あけましておめでとう! 今年もよろしくね!
Akemashite omedetō! Kotoshi mo yoroshiku ne!

I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday period and that you are feeling refreshed and excited for this new year, 2016. I hope to update this account a lot more from now on!

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New Years

Here are some things that we outside of Japan can do on New Year (and in the month of January):

- Offerings: If you have a kamidana, altar or sacred space, you can make offerings of food and alchohol to Okamisama. There are traditional foods associated with new year in Japan, such as mochi. This year, I was unable to obtain or make any mochi so instead I offered cakes, oranges and vodka in place of sake. Okamisama understands that due to us being outside of Japan, some things are harder for us to find. There are many Japanese food suppliers online though, or there may be a section in your local Asian supermarket.

- Family and friends: In Japan, New Year is like Christmas to us Westerners. They eat large meals, clean the house and spend merry times with family and friends.

- Divination: When people attend shrines for New Years Eve/Day in Japan, they often pick a fortune (O-mikuji). I replicate this by doing a tarot reading for myself on New Years day for the year ahead.

- Cleansing: I feel that one of the most important things to do at New Year is to clean and purify your home and places of residence. I physically clean everything, dust it, wash it, vacuum etc etc I also spiritually clean by using a smudge stick, a gohei and by sprinkling purified salt outside all openings to the home.

- Celebrate: All in all, celebrate the passing of the year and be grateful to Okamisama for all the blessings you have received throughout the year. Have a party and make many offerings!

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F.A.Q.

I am thinking about starting a Shinto FAQ! If anyone has any questions about Shinto, please let me know! Either comment here or send in a note!

Have a great month!

In Japan, the new moon is seen as a time where wishes are granted. This is because the sky is stiller and darker than at the full moon, and this allows your requests to be heard clearer by O-Kami. As the Sun, moon and Earth are all aligned, this makes a stronger connection between kami.

In fact, the moon is so important in Shinto that all events used to be based on the lunar calender - though they are now based on the Gregorian calender, some members of the Shinto faith still work with the original calender.

The Shinto moon kami is Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto. He can be prayed to at any time but is especially powerful on the new and full moon.

You can find a recent post on my blog about Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto here: https://foxofinari.wordpress.com/20.....C%88%E8%AA%AD/

Here are some simple things you can do on the new moon:

- Set goals for the next month. Break these down into smaller goals if possible.
- Create a list of things you wish to manifest this month. Make sure they are achievable things and are not to out of reach – otherwise you are simply blocking the energy.
- Perform cleansing/purification rituals to cleanse yourself for the month ahead.
- Perform chakra meditations
- Cleanse your ritual items – use crystals or smudging to renew your items
- Clean/dust your altar or kamidana
- Honour your ancestors – burn incense for them and perhaps provide them with alchohol or food offerings

Whatever you do, channel the new moon’s energy into your intentions and you will be sure to manifest what you want. The moon provides us with a loving, powerful energy for free, all we need to do is to use it.

Do you have a plan for the new moon? I would love to hear what others do at this time, so if you’d like to share please do comment below!

See the original post with images at my wordpress blog: https://foxofinari.wordpress.com/20.....shinto-shrine/

When visiting a Shinto shrine it is important to be respectful of the Shinto faith and to perform the correct shrine etiquette. This post will go through the entire process from start to finish so that you can worship in a respectful and correct way.

Entering the Shrine

Make sure not to walk in the middle of the torii (the wooden TT-shaped gates) or sando (the path leading to the shrine) – it is believed that this sacred space is where kami walk.

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Te Mizu (Hand Purification)

The first thing that you need to do before worshipping is to purify yourself. If possible, it is ideal to shower yourself before you arrive at the shrine. In any case you must purify yourself by washing both your hands and mouth in the shrine’s bachi (wash basin).

Pick up the ladle in your right hand and rinse your left hand. The spilled water should be spilled onto the gravel, NOT back into the basin.
Holding the ladle in your left hand, rinse your right hand.
Hold the ladle in your right hand, pouring water into your left cupped hand and rinse out your mouth, spitting the water onto the rock area outside the basin. Do not gargle the water.
Rinse your left hand again and then empty the remaining water in the ladle by letting the water pour vertically down the handle, cleansing the handle for the next person.

