(if you want to read the full blog post about my time in Japan, you can do so on my Pateron right here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/japan-5th-84386009?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link )
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And finally, 2,000 words later we come to the promised point from the title - spirituality in Japan.
One of the reasons why I wasn't "alone" in Japan, was that there were Shinto shrines (and Tori gates) left and right; ranging from ones so small a child couldn't pass through them, to those so big and marvellous, a giant could cross through it.
Tori gate is a Shinto gate that marks a threshold between the world of humans and the world of gods. You bow before going through a Tori gate because you're showing respect and humbleness to the deity of a realm you're about to step into. Japanese people are very big on house order and cleanliness, and items that turn 100 are considered sacred and treated with much respect because it is believed that any thing or item that turns 100 gains a soul of its own.
Now, even though most things do not exceed a hundred years in modern households, Japanese people still treat them with respect and kindness, and that is relayed to the Shinto realm as well. They take such good care of their ecology and nature, that Shinto shrines are the most beautiful and Zen places on Earth! Same how in USA National Parks have their own rangers, rules and regulations for keeping nature clean and preserved, which is taken to a whole other level in Japan, and entire regions that are considered Shinto shrines (would be considered smaller national parks in a country as large as the USA) are actual open spaces and nature in its original and pure form.
Japanese people treat their nature like they treat their indoor homes - with much care, discipline and respect, that the natural sanctity of a deity realm comes to the forefront of consciousness, and you're able to feel the Veil dissipate between the realms! When you enter a bigger Shinto shrine (a small national park), you're immediately transported into a different dimension, and you feel all kinds of non-human energies and presences all around you. Particularly so if you're a sensitive, clairvoyant or psychic. Another interesting fact is that Japan is a land of large crows and cats. They do not have stray dogs on their streets or rogue pigeons (for all my stay in Japan, I saw 3 pigeons in total, and they were hanging around large metro entrances/exits), and all kinds of animals are treated with respect and kindness; the most frequent animals you'll encounter in Japan are black crows (Odinn sends his regards), stray cats that gather on the Shinto grounds, and yellow spiders that weave majestic and thick webs that Japanese people groom and leave alone when they find their home on their houses or trees and plants in front of their houses.
The main reason of me going to Japan was so that I could research Shinto, folklore and traditions, and going from shrine to shrine, I left most money, to be honest, on offerings I offered to various Shinto deities.
I enjoyed the time spent in Meiji Shrine very much, because of the big forest (it's like the Central Park of Tokyo), the different air, the crows that dwell there and the two big spouse trees that the Emperor and Empress planted centuries ago. It's one of the largest, if not the largest, Shinto shrines in Tokyo, it's right across from Harajuku station, and many people take shortcuts through it running to their work, but not before bowing before entering and after exiting the Tori gates.
The other, favourites of mine, that I've stumbled upon all around Tokyo, by complete accident, were small Shinto shrines offered to nameless deities whose realm was that of a particular block or a small street, but still the care and respect given to these small shrines moved my heart deeply and made me feel at home even more, for it's not the size of the shrine (or the deity) that matters, but the exchange of good energy and respect that takes the form of the offerings and care given to the shrine!
I also have to mention that one of the most profound things that happened to me while staying in Tokyo, was stumbling upon a random Shinto dance - a form of celebration for a certain deity, performed by regular civilians who're just into that kind of thing (extracurricular activity, like a book club for example), and observing that magnificent performance in one of the busiest squares of Tokyo! Later in the dance, the performers called the onlookers to join the dance and help them with our energy to offer gratitude, respect and energy to the deity in whose honour the dance was performed. I am an extreme introvert, and saying that I don't prefer being at the centre of attention in a public place, or any other place where I'm surrounded by strangers, is not my sort of thing. However, participating in this dance (after observing, rejoicing and clapping for some time, thus learning the basic steps of the dance) was one of the most joyous and happiest experiences I've got to partake in! I've no idea even the name of the deity in whose honour I participated, but being able to practice Paganism so out in the open, and for it to be such a regular and normal occurrence that people either don't pay attention to it, or stop to add to it with their own positive energy and excitement, is such a pivotal moment for "coming out of the Pagan closet", that I felt like I was both flying and being liberated of my physical form, afterwards. If I was born and grown up in Japan, I would've most def become one of those people who go to these Shinto dancing practices, and I would perform in the streets for nothing else but my love, gratitude and respect towards the gods who watch over this magical country, and offer their blessings and good luck to those who they're fond of.
There's even a video recording of me partaking in this dance, and even though it was making me step so far out of my comfort zone, I haven't seen my face light up like that in a looooong time, nor have I seen my smile be brighter and more dazzling than it was in those moments where I danced the crooked moves of this ritual. That experience alone feels like a big third of the sum of experiences my Soul chose to undergo in this life, and that says a lot.
