Restoring Illumination of the Sun
Restoration of the Sun With the recent total eclipse, I thought I’d share with you one of the significant stories in Shinto. I revolves around Amaterasu Ō Mikami, the Kami of the Sun, her brother Susanō, and Ame no Uzume no Mikoto. Legend in the Kojiki tells us that there was a great dispute between […]
Dai Shizen meaning
Dai Shizen: Great Nature In Shinto we strive to live in harmony with 大自然 Dai Shizen. This translates as “Great Nature” but actually has a very broad meaning. First, let’s look at the kanji: 大 Dai: means “great” in the sense of acknowledging vastness and deep importance. 自然 Shizen: this is usually translated as “Nature” […]
Tsubaki Dai Jinja
Tsubaki Dai Jinja at Knapp Island Last Saturday was a momentous day here! Guji Yukiyasu Yamamoto (97th High Priest) conducted the solemn ceremony of Senza Sai to install the kamisama in Tsubaki Dai Jinja at Knapp Island. This shrine is imbued with a rich history. In 1987, Guji Yukiyasu Yamamoto arrived in Stockton, California as […]
Senza Sai
Tsubaki Grand Shrine At Knapp Island On March 23 we will conduct the sacred ceremony of Senza Sai to install the kamisama in Tsubaki Grand Shrine which is not in place at Knapp Island. We are very honoured to welcome the most senior priests from Tsubaki Grand Shrine (Japan) to perform this ceremony, led […]
Mists
Sweeping Away the Mist Sweeping Away the Mist A couple of mornings ago I was walking along the shoreline and visibility on the water was virtually nil. I could hear the blast of the ferry horn, but I could not see a thing on the ocean. And then as I stood peering into the gray […]
Walk Slowly Bow Often
Otakiage Completed The burned fiercely, atop the snow covered ground. The many articles from last year were purified and then added to the pyre, returning the energy to the realm of the kami. So many blessings and protections—we offered prayers of gratitude for the gifts received from these amulets. And many personal notes were sent, […]
Pause.
Year End always brings a flurry of activity. Planning and shopping for holidays and celebrations with family and friends. Adjusting to the continuing change in weather. Planning end of year business strategies. It is all too easy to feel like everything is spinning! Pause. This is my reminder-to-self when I feel inundated: Pause. Take 2 […]
Nature Art
This time of year brings such a wide range of colors and textures. The crimson red of the Japanese maple trees at the Centre take my breath away. The golden gingko leaves blanket the pathway. I love the smell of rain and am happy to see the cistern filling with water and the plants happy […]
Find Brightness
There are so many horrific situations in the world. The news brings us real time reports of sorrows, death, and destruction. It can be all too easy to be engulfed by darkness.But there is light all around us. We just have to look for it. To choose brightness. This is Shinto. This is the practice […]
Omamori
Omamori (お守り) are amulets for protection and blessings. The word “omamori” can be translated to “to protect” or “to guard.”
Shichi-Go-San
It’s fun! It’s festive!
Shichi Go San is a special Shinto ceremony in gratitude for the safe growth and development of children at these ages.
Kinomori Jinja Taisai
Kinomori Jinja shrine
Omoiyori: Proactive Kindness
The term omoiyari (oh-moh-ee-ya-ree) 思いやりis Japanese term that embodies empathy and consideration.
Tree Talk
Tree roots extend more than twice the spread of the crown. Roots of neighboring trees inevitably intersect. Thin filaments of fungi also penetrate the ground, operating like fiber-optic Internet cables. They transmit signals from one tree to the next, helping the trees exchange news about insects, drought, and other dangers. www = Wood Wide Web […]
Frogs
Gero…. Gero….
Chanting with Vibration
Chanting prayer is a multi-faceted experience.
New Life as a Manifestation of Kami
New life, whether it’s the birth of a human of the growth of plants and animals—is an expression of divinity. It is mystical, without doubt.
Wage Peace
This week, I’d like to share with you a lovely poem I’ve found. It’s filled with the power of being positive.
More Shrines
The Mikoshi is a portable shrine, traditionally used for 祭 Matsuri festivals. The kami are transferred into the Mikoshi for the festival, and are carried around as part of the celebration. Weighing over 500 lbs, we carried this up the boat ramp at low tide! Having it safely placed inside the haiden was a cause for celebration!
Prayers for Peace
Last Sunday, we came together to send prayers for peace out on the winds: May peace prevail on Earth. May peace be in our homes and countries. May our missions be accomplished.