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Matsuri (Offerings)

Next, it is customary to make an offering by dropping money into the saisen bako, or wooden box in front of the shrine. Make sure to wait your turn if the shrine is busy, and not push in front. At larger shrines it may be possible for more than one person to make offerings and pray. Following this, you will perform nirei nihakushu ippai.

The term matsuri refers not only to offerings, but describes a state of mind – of reverance and gratitude towards the kami for all they provide, and for listening to our wishes.

If you request a special ceremony on your behalf, it is customary to make an additional offering called hatsuhoryo in gratitude for the services of the shrine and the protection of the kami.

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Nirei Nihakushu Ippai (Two Bows, Two Claps, One Bow)

When entering the shrine, you need to announce your presence to the kami by performing nirei nihakushu ippai. Some shrines have large bells on ropes (suzu) which you can ring to announce yourself to the kami. You can do that before nirei nihakushu ippai.

When bowing, bend approximately 90 degrees, showing gratitude and humility towards the kami.
When clapping, the hands are held at chest height in front of the body with the palms facing each other. Slide the right hand back slightly so that the fingertips of your right hand are about 1 inch back. With your hands slightly cupped, clap twice, making a sharp sound. This sound helps purify the area of any stagnant or negative energy. In addition, the initial clap is seen as the sending of energy, whilst the second clap is the receiving of energy.
Make your wish or prayer – try not to take too long as other people will be waiting. Only wish for one thing and know that the kami will do their upmost to grant this.
The final bow is a closing of this ritual, with a feeling of gratitude for the gifts of life you receive.

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Omamori and Ema

At any time during your shrine visit, you may purchase an ema prayer board or omamori (amulet). There are many other items you can buy at Shinto shrines, which I will cover in a future post.

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Leaving the Shrine

Just before leaving the shrine, you should bow towards the area where the altar is to show your gratitude once again.

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References:

Shinto Norito: A Book of Prayers, Ann Llewellyn Evans

Temizu: http://www.tsurugaoka-hachimangu.jp.....er/temizu.html

Faux pas at Shinto Shrines: http://www.qooljan.com/newsandrepor.....hinto-shrines/

Happy New Year!
Akemashiteomedetōgozaimasu!
明けましておめでとうございます!

In Japan, the new year (Oshogatsu) is a very important time of year. The importance of this time of year comes from it's associations with the agricultural year and change of seasons. Although oshogatsu used to be celebrated for several days, now it is reduced to just three (December 31-January 2).

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"The end of the old year and the beginning of the New Year are very important times in Japan. Towards the end of the old year, people gather for bonenkai, year-end parties at which the irritations and frustrations and any misfortunes of the past year are symbolically washed away and forgotten in the sake drunk on these occasions. After the new year has been ceremonially ushered in, people hold shinenkai or new year parties, toasting the new year, expressing their hopes and expectations for the year to come, wishing each other well, and anticipating the good things to be.

Between these happenings, a number of important rituals are performed. About a month before the New Year, at the beginning of December, people traditionally put up a Kadomatsu - "entrance pine" - at their home. A combination of standing bamboo and pine branches, the Kadomatsu acts as a point of welcome for the Kami whose goodwill and blessings are being invoked. Nowadays in the cities, the entrance pine usually goes up the last week of December on either side of the doorways to houses, hotels, offices, bars and even bath houses. The shortening of the New Year celebration has been forced on modern people by the pressures of business life. Companies begin around the end of the first week with staff dressed in kimono (even banks do this) on the first day for ceremonial greetings. In the country areas, where the whole celebration was based on the patterns of a rice culture, New Year's festivities used to go on until January 15, Koshogatsu, literally "Little New Year," and sometimes continued into February.

Other New Year preparations include Susuharai, a ceremonial house cleaning followed by the preparation of traditional cold dishes called osechi-ryori and motchitsuki, rice cake. The purpose of the dishes being cold was to relieve housewives of the task of cooking for the opening three days of the New Year. This ideal is not so easy to realize with the numbers of visitors coming and going during that time. Still, the intention was good. The closing act of the old Year is eating toshi-koshi-soba, the final plate of Japanese noodles for the year for the year that is about to end.

