よいお年を： Happy New Year

"Yoi o toshi o" is the Japanese greeting used on the last meeting before the New Year. On the occasion of the first meeting "agemashite omedetto" is used.  The time between Yule and the New Year always seems fallow to me, in the sense that I seem not to do anything, but there is a feeling that something is about to start. Though sometimes it can feel a little negative, if I think of things that I didn't do or complete to my satisfaction in the year.  I was feeling that way this year, but I sat down and wrote a list of the most important ten things in my life. For each, I wrote about this year and my plans for next year. I then realised that this has been a wonderful year, I have not succeeded with everything I started, but I have great foundations for next year. I am now really looking forward to the New Year.

This year I haven't written so much in this blog, I have been concentrating on it's sister blog, a bi-lingual explanation of the Wiccan year. Because I write the Japanese first, it is really pushing my ability and I make a lot of mistakes, but my ever patient teacher Naomi carefully and kindly puts me right. Because I am using my weaker language to write, the English translation is much more simple than if I first wrote it in English. But I really like this simpleness. When I have finished it, maybe I will go around again and give a more detailed account. But I also plan to write more for this blog next year too (this year if you are reading this in 2016).

I have been reading the tarot for more years than I a willing to count, but this year with Naomi I have been concentrating on practising tarot in Japanese. It is amazing how much more fluent I become in Japanese during a reading. But I still use English for professional readings. But maybe the time has now come to start using Japanese for those who want it. Interestingly I was doing a reading in English yesterday and at one point had to ask "How do you say muishikiteki in English? (subconsciously).  So maybe my subconscious is telling me something.

As ever my camera and I have been out in nature all year. I have made a little video of some of my shots through the year. For those who do not know, the music is Pan Dance by Jethro Tull.

Bright Blessings for 2016

The return of a treasure

Probably the most personally important book I have had about Wicca is Scott Cunningham's "Wicca, a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner".  It was by no means the first book I read, but it was the one that encouraged me to take the jump from having a interest in Wicca to becoming a Wiccan. "A Ritual of Gestures" from the book was my first Wiccan ritual; a simple, but beautiful ritual. As with all my treasured books, tarot decks and such like, this book was left behind in England when I moved to Japan in 1999. But it has always been in my heart. 

Recently I was checking Amazon and I came across a Japanese edition. This year for the first time it has been published in Japanese. So I ordered a copy and also an English copy. So now I am the owner of two versions. The Japanese version arrived a week or so ago, but the English one arrived today. It is fantastic to have such a wonderful old friend back. In this book, the first Wiccan festival to be written about is Yule, so the timing is perfect.  Although it is a basic book and I first read it over 25 years ago, it still holds so much knowledge and encouragement. A beautiful book.

The path, a path, my path

Many years ago I picked up my first wiccan book and after just a few pages, I thought I had found the path. I think subconsciously, I had been looking for a spiritual path for a long time. But it soon became apparent that wicca was not one single path, there are so many traditions and ways of practising, so I studied hard to find which was best for me. But eventually, I realised that everyone has there own path to walk, now I walk that path.

But this post is not really about paths in terms of a spiritual metaphor, it is about actually walking, which in itself is spiritual. There is a highly magicakal and spiritual reason that path is the metaphor.　For pagans in general and wiccans especially getting out into nature is very important. In my opinion the most important thing. Walking alone, along a path that is not so often walked, opens you to the Goddess and God. It places you into nature, where you can feel your place within the natural world. I have been lucky to have met a lot of good teachers and read many good books.  But I have learnt more from walking alone through the woods

Recently I took a walk alone, along a path that had recently been introduced to me. The four pictures are of places I stopped along the path, that spoke to me in a spiritual and personal way. Each confronting me with something to consider and ponder. They were all empowering in different and profound ways. For me sacred, in fact the last was a sacred site of a different spiritual path than my own, but it was still happy to teach me it's special magick.