To quote that greedy crook from Avatar - "if you drop a pin somewhere on this land, it'll land on something sacred to these natives" and that might as well be true for Japan, and that fact alone, makes me so happy and so at home there.
The next profound spiritual experience was climbing to the top of Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, or how I call it "the Kitsune temple". Fushimi Inari is, geographically speaking, a mountain, and all the while you're climbing these steps and walking under these Tori gates on your way to the top. You have narrow side paths that look like they're leading you to a "side quest" and if you dare venture off the trail, you'll most likely stumble on a variety of forgotten smaller Shinto shrines which look pretty eerie, and like they're taken straight out of iconic Japanese horror movies. Nature was impeccable, it was the thick atmosphere and general vibes around these "forgotten" shrines that gave you a real picture of what kind of energies and deities are dwelling behind the Tori gates. And what's craziest - these smaller shrines, even though they looked and felt "forgotten", in front of each of them were fresh offerings, and at least two people who told their wishes to the deities dwelling there.
Fun fact about Fushimi Inari - all those Tori gates (there are thousands of them) were donated to the shrine by patrons who went there to pray for the success of their business, and their businesses blossomed so much afterwards that they were rich enough to donate a Tori gate (sometimes even multiple) to the shrine!
Most of the shrine is covered in moss, and thick and tall trees and these statues which look like tombstones; it's unique (and very interesting) how the whole shrine has this graveyard feel to it. I love graveyards, and naturally, Fushimi Inari Taisha left the strongest impression on me. I can't wait to go back to it and climb it from the other end...
If I were a mangaka, I would centre my manga around Shinto shrines, and how each of them has a unique feel, vibe and speciality to it. I'd educate young people about the etiquette and importance of Shinto, and connect older generations under the umbrella of deep love and respect for the deities of the Japanese archipelago. It would be a dream job, and a big dream come true, as I've been wanting, for years, to write a proper book, or even a series of books about the most famous Shinto Shrines, as well as the deities behind them, folklore and Youkai.
Japan is the safest and most open country for the outward practice of Paganism, and occultism, and it's a paradise for people who are trying to evade the 3D reality of Judeo-Christian religions and all imposed cultural and spiritual beliefs.
Similar to how I felt compelled to rough up and crude up my personality because of the environment where I was born and grew up, only in Japan did it become crystal clear exactly how much is my spirituality and religious practices confined and even condemned. It feels so suffocating and unforgiving being different and spiritually open/advanced outside of Japan. This is why Japan is a paradise for all Pagans and occultists; even if you're not of Shinto flavour, as long as you pay your respects and obey the spiritual etiquette in Japan, you are more than welcome to practice your Paganistic practices openly and with panache. In Japan it's completely normal to bow to a tree, clap your hands in front of a fountain, or to even converse with Fuji-san, or a nearby river, as in Japanese folklore and mythology everything has a spirit, a soul, and Fuji-san (the volcano that large) is one of the biggest, and thus main deities of Japan. So consorting with your gods, spirits and ancestors in public, is seen as completely normal and as nothing out of the ordinary. This is something that provided such a force of vigour and light into my heart, that I could never go back to the "dark times" in the sense of living in a country where the dark ages feel like they might take over any minute, and something ominous is looming over your shoulder because people perceive you as different - thus dangerous.
In Japan, people might not even look your way for practising your "weird" spiritual practices in a public space, or out in the open. As long as you're not breaking any of the rules, and you remain polite and respectful, you can do anything you want, but attuning to the potent occult energies around you, and showing your love and respect towards the gods, is definitely one of the favourite things on the top of my list.
Japan is what happens when humans take notice and take care of the natural world around them, and instead of acting out and acting like we're at the top of the eco chain, we accept that we're just a part of a big eco circle, and all other beings, both seen and unseen sharing this space with us deserve kindness and acceptance.
America might preach about being accepting and valuing diversity, but Japan made an actual reality of it, and it is clear as day in daily life. In turn, the deities of the Japanese archipelago offer a form of sanctum for Japanese people, and they protect them. You can feel that especially when you're ascending over Japan - it's like there's an invisible force field above Japanese islands that makes the sky appear so rich blue and makes Japan one of the last spiritual resorts on Earth.
Everyone should visit Japan at least once in life, and all Pagans should consider either moving there or spending prolonged periods of time in this land of wonders, for it's not just highly therapeutic, but also elevating and enriching for the Soul!
If you made it this far, thank you for coming to my TED talk, and thank you for bearing with my mad ramblings about Japan, this is a topic I am very particular and passionate about, so I hope you'll be forgiving in the feedback to my writing style and jumbled thoughts.
またね～＾＾