People sometimes visit their local shrines just after midnight, while others wait until daytime. At home, a family will clap their hands in front of the Kamidana, the shelf on which the miniature shrine is placed and make offerings to the Kami. Some people go out to watch the first sunrise of the year, hatsu-hi-node, while other simply go to a shrine the first two or three days of the year, hatsu-mode. People exchange visits, nenga ,among friends and relatives and send cards to each other, nengajo.

Children receive money, otoshidama, for the New Year and people involve themselves in the whole range of activities special to the New Year such as ladies in kimono playing a kind of badminton, men playing card and dice games and, in some rural areas, costumed men called Namahage visiting homes to see if the young are behaving well. New Year is busy, exciting and still highly colorful."

- From Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America's Website http://www.tsubakishrine.org/kaminomichi/Kami_no_Michi_Appendix_B.html

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Let us pray to the kami to cleanse us of the impurities of last year and to bring us forth into this new year with inspiration and faith.

Do you have any Spiritual resolutions for 2015? Let us know!

I wanted to share an excellent article my close friend Myoubu has written regarding Inari-Okami :)

He has posted this in our group: International Association for Inari Faith: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ina.....faith/?fref=ts

Enjoy!
- Rin

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"In this article I want to start to really get into some meat-and-potatoes, and ask the questions: “Who is Inari Ōkami?” and even “‘What’ is Inari Ōkami?”.

First of all, everyone agrees that Inari Ōkami can be regarded as a single, autonomous spirit. (For example, although Fushimi Inari Taisha holds that Inari comprises five individual kami, the wakemitama from Fushimi that I enshrine is a single collective spirit named Shōichii-Inari-Ōmitama.) That single spirit can be prayed to, enshrined, revered, and followed. In fact, there is no necessary need to ever look at or understand Inari Ōkami in any other way.

But if we take a moment to look at some of the underlying theology behind Inari, we can gain some understanding of who Inari is and what Inari represents.

Today, there are several Shintō understandings behind Inari’s theology. Different institutions take different stances. The key thing to remember here is that they do not necessarily conflict with each other. None of them are “right” or “wrong”. We are talking about things ultimately way beyond our comprehension here. The two most common understandings are:

That Inari Ōkami is an informal alias for Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami (宇迦之御魂大神). An example of this approach is found at Kasama Inari Jinja, which enshrines Inari solely as Uka-no-mitama-no-ōkami: http://kasama.or.jp/english/index3.html

That Inari Ōkami is a composite deity (comprised of a number of kami). The two other kami most frequently included are Satahiko-Ōkami (佐田彦大神) (aka Sarutahiko-Ōkami) and Ōmiyanome-Ōkami (大宮能売大神) (aka Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto) (example: Fushimi Inari Taisha, which originally enshrined only these two kami plus Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami.

Many other Inari shrines also include these two kami, such as the Inari shrine of Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha: http://www.e-shrine.org/history.html )

Basically, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami, Satahiko-Ōkami, and Ōmiyanome-no-Ōkami are very commonly considered part of Inari Ōkami (not just by Fushimi Inari Taisha, but many others).

Furthermore, Fushimi — which is the original site of Inari worship — has included the worship of these three kami since the beginning of Inari worship in ancient times. For these reasons, let us look at these three kami in particular to gain a better understanding of Inari’s essence and meaning…

Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami is the kami of life's sustenance, the root of life. Kasama Inari Jinja’s English website describes this thus:

Ukanomitama no Kami is a deity which presides over the root of life. … We are given life by the workings of this kami’s spirit, which has an intimate relation to all aspects of our life as human beings.

As the deity presiding over the root of life, it should be no wonder, then, that the kami is also strongly associated with foodstuffs, one of the things that sustains our lives as humans:

The “Uka” in the name means foodstuffs, indicating the “mysterious spirit dwelling in the grain.” In short, Ukanomitama no kami is known as the kami with jurisdiction over the five grains and foodstuffs, the life-root kami having mastery over the sources of life itself.

