Beautiful, thank you for sharing your gift. I also really enjoy how you bring it up for us to enjoy and find a way to our own rituals in our own environments (which sadly is so far away from Japan).
I always find myself looking forward to seeing which photos will accompany your article :D along with your words you have a good eye for framing in photos and I always admire it!
Discussing the difficulty of finding Chigaya reminded me of my host father. They had a family kamidana and I remember one day asking where he got fresh Sakaki all the time, since I usually only saw it at shrines. He ended up taking me into the mountains and showed me the tree he harvests from. It was truly a wonderful moment of urban life meshing with more rural traditions :D
I wasn't aware of the origins of Chimaki beyond finding them at the Gion festival when I was in Kyoto. That was really neat to learn. I got a Chimaki for myself and my parents, both of which miraculously survived the trip back to the U.S. and one which sits on my kamidana to this day :)
The sweeping with the bamboo broom is such a trademark of Shinto Priests, every time I see it on dramas, anime or real life, I kind of get jealous... It seems so peaceful.
It seems to me that chimaki are the equivalent of zongzi 粽子, but as you've said their form is different, being triangular and done with glutinous rice with some other fillings like fruits or meat. I don't think I've ever eaten chimaki but already had my share of zongzi.
I really enjoy about what you said about adaptation of leafs and customs for the overseas. Although Shinto has a lot of tradition and ritual, it is still amazing how one can adapt to the environment. An in my opinion, it is logical to do that. I can rest with ease that the leaves that I'm using as offering, despite not being sasaki, can be used.
My own altar practice comes through the western Pagan tradition, but it's a bit similar in that I choose abundant flowers, often wild flowers and "weeds" for offerings....mostly because I don't want to pick anything that is rare or unusual, preferring to enjoy these in place and hopefully propagate.
I really enjoyed reading this, it was a lovely follow on from last week. Given that I (unfortunately) don't live in Japan I am always interested in how I can adapt ideas for my part of the world. It's an ongoing process but your post reminded me that often the answers can be found in the natural world around us.
Aloha! Our home base in the U.S. is Hilo, Hawaii which is also home to the oldest Shinto Shrine overseas who has a chief priestess. The plants in the landscaping and shrine decorations are, as you would imagine, are local tropical plants. Love the Shinto & Nature connection!
In visiting shrines around Japan, we have been intrigued with the amount of sweeping of the shrine. Are there stories behind the sweeping? When it is to be done. By whom. For how long. With what type of sweeper? It there a technique suggested? We have been amazed at some of HUGE swing of the sweeper at several shrines.
Noriko and I are planning to be in Osaka in the second half of June as our youngest daughter, her three sons (ages 17, 2 and 7 months) and husband (native Hawaiian artist) from Hilo have rented an Airbnb. We are interested in visiting you to share an Aloha Hug. Also we wondered if there is an Ohana blessing available?
Beautiful, thank you for sharing your gift. I also really enjoy how you bring it up for us to enjoy and find a way to our own rituals in our own environments (which sadly is so far away from Japan).
I always find myself looking forward to seeing which photos will accompany your article :D along with your words you have a good eye for framing in photos and I always admire it!
Discussing the difficulty of finding Chigaya reminded me of my host father. They had a family kamidana and I remember one day asking where he got fresh Sakaki all the time, since I usually only saw it at shrines. He ended up taking me into the mountains and showed me the tree he harvests from. It was truly a wonderful moment of urban life meshing with more rural traditions :D
I wasn't aware of the origins of Chimaki beyond finding them at the Gion festival when I was in Kyoto. That was really neat to learn. I got a Chimaki for myself and my parents, both of which miraculously survived the trip back to the U.S. and one which sits on my kamidana to this day :)
Thanks again! I look forward to reading more :)
Your "is that... a kami?" reminded me of a famous internet meme: "is this a bird?" - https://i.imgflip.com/2ezm9o.jpg
The sweeping with the bamboo broom is such a trademark of Shinto Priests, every time I see it on dramas, anime or real life, I kind of get jealous... It seems so peaceful.
It seems to me that chimaki are the equivalent of zongzi 粽子, but as you've said their form is different, being triangular and done with glutinous rice with some other fillings like fruits or meat. I don't think I've ever eaten chimaki but already had my share of zongzi.
I really enjoy about what you said about adaptation of leafs and customs for the overseas. Although Shinto has a lot of tradition and ritual, it is still amazing how one can adapt to the environment. An in my opinion, it is logical to do that. I can rest with ease that the leaves that I'm using as offering, despite not being sasaki, can be used.
My own altar practice comes through the western Pagan tradition, but it's a bit similar in that I choose abundant flowers, often wild flowers and "weeds" for offerings....mostly because I don't want to pick anything that is rare or unusual, preferring to enjoy these in place and hopefully propagate.
kinoshita-yami（木下闇） — “the darkness beneath the trees”
I love this concept now I have learned of it. I am enlightened by the darkness as it were... :)
I really enjoyed reading this, it was a lovely follow on from last week. Given that I (unfortunately) don't live in Japan I am always interested in how I can adapt ideas for my part of the world. It's an ongoing process but your post reminded me that often the answers can be found in the natural world around us.
Aloha! Our home base in the U.S. is Hilo, Hawaii which is also home to the oldest Shinto Shrine overseas who has a chief priestess. The plants in the landscaping and shrine decorations are, as you would imagine, are local tropical plants. Love the Shinto & Nature connection!
In visiting shrines around Japan, we have been intrigued with the amount of sweeping of the shrine. Are there stories behind the sweeping? When it is to be done. By whom. For how long. With what type of sweeper? It there a technique suggested? We have been amazed at some of HUGE swing of the sweeper at several shrines.
Noriko and I are planning to be in Osaka in the second half of June as our youngest daughter, her three sons (ages 17, 2 and 7 months) and husband (native Hawaiian artist) from Hilo have rented an Airbnb. We are interested in visiting you to share an Aloha Hug. Also we wondered if there is an Ohana blessing available?
Beautiful, thankyou.