 

近畿の五芒星：In search of the Kinki Pentagram

First I should point out that Kinki is a region in Japan. It is the region where I live, an area full of history and mystery. Recently I found a map of Kinki with a pentagram drawn on it connecting sacred places. As yet I do not know the full meaning, but I intend to visit all of the shrines and find out what I can. I showed my Japanese teacher and she was as surprised as me. But she could give me the names of all the shrines.  I will list the names of the shrines on the pentagram's points going clockwise from the bottom.

1. 熊野本宮大社  Kumano Hongu Taisha　熊野本宮大社
2. 伊弉諾神宮 Isanagi Jingu                        Izanagi Shrine
3. 元伊勢　Moto Ise                                     元伊勢  Japanese only
4. 伊吹山　Mount Hibuki　　　　　　　　　　　伊吹山
5. 伊勢神宮　Ise Jingu　　　　　　　　　　　　　伊勢神宮

In the centre is Nara, the ancient capital of Japan. After Nara, Kyoto became the capital of Japan. It is situated where the two upwardly pointed points meet. So I imagine these sacred places are protecting the capitals. When I know more, I will write more. But I have to say it feels very cool living in a pentagram.

A Little Magick in Omihachiman

Recently, I went on a one day trip with a friend to Omihachiman in Shiga prefecture. Near the station is very modern, but there is one section of town that is very traditional and has a magickal atmosphere.

 

 

There is an old canal, edged with stone walls and walkways. With the lush greenery it is stunningly beautiful.

 

 

In the local museum I found these magickal stones. In this part of Japan (maybe in other areas too) it was traditional to write the names of local deities on stones and put them in the foundations of new houses, to ask the gods for protection for the building.

 

 

At the same museum I found this old BSA bike, built in my hometown Birmingham, long before I was born. But we both made the long journey to the other side of the world.

 

 

We took the rope way up the mountain. There is a Buddhist temple on the top and in it's grounds there is a small Shinto shine. Usually Shinto shrine Tori gates and buildings are painted red/orange and black. But this one was golden. The Kami (Shinto gods) of this shine will help you with projects that need money.

 

Before we left Omihachiman we found a beautiful and traditionally Japanese looking cafe. I was so elegant, with a warm atmosphere. A magical day.

 

 

梅雨： Rainy Season

It is the rainy season here in Japan at the moment. Although there are many rainy days, there are also many beautiful sunny days. There are two words for rainy season in Japanese:　梅雨 tsuyu, for the domestic rainy season and 雨季 uki, for other countries. I asked my friend Naomi about this. Uki's Japanese characters are rain and season, so are used for countries that have wet and dry seasons, such as Thailand and Indonesia. The meanings of tsuyu's characters are plum and rain.  It is around this time of year that Japanese plum trees are bearing fruit.  Unfortunately the humidity that the rainy season brings and stays for the whole summer, creates the perfect conditions for mold to occur. Mold can be very bad for health, but plums are a natural antibiotic, so the consumption of plums at this time of year is very healthy.  Umeboshi, Japanese dried plums are very good. There is also umesyu, Japanese plum wine, that is also very good.

河合： Kawai a Beautiful Little Shrine

Today I decided to visit Shimogamo Shrine, one of Kyoto's oldest and most important Shinto Shrines. In the grounds I found a sub-shrine that I did not know. I tried to read the discription, but the Japanese was too difficult, but I could understand it was for women and the number one in Japan. On returning home I did some research;  the shrine's name is Kawai Jinja and is dedicated to feminine beauty. It is the shrine of the Goddess Tamayori-Hime 玉依毘売命 the daughter of the sea dragon god Watasumi  綿津見. Women who wish to be more beautiful visit the shrine and buy a mirror shaped wooden talisman. There is a basic face printed on the talisman, but it is further decorated by the owner. They are then left on a special rack and then Tamayori-Hime will bestow the gift of beauty on that woman.