The second and third kami are a wedded pair, Satahiko-Ōkami (aka Sarutahiko-Ōkami) and Ōmiyanome-no-Ōkami (aka Ame-no-Uzume-no-Mikoto). Of note, first of all, is the fact that Satahiko-Ōkami is also regarded as Ta-no-kami — the kami of the rice fields (there we have the sustenance of life again). In fact the kanji "田" in Satahiko-Ōkami's name means "rice paddy". But let’s look at Satahiko-Ōkami and Ōmiyanome-no-Ōkami as a couple here. They’re a wedded pair, and not just that, they are a fertility couple. From A New History of Shinto by Dr. Mark Teeuwen:

[Saruta-hiko] has markedly phallic features. His long nose is one such trait; also, Saruta-hiko has been closely associated with phallic markers (called dōsojin) placed at crossroads. … Like Ame-no-Uzume, Saruta-hiko is a deity of sex and fertility, and his appeasement in midwinter may well have been a local rite to secure renewed fecundity in the coming spring season. The combination of the phallic Saruta-hiko and Ame-no-Uzume’s exposure of her breasts and genitals makes for a striking fertility ritual.

Few things could be said to represent the source of life more than fertility. So these two kami, either on their own or even more-so together, have a huge role in the source of life.

So let’s combine these things:
- The life root and sustenance of Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami
- The spirit of the food we rely on to survive with both Uka-no-Mitama-no-Ōkami and Satahiko-no-Ōkami (Ta-no-kami)
- The sexual union and fertility of Satahiko-no-Ōkami and Ōmiyanome-no-Ōkami

These are among the most powerful traits of the three most recognized kami that constitute Inari Ōkami. As it turns out, "Source of Life" is really one of the best phrases to describe what Inari Ōkami as a whole is all about. That's why when Tsubaki Grand Shrine opened its first American branch in 1987, their English signage described Inari Ōkami as the “Kami of Source of Life”.

To put it simply, Inari Ōkami is one of the most fundamental forces of the universe: The prime animator, the sustainer, The Source of Life."

To find out more about Inari Okami please check out:

# http://www.inarishrine.com/
International Association for Inari Faith: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ina.....faith/?fref=ts

(by kitsune-rin):

Hello all! Rin here again!

In this journal I am going to provide an instruction on how Shinto is highly adaptable for practicing outside of Japan!

A lot of the 'you can't be Shinto if you're not Japanese' mindsets almost certainly are due Kokka (State) Shinto. This was the Official religion of Japan from 1868 through to WWII. It focused on ceremonies of the Imperial household and public Shinto shrines. Kokka Shinto was used as a type of propaganda to exclude foreigners.

There are many types of Shinto! There is folk Shinto; which is probably the most known form - especially if you read or watch Japanese media such as manga and anime. There are also many sects including Konkokyo - which is gaining popularity in North America right now. I will not write about the other sects as I am not entirely familiar with them yet and so I do not want to get any information wrong!

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How Can I be Shintoist? Do I have to Convert?

With Shinto, like many other nature-based religions and faiths, there is no need for a formal convert. Shinto is simply the worship/reverement of nature and the kami that exist within the Universe. You do not need to attend or have a shrine, or perform any rituals to be Shinto. If you already recognize the energies within nature and have a sense for kami and spirits then you are already considered Shinto!

Also, you can be Shinto as well as any other religion! I am also Pagan and I find that Shinto and Neo-Paganism/Druidry fit together very well. In fact, many Japanese are Shinto-Buddhist by tradition (as Shinto does not focus heavily on the afterlife, Buddhism steps in here for funeral rites and afterlife beliefs.) There are also many Japanese (and other people) who identify as Christian and Shinto.

Shinto is incredibly versatile and there is a reason it has existed for over a millennium!

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How Can I Incorporate Shinto into my Daily Life?

'Being' a Shintoist is simple - you just need to appreciate nature! However, if you want to feel more part of the faith, there are some things you can do:

- Have a kamidana: This can be as simple as a kami's name written on a piece of paper and a candle, or a full-fledged wooden kamidana complete with offering dishes and other items. Whatever you create, this will become a sacred place for your kami of choice (or all kami, depending on your personal beliefs) in your home. Make sure that if you make offerings, you change them daily - or as often as you can. Include the kami in your daily life and you will soon notice the blessings you're receiving!

