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.