Replacing Negativity with Positivity

All Japanese homes have a genkan 玄関, it is basically an entrance hall, where you take of your shoes. It is in the house or apartment, but feels neither inside or outside. Many peoples genkan are very beautiful, but others are basically a mess! Recently mine had started to be like the latter. It was very cluttered. It gave me a bad feeling both when leaving and returning home. I think the entrance to your home is a very spiritual place. It has a effect on how you feel when you leave, that can stay with you all day. It is also the first part of your home, to welcome you home. So I decided to make my genkan a little more spiritual. I have a large shoe box in the genkan, so on top of this I put an orange cloth. I placed my Benzaiten and Ebisu figures on it, with a candle and some stones. I printed a picture of cherry blossom I took in Hiroshima, with kansya 感謝 gratitude written on it. I put it in a green frame and added it to what was becoming a special altar. I then printed a pentacle with futatsu kanpeki na kotoba ga aru written with it ( for any Wiccans reading this, I will give you a clue, kanpeki means perfect). I placed this in a purple frame and this finished off my altar. My genkan now has a really positive feeling.

嵐の夏至: A Stormy Summer Solstice

To be honest, I was not sure if the 21st or 22nd would be best here in Japan to watch the sunrise, but I do not think it matters so much. Anyway I am writing this on the 21st. I got up early enough to see the sunrise, but nature was not going to let me see it on this occasion. But that does not mean I did not feel it or see other amazingly beautiful natural things.

I left my flat and walked the short distance to the river. It was very cloudy, but the sky was starting to get lighter. To the north I could see storm clouds and lightening over the mountains. To the south the sky was much lighter, with an orange tint. But the storm was moving towards me and would be on top of me in minutes. Always the air feels charged with energy as a storm approaches, but it seemed even more so today. I stayed out as long as I could, but it started to rain heavily, so I headed home for shelter. As soon as I entered my flat, there was a loud clap of thunder directly above.

When the storm had passed, I went out on my balcony, to check my herbs. There had all weathered the storm well. In fact the coriander looked absolutely energised, in fact I also felt extremely energised. At about 7.30am I had to head off to work. I walked along the river, it was flowing high and fast, from the water coming down from the mountains. The sky seemed full of birds flying rather recklessly, they also seemed energised. Herons, kites, ducks, sparrows and more, were flying here and there, with no purpose it seemed.

I did not see the sunrise, but I had a really magikal morning.

Never Underestimate a Bird Brain

I had a busy morning today, I taught English and then had a photo shoot along the river. When I got home, even though I had food in my flat, I decided to go to Subway and buy a sandwich. One of my jobs is managing holiday homes, I always warn guests not to eat by the river, the kites are very brave and often steal food out of peoples hands.  Although one of my friends was scratched, usually the robberies are perfectly executed.

 

I do not have to follow my own advice, I know the ways of the birds. I go to the river everyday. I know how each bird flies and have successfully taken many bird pictures. So I took my lunch to the river.

 

I checked high in the sky, there were no kites flying in a holding pattern, like planes above Heathrow Airport. I checked the North and South nothing. I confidently took out my sandwich and started to unwrap it.  There was a swoosh and my vision was full of brown feathers. A popping sound, talons ripped through paper into the bread.  And it was gone, flying over the river, with my sandwich  hanging from its legs!

 

I do not begrudge the sandwich or the money. I have never been so close to a kite and to be out witted by it is wonderful. It just strengthens my respect for nature.

Spiritual Cleasing in a Japanese Garden

 

 It has been an amazingly busy week for me, I like to be busy, but I have not really been able to touch nature so much this week.  So I wanted today to be a spiritually enriching day in nature. So I headed for Kikoku-tei ,

 my favourite Japanese garden.

 

 

I go to the garden often, but the changes always surprise me. I was not expecting the water Lillies to be out, but they were.

They were amazingly beautiful.

The carp in the pond were very active. I sat down by the edge and watched for a while and was joined by a dragon fly. The first I have seen this summer.

 

For me the Wiccan pathway is always into nature. As ever Kikoku-tei cleansed and grounded me. 

Roses

 

 

 

 

 

Just a few pictures of roses.

