practicing exercises and regulating the breath on rising in the morning, seated meditation before sleep, and gradually adjusting the state of body and mind; embracing the idea that “a family that accumulates goodness will surely have abundant blessings,” doing many good deeds, honoring elders, and helping others, so as to improve one's fortune at the level of the mind-nature; keeping regular habits of diet and daily life, avoiding overwork, and strengthening the constitution through practice, to lay a healthy foundation for changing destiny; and adjusting the feng shui of the home—for instance, keeping the main door unobstructed and avoiding sharp corners pointing at the house—to create a harmonious energy field for daily life.
The following are Taoist maxims for daily practice. They offer great guidance for those of us who wish to change our luck and destiny, and should be put into practice in daily life, work, study, spiritual practice, and our dealings with others.
Taoist Maxims for Daily Practice to Change Luck and Destiny
Keeping still nourishes qi.
Daily self-examination cultivates life.
Reading changes luck.
Doing good accumulates blessings.
A smile attracts noble helpers.
Exercise invigorates the body.
Holding your tongue avoids disaster.
Filial piety changes destiny.
Rising early wins time.
Thrift gathers wealth.
Solitude nurtures wisdom.
Enduring insult dispels calamity.
Giving increases wealth.
Contentment adds years to life.
Focus gathers energy.
Careful speech protects life.
Forgiveness dissolves grudges.
Diligence overcomes poverty.
Keeping promises builds trust.
Cleanliness welcomes good fortune.
Honoring ancestors receives their protection.
Few desires preserve the body.
Learning a craft guards against hunger.
Yielding profit wins good connections.
Remembering kindness stores up blessings.
Choosing friends carefully keeps disaster away.
Keeping to simplicity hides one's edge.
Cherishing the written word reveres Heaven.
Wanting little clears the mind.
Planting virtue makes the family prosper.
4. Taoist Maxims for Cultivating the Body to Change Luck and Destiny
Taoism does not stress “the physical body changing first”; it calls for dual cultivation of nature and life, with form and spirit changing together. The mind turns → qi changes → the body changes → destiny shifts: one qi runs through it all, inner and outer in step, with no before and after, yet with an order of root and branch.
Taoist Maxims for Cultivating the Body to Change Luck and Destiny
When the mind is settled, qi is harmonious; when qi is harmonious, the form changes.
The physical body is the vessel of life; when the form changes, fortune shifts of itself.
To change the destiny given by prior heaven, first adjust the foundation of the flesh.
When essence, qi, and spirit are full, the bone structure becomes fitting of itself.
When form and spirit return to a single aperture, Heaven's mandate can shift of itself.
“When form and spirit return to a single aperture, Heaven's mandate can shift of itself” means that through cultivation the body and spirit are united in one key aperture, making it possible to change one's destiny. This idea comes from Taoist thought on spiritual practice and stresses dual cultivation of nature and life—the simultaneous transformation of the mind and spirit (nature) and the physical body and original qi (life)—rather than simply changing the flesh or one's destiny.
Specifically, the process includes the following steps. The mind (nature) turns first: through rectifying the mind, reducing desires, and guarding the spirit, intention changes first. Qi (life) follows: the workings of qi, the meridians, and qi and blood are restructured—that is, refining essence into qi. The physical body shows the change: complexion, bone structure, posture, and energy change together, achieving a shedding of the mortal womb and exchange of the bones. Destiny takes shape: one's energy field, connections, opportunities, and luck change accordingly.
In short, Taoism does not stress the physical body changing first; it teaches dual cultivation of nature and life, with form and spirit changing together. The mind turns → qi changes → the body changes → destiny shifts: one qi runs through it all, inner and outer in step, with no before and after, yet with an order of root and branch.