- Personal hygiene: Cleanliness is important in Shinto as it is believed that a dirty body means a dirty soul. Washing yourself often is believed to rid yourself of negative energies that may accumulate around you and helps promote purity of the mind, body and soul. In Shinto, the mind, body and soul are believed to be separate and so you must keep them in balance. You could drink more water and green tea in order to help detox your body too!

- Respect your Elders and Family: Tradition is also very important in Shinto. A respect for one's family and national heritage is considered essential. Whether you visit family graves often, your living relatives or just have photos in your home; your family - both living and deceased - should be revered with the same amount of respect as a kami.

- Research! - Japanese mythology influences Shinto heavily and so in order to understand one, you really need to understand the other too. Shinto is not just shrines and spirit foxes - there is a huge, HUGE amount of kami and stories to be discovered. If you are already 'attracted' to one kami, read more about them - as much as you can find! New materials are being translated all the time!

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Are There Any Shinto Shrines outside of Japan?

YES!

As well as small home shrines, large public temples have been built in countries including the USA, Canada and the Netherlands.

- Tsubaki Jinja, in Granite Falls, Washington
- Ki-no-Mori Jinja, in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada
- Shrine to Amaterasu-Omikami on Shambhala mountain center in remote Northern Colorado
- Small Inari shrine in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York (the National Shinto association is in New York as well)
- Shi-yaku-jin no hokora, Twin Cities, Minnesota

New shrines are being build all the time - this year a hokora for Inari-sama has been added to the Tsubaki Gran Shrine grounds! There are also plans to build more shrines around the World - possibly including the UK!

I hope that this has enlightened you to how Shinto is truly an International faith and can be practiced by anyone!

Good luck with everything you do!
- Rin

(From: kitsune-rin)

Hello all!

I am a new staff member here at shintofurs! I have been kindly granted the position of editor and will be bringing you a lot of Shinto content! First though, here is a little about me:

- I am a practicing Shintoist from North Wales, UK
- I am affiliated with the International Association for Inari Faith and the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America
- I am also a key part of a project to help found a Shinto Shrine in the UK
- Inari-Okami is my patron deity and she is enshrined in my home

Here is an article about me on # http://www.greenshinto.com/wp/2014/03/10/inari-in-the-uk/

If you have any questions about Shinto or how it can be practiced in the West, please do not hesitate to contact me! I will help you the best I can <3

Thank you and I will post some resources up for everybody soon!

じゃまたね！

(From TheCidOfTheMax) :

I have received offers a few times from others to help with updating this Shinto page. As to these offers, I am grateful for the notion. Firstly I want to mention a few things with regards to this page that are important, hopefully those who come across this page or have done so will see these things and understand why this page hasn't been updated as well as it could be.

When I first made this page, I had little idea of what to do with it, other than to provide a initial taste of Shinto, a helpful link perhaps (aka the Wikipedia post) and to occasionally post a (hopefully) interesting Journal with regards to Shinto and its practice. Unfortunately I identified a few issues back then that have prevented me from continuing with this enthusiasm.

- Shinto beliefs are partly or wholly specific to the Japanese people.
- I'm not a ardent believer in Shinto. I like it, and am interested in it but not a experienced practitioner so surely I can't comment on it well enough.
- While there are a few shrines outside of Japan, there really aren't many and its hard to know how to recommend it to others other than satisfying those who are 'interested' in it.
- Finally, it isn't a main religion in regards to Furries and The Fandom in general, as so not many might notice the page.

These are reasons as to why the page hasn't been updated and are part of my own view. If any of those points need further elaboration on or discussion, feel free to message me or just bring it up here.
Sorry if this seems slightly out of place for a religious page but it is a pressing issue in regards to this one, though I have noticed a few other pages are facing dereliction as well.

