Category Archives: Shamanic connections

Recovering a sense of Animism

Posted on August 27, 2012 by John D.

  Animism is sometimes cast as primitive, or seen as outmoded by contrast with ‘sophisticated religions’ like Christianity and Buddhism.  But with the rise of paganism and neo-shamanism, animism is again gaining ground in the West. Perhaps it never really … Continue reading →

Posted in Animism, Green issues, Paganism, Shamanic connections | 6 Comments

Pagan connections 9) Divination

Posted on August 3, 2012 by John D.

Japan. past and present Go to a shrine and one thing you’re sure to see: fortune slips tied up on a tree. The preoccupation with fortune-telling of young Japanese, females in particular, is striking. Where does it stem from? One … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Paganism, Shamanic connections | 1 Comment

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

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

Jizo rocks !

Posted on May 9, 2012 by John D.

  Walking down the Kamogawa river the other day in Kyoto, I passed a wayside Jizo shrine (see above). Nothing very unusual – you see them all over the place.  Jizo has to be the most popular deity in Japan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Rocks, Shamanic connections, Syncretism | 9 Comments

Princess priestess at Ise

Posted on May 8, 2012 by John D.

The Japan Times today carried an article about the appointment of an Ise special priestess (see below), which relates to the old custom of ‘saigu‘ (unmarried royal princess}.  The practice probably started in the late seventh century, around the time … Continue reading →

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Shamanic connections 4) Mongolians

Posted on May 5, 2012 by John D.

If one can presume that ancient Japanese had close links with Korean shamanism, and that Korean shamanism derived from that of Mongolian/Siberia through southern migration, then it would be surprising if there were not close affinities between Shinto and Mongolian … Continue reading →

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Shamanic connections 3) Navaho

Posted on May 4, 2012 by John D.

In Navaho cosmology all beings have a natural place, and when they are in balance the universe is a place of beauty. However, aspects of the universe have a tendency to fall into disharmony, and ceremonies need to be held … Continue reading →

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Shamanic connections 2) Toltecs

Posted on May 4, 2012 by John D.

For the Toltecs energy is called teotl and is seen as divine.  It’s been translated as God, though it’s more akin to ‘kami’ in Japanese…   It’s just one of the common points between Shinto and the shamanism of the … Continue reading →

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Shamanic connections 1) Siberia

Posted on May 4, 2012 by John D.

Shinto as we know it today is an imperial construct pieced together after 1868 by a ruling clique of Restorationists who promoted a state ideology based around the divinity of the emperor.  As such it was conceived as a counterpart … Continue reading →

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