In ancient time, the seven stars of North Dipper in the sky has been widely blessed and respected by many people for its integration with a number of native religious traditions such as ancient mythology, popular beliefs, and most importantly the yin-yang cosmology. In today technology era, sea captains and ship masters still practise the art of navigation by using stars.
In Taoism, those stars compose the North Dipper or so called the seven stars of the North Dipper is regarded as the God of Northern Seven Stars under the 'heaven' portfolio of divine hierarchy. It always accompanied by the Gods of Heaven, Earth & Water to search for the goods & bads in the human world. Once they have discovered the bad ones, they will make a report to the proper level of authority so that the bad ones will be eventually receive their punishment. Hence, many devotees believe that if they conduct praying ceremony to the God of Northern Seven Stars on their lunar birthday, they will be blessed for the coming year. Therefore, praying to the God of Northern Seven Star has becoming so popular in today taoist offerings & fasts ritual as well as temple activities.
During the course of my engagement, I have a special photo taken during the praying ceremony to the God of Northern Seven Stars in a local temple activity. The white cloud signifies the purified power of the God. Very particularly, the image of the God appears at the side of the donation box.
The God of Northern Seven Stars and its represented zodiac signs are summarised as follow:
Dubhe represent Rat
Merak represent Ox & Boar
Phecda represent Tiger & Dog
Megrez represent Rabbit & Rooster
Alioth represent Dragon & Monkey
Mizar represent Snake & Goat
Alkaid represent Horse