As for those who wish to help with updating and have a good idea as to how, I would love to maybe discuss it with you via notes or messaging somehow. Remember that I don't really know this religion in massive detail so keep this in mind

Just leaving a journal up incase anyone wanted to link any type of art and such for the group. Has to be related to the religion or can be a representation of how it fits into normal life (festivals, house shrines etc).

The japanese phrase in the journal title means, 'turning to the gods in times of need' (or something similar). This I find one of the most nicest things about the Shinto religion. The Kami are here to assist us, and we can turn to them, even if we aren't wholly devoted to them. But it helps at the same time to have truth in your heart, and gratitude for any help that is passed down when praying.
A couple of examples of who to turn to include:
Inari: Production, business, fertility
Konpira: Safe travels (mainly sea travel)
Susanoo: Protection against disasters
Tenjin: Education, learning
Hachiman: Victory/Success
Ebisu: Prosperity
Amaterasu: General deity of Shinto, of the sun and universe

Despite its very specific values, meaning its centre around the japanese land and people, Shintoism has made a few interesting attempts to reach the outside world, although unfortunately these weren't too successful. Notable shrines include the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America, and there are many in Hawaii. As said, it is hard to extent influence outside of Japan, but maybe with a increase of interest outside, there will be some thought into a increase of shrines. Unfortunately it may be a while before this happens, the American shrine however provides some hope.

Shintoism in Japan holds a close link with Buddhism, there are multiple temple complexes which include both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Buddhism came to JapanFrom what I've read, Buddhist temples can take Kami as their temple protectors. Shintoism is also linked with Confucianism and Taoism in a way. Take a look at either religions if possible.
One thing to note is that Shintoism doesn't touch into the topic of death easily, in fact its more or less taboo (apart from Imperial family and priest funerals), however, Buddhism does and the people in Japan will go to Buddhists for funerals. In the opposite way, Shintoism concentrates more on life, shown in their rituals for newborn babies (Hatsumiyamairi), whereas Buddhism doesn't always do rituals in the same way.

For a starting point, look at the relationship between the Kasuga Taisha shrine and Kōfukuji

Some Kami also have close relationships with the Buddhist religion, such as Benten (Kami of music and arts) and Inari (deity of rice and business and production).

Festivals and such appear to happen somewhat frequently in Japan.
It would be interesting to hear about any festivals anyone has been in or any festivals that have interested this groups people.
Though maybe not 100% related to Shintoism the new year festivals are certainly interesting.

I will be getting a better one at christmas so hopefully anything Ive missed will be in there, and I can manage this religious group far better
I already know quite a lot, hence why I started the group, but I hope people who are really interested feel able to come to me and another member who has good knowledge on shintoism and ask us

This is only possible at the moment, so if anyone is intrested we can discuss details.
It would be nice if the person who wanted to was either:

Pretty knowledgeable on Shintoism or
Is involved in the religion themself

Not sure what a Torii is? Its certainly worthwhile knowing, especially with relevance to Shinto

A Torii is essentially a gate to a shinto shrine, and sort of resembles a archway.
This is a example of just one of the types (there are many)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped....._Torii.svg.png

In custom, they represent transference to the sacred area, which is the sacred shrine.

Shintoism can be far more easily practiced in Japan and for some parts in Korea than in any other country.
However lets get some opinions.
How do you think it might be practised in a western country? i.e. America, Europe.
It might have to do with going for larger well known kami, such as Amaterasu
But could it be that we would create our own sectionalised kami based on our environment and beliefs with what works.

I think we would at least stick with the main methods used e.g. rituals, festivals etc
Anyway, discuss if you wish.

If anyone has free time, its certainly worth picking up a book about religion, maybe down in the library, something about all the religions. Im certainly not immediatly promoting going into religion but its very intresting to see all the religions out there. Both western and eastern religions have interesting views some which might come to be a influence on anyone.

I just saw a show on 'Sudare' and my eyes were taken in by the use of Sudare (traditional japanese bamboo blinds) in the summers of Japan. I hope to sometime experience this myself.

I was also happy to see a man who makes them traditionally, although it was hard to get some of the materials.
He also creates a special object for use in a rare shinto festival done once every 20 years, it appears to be a quiver of sorts, it looked very well done.