Thread by @edwardW2

混元咒
wuwo.org/fzfs//2272.html
An extremely short Daoist Spell, to be recited in times of illness
清清靈靈，心下丙丁。
右觀南鬥，左觀七星。
吾能混元，天地發生。
吾誦壹遍，可治萬病。
急急如律令。
<An attempt at translation follows>

混元咒
The Primordial Spell.
<The term tr. as "Primordial" is 混元, hunyuan. It refers to the state of affairs before the original Qi was divided into Yin & Yang baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%B7%B7…>

1. 清清靈靈，
Clearly, Clearly, Numinously, Numinously
2. 心下丙丁。
Beneath the Heart, Bing and Ding.
3. 右觀南斗，
On the Right, Seeing the Southern Dipper
4. 左觀七星。
On the Left, the Seven stars. [...]

5. 吾能混元，
I can achieve the state of the Primordial,
6. 天地發生。
Heaven and Earth , Growing again.
7 吾誦壹遍，
I recite this once,
8 可治萬病。
[it] can cure the myriad illnesses,
9 急急如律令。
Swiftly! Swiftly! As ordained by the statues and laws!

What follows is a translation of the commentary/gloss on the spell from this site: wuwo.org/fzfs//2272.html which I have found to be invaluable

1. 清清靈靈，
Clearly, Clearly, Numinously, Numinously
清清：修炼时要清静无为纯正恬tián静自然安静。
"Clearly, Clearly": When performing [Daoist] cultivation, one must be clear, and still; take no action (Wuwei 无为), be pure, upright and naturally quiet 自然安静。

1 cont'd
灵灵：清静中要有灵性，不是顽空发呆，要有知觉慧光。
"Numinously, Numinously"
When one is in a clear and still state, one must yet have some spirit 灵性; one should not be dull and sit blankly, but rather be conscious, and keep one's wits about 慧光

2: 二、心下丙丁
Beneath the Heart, Bing and Ding.
心下：心下既肚脐，就是肚脐内的丹田，知觉反观之处。
"Beneath the heart": Beneath the heart is the navel; within the navel is the Dantian (cinnabar field), the location of contemplation for inner cultivation[?] 知觉反观之处

2 cont'd
丙丁：指的就是火，比喻肚脐中小腹内的能量。
"Bing and Ding": these refer to Fire; [fire] is likened to the capability contained within the Lower abdomen behind the navel.

3、右观南斗
"On the Right, Seeing the Southern Dipper"
右观：右既佑，保护庇护。观指观想想象。
"On the Right, seeing": By "Right" ("yòu" in Chinese) is meant "Protect" (also "yòu" in chinese); to protect and shelter. "Seeing" refers to contemplating that image.

3 cont'd
南斗：天空南边的南斗六星，排列成小勺形，四颗星组成勺头，两颗星组成勺把。南斗六星在修炼中象征心中意识之火，代表修炼时要控制好思维意识。
"Southern Dipper": In the southern part of the sky are six stars, that are collectively called the "Southern dipper". they are...

... arranged in the form of a small ladle. 4 stars make up its head, 2 its handle. In Internal cultivation, The 6 stars of the Southern dipper represent the fire of the centering of heart and intent, and represent the control of thought & intention that is necc. for cultivation

3 cont'd
南斗六星影响着生命的寿命长相和爵禄福分等，如神格化分别是六位星君。
"The 6 stars of the southern dipper affect the longevity and fortune of people; These 6 stars manifest themselves as 6 deities, namely...

3 ctd'
南斗第一、天府、司命上相镇国真君。
The first star of the Southern Dipper, Tianfu (Heaven's store) , The True worthy [who is the] comptroller of Life, the higher minister who stabilises the earth.

