Monthly Archives: May 2012

Fushimi Inari

Posted on May 30, 2012 by John D.

  May. Sunshine. Fertility. Inari….. What a blessing at this time of year to live in Kyoto and be able to walk up the sacred mount at Fushimi. I’ve never seen the shrine so radiant, for it stands freshly restored … Continue reading →

Posted in Kyoto shrines, Shrine visits | 3 Comments

Buddhist mirror

Posted on May 29, 2012 by John D.

  On my visits to Buddhist temples, I’ve sometimes noticed round mirrors on the altars and wondered whether this was the influence of syncretic shin-butsu (Shinto-Buddhism).  However, thanks to Green Shinto friend and polymath John Hanagan, I’ve now been able … Continue reading →

Posted in Syncretism | 4 Comments

Atago Shrine (Fukuoka)

Posted on May 28, 2012 by John D.

  The Atago Shrine in Fukuoka isn’t a famous shrine, but it’s well worth the effort of visiting. It’s on the top of Mt Atago, in the west of the city, a small but fairly steep slope. Visitors are rewarded … Continue reading →

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Kego Shrine (Fukuoka)

Posted on May 24, 2012 by John D.

  Kego Shrine in the midst of Tenjin, Fukuoka, is a sorry-looking place, swamped as it is by concrete, consumerism and car parks.  It’s like a vision of the degradation of spirituality in modern life.  A religion whose roots lie … Continue reading →

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Yayoi life (Yoshinogari)

Posted on May 20, 2012 by John D.

When the Yoshinogari area in northern Kyushu was excavated in 1986, the extent of the ruins led to great excitement that it might be the site of an ancient Yamatai kingdom mentioned in Chinese chronicles. People flooded to visit, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Origins, Shamanic connections | 2 Comments

Making a magatama

Posted on May 19, 2012 by John D.

The Yoshinogari theme park in northern Kyushu offers the opportunity to visitors to make a magatama stone bead.  (The beads were symbols of spiritual authority in Yayoi times.)  It turned out to be much easier than expected. Like much else … Continue reading →

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Aoi Festival (Kyoto)

Posted on May 16, 2012 by John D.

  Aoi Festival took place today in glorious sunshine.  The festival is said to have originated in the sixth century when Emperor Kinmei ordered it in order to placate the kami that were causing a series of disasters.  It’s supposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Kyoto shrines | 1 Comment

Secret rite (Miare sai)

Posted on May 16, 2012 by John D.

The thunder kami It takes place on May 12.  It’s held in secret.  And it’s one of Japan’s oldest continuous rites.  It’s the little known, and mysterious, Miare sai held by Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. The rite is carried out … Continue reading →

Posted in Festivals, Kyoto shrines, Shamanic connections | 1 Comment

Shinto scouts

Posted on May 13, 2012 by John D.

Scouts are something one associates with Christianity.  That was certainly Baden-Powell’s intention when he founded the boy scout movement in 1907 in the UK.  But on an early morning visit to Shimogamo Jinja I came across a Shinto scout group … Continue reading →

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Mikage Festival pt. 2

Posted on May 12, 2012 by John D.

  In the morning the festival procession had left Shimogamo Shrine for Mikage Shrine at Yase, where participants collected the aramitama of the kami (and had lunch).  In the afternoon the procession returned to Shimogamo, where the kami was welcomed … Continue reading →

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