 



Goddesses in Glastonbury



The Dragon God

 

 

A water spirit waits for you

Impurities to wash away

Cleansing the heart

Don't dwell on whats to come

Spend some time with Ryujin

Listening to his watery words

When it is time

 flow on

 

In Japan often dragons are seen as water deities. At most temples and shrines there are fonts to wash your hands, and often there is a statue of a dragon. I do not know the correct name for these dragons, here I have borrowed the name Ryujin, who is actually a sea god. But I really like the name, which means Dragon God, so I used it here.

 

龍神

 

 

 



Rhiannon, Lady of the Lake

Lady of the lake

Patiently earthed

A spark of intuition

Queen of the sky

Rhiannon

 

 

Over the last year or two the heron has gradually become my totem animal. I have had more of my fair share of luck in taking their pictures.  They seem to represent photography, the balance of patience and instant action. The picture above was taken a few days ago, but today I went down to the river to write, so I did not have my camera. My Japanese teacher, Naomi, has given me the mammoth task of writing the story of the Wiccan Sabbats in Japanese. I am both excited about it and somewhat overwhelmed by it.  So I thought sitting by the river would inspire and motivate me, which it did, I am halfway through a rough draft for Beltane. While I was writing I noticed I was not alone; a heron was watching me from about 30 feet away, I took this as a good omen. Every time I looked up the heron was still there. I had been writing for a fairly long time and realised both my legs had gone to sleep. So I got up and stumbled around for a while, and decided to walk the numbness off. I walked about 100 yards and found a rock to sit on and started to write again.  I looked up and found the heron had followed me up river. For a while I wrote and occasionally looked up at my friend. I got to a point where it was obvious that I needed to go home to check some details both about Beltane and Japanese. I looked up and my friend was gone, she knew it was time to go before I did. While fact checking at home I found a connection between the Welsh Goddess Rhiannon and herons, so for my companion today I wrote the above poem.

A Poem for Beltane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melancholy Sakura

Recently I visited Hiroshima for a few days, it is one of my favourite places in Japan. I stayed just across from the Peace Park. I have written about the statues of women and children there in this blog before. But on this trip I was taken by the Cherry Blossom.  The city I live in, Kyoto, is world famous for Cherry blossom, people travel from all over the world to see it. But the Peace Park's cherry blossom was very special for me.

 

 

On previous visits to the park I have felt a wonderful atmosphere of hope. This time I could also feel that, but it also had a slightly melancholy feel on the first day. On the second it was rainy and the melancholiness had changed to sadness. In Japan sakura (cherry blossom) is a symbol of the shortness of life. In a place where so many lives were taken in such a violent and fast way, the sakura seems the perfect flower,

 

 

石像：Stone Statues at Daisho-in

At most Buddhist temples in Japan you can find stone statues. But my favourite place to see them is Daisho-in on the sacred island of Miyajima.

There are such a variety of statues there, but for me the 500 Rakan statues are the most interesting. Each of these little statues has a unique face and facial expression. In the colder months they were little hats.

But there are countless other stone statues to see there. There are also hundreds of small identical brass statues in rows. To see a picture of those follow the link to my Miyajima post.

Miyajima Post



春分の日の花： Some Flowers Blooming in Kyoto on the Spring Equinox

On Shunbun no hi, the Spring Equinox, I took a walk along the river and in the Gion district of the city. As I am writing this the cherry blossom is budding and in some places starting to bloom, but on the equinox some less ubiquitous flowers had the stage to themselves.

The Plum Tree and the Crow

 

 The plum tree keeps it's promise

The winter ends

Bright flowers burst out

A message the tree sends

To all the flowering trees

Life it recommends

 

 

 

The fearless crow flies the cold skies

But it feels a change

Determinedly lived through winter's cold cries

Memories of spring remain

The flowering plum it spies

and rejoices

Soon warm spring skies

A Queen waiting for Spring

The sun had gone away

The earth faded to grey

The Queen hung her head

But still wore her dress of red

Knowing one day

The cold would go away

The air would warm

Earth reborn

The King returned

For now winter spurned

 

 

 

 

The picture is a cropped photo of the Queen of Pentacles from the Rider Waite deck. In lightroom I have removed all colours except red and even that I have faded, then I put a white vignette around it.