南斗第二、天相、司禄上相镇岳真君。
The 2nd star of the Southern Dipper, Tianxiang (Heaven's minister) , The True worthy [who is the] Comptroller of rank, the higher minister who stabilises the mountains,

南斗第三、天梁、延寿保命真君。
The 3rd star of the s. Dipper, Tianliang (Heaven's beam), the True Worthy who extends life and protects fate
南斗第四、天同、益算保生真君。
The 4th star of the S. Dipper, Tiantong(H. unity), the True Worthy who increases the count and protects life

南斗第五、天枢（shū）、度厄（è）文昌炼魂真君。
The 5th star of the S. Dipper, Tianshu (Heaven's pivot) , the True Worthy who saves from evil; Literary brilliance (Wenchang), who purifies souls

南斗第六、天机、上生监簿大理真君。
The 6th star of the S. Dipper, Tianji (Heaven's mechanism) , the True Worthy who is a high scholar上生, and inspects the books, and is the great organiser

四、左观七星
4: "On the Left seeing the*, the Seven stars".
左观：左既佐，辅佐从旁帮助。观指观想想象。
"On the Left, seeing the" :By "left" (zuǒ), is meant “Protect” (zuǒ), to protect. By “seeing the” is meant to use as an object of contemplation

*words omitted in tr. above.

4 cont'd
七星：天空中的北斗七星，排列成大勺形，四颗星组成勺头，三颗星组成勺把。北斗七星在修炼中象征身体中的各种各样激素荷尔蒙等等物质，修炼时要保护好这些生命之水。
“Seven stars”: These refer to the 7 stars of the Northern Dipper; they are arranged in the form of a ladle...

...with four forming its head, and three forming its handle. The seven stars of the Northern dipper in [Daoist] cultivation, represent the various turbulent hormones and suchlike substances, precious fluids which must be properly preserved in cultivation.

北斗七星同样影响着生命的寿命死亡和福分贫富以及罪障业障，如神格化分别是七位星君。
The Seven stars of the Northern Dipper likewise influence the fate and longevity of humanity, overseeing their fortunes and sins. These 7 stars manifest themselves as 7 gods, viz:

北斗第一、天枢、阳明贪狼太星君。
The 1st star of the Norther Dipper, Tianshu, the Great Stellar Worthy of Yang Brilliance, the Ravenous wolf.

北斗第二、天璇、阴精巨门元星君。
The 2nd star of the N. Dipper, Tianqi, the Prime Stellar Worthy of Yin essence, the Giant Gate

北斗第三、天玑、真人禄存贞星君。
The 3rd star of the N. Dipper, Tianji, the Pure Stellar Worthy, the Perfected one, the preserver of Rank

北斗第四、天权、玄冥文曲纽星君
The 4th star of the N. Dipper, Tianquan, the Knot stellar worthy, the Dark and mysterious, the Literary song

北斗第五、玉衡、丹元廉贞罡星君。
The 5th star of the N. Dipper, Yuheng, the Gang 罡 stellar worthy, Vermillion Prime, the Chaste and Pure

北斗第六、开阳、北极武曲纪星君。
The 6th star of the N. Dipper, Kaiyang, the Recorder Stellar Worthy, the Northern Culmen, the Martial song.

北斗第七、瑶光、天街破军关星君。
The 7th star of the N, Dipper, Yaoguang, the Close stellar worthy, heaven’s street, the breaker of armies.

五、吾能混元
5: "I can achieve the state of the Primordial,"

吾能：吾就是指修炼者。能是要修炼者去修行体会做到。
“I can”: I, refers to the cultivator. “Can” refers to the necessity of undergoing cultivation to achieve this goal.

混元：无所不包，无所不有，其大无外，其小无内，一切一切混元一体的境界。
“Primordial”: The state which encompasses everything, is omnipresent, It is so vast there is no exterior, so small there is no interior; the state in which everything and anything combined into a single body.

六、天地发生
6. “Heaven and Earth , Growing again.”
天地：指世间的万事万物，亦指身体中的一切器官经脉能量。
“Heaven and Earth”: The myriad creatures and beings in the world. This can also refer to the capabilities of the various organs, veins, arteries in the whole human body,

6 cont'd
发生：说的是修炼者由于修行得法，开始发生变化，犹如春天的植物萌发、滋长，身体健康强大起来，生命的能量开始复苏。
“Growing again”. This refers to the cultivator, who after attaining the Methods through cultivation, starts to change and grow, just as how plants...

6 cont'd
... bud and grow on the spring, the body’s health strengthens and grows, the capacities of the body start to return.