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Shintoism Shinto Shrine Kami Way
Way of Kami Goddesses Gods
The Kami Way of the gods, the indigenous faith of the Japanese people, Shinto has neither a founder nor sacred scriptures like the Bible or the Sutras. As old as the people themselves, Shinto is deeply rooted in Japanese traditions.
It is an optimistic faith that believes all humans are intrinsically good and that all evil is caused by evil spirits. Shinto sacred spirits that are the objects to pray to for blessings and grace and to worship for their spirituality.
The Kami can take various forms including: the forms of natural elements like trees, rocks, mountains, the wind, and the sun; the forms of national heroes and protectors of family clans; or abstract things like fertility. Kami are the only things that have great influence on daily life.
The Kami of natural phenomena are worshiped: Kami of the Seas, Kami of the Rivers, Kami of the Thunders, Kami of the Rains, Kami of the Mountains. It is important to perform rites for Kami since although they usually guard and bless people they can also get angry and bring misfortunes upon them.
The Kami are neither omnipotent nor omniscient. In Shinto mythology, the Kamiah that gave birth to the land of Japan failed at first and had to ask for help from other Kami in heaven who told them to search for the answers through the practice of divination. There are no absolutes or perfect Kami.
The people worship the
divine spirits, Shinrei, because they have great influence in their lives, and
they are in awe of the Magatsuhi Kami who bring evil into them. Most of Shinto
rituals focus on prayers, purification, and offerings to keep away evil spirits.
In Shinto everything is spiritual with no separation between the material and
spiritual.
National Treasure Five Tier Pagoda at Mount Haguro
Many of the ancient Shinto goddesses and gods are now serving the peoples of the planet as Deities of the Twelve Universal Rays. For more information about them as well as pictures of their Sacred Sites please see thier individual pages which can be accessed from Deities of Twelve Universal Rays.
These Kami parents were Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami) who was the Japanese Shinto Earth Mother and Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto Sky Father. Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto Earth Mother, primordial creator goddess, who represented all that was gracious and heavenly. The Female Who Invites together with her husband and soulmate Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami), The Male Who Invites, Izanami was given the task of creating the world
Izanagi (Izanagi-No-Kami) was the Japanese Shinto sky father, primordial creator god, and Initiator of the Cleansing Rites who represented all that was light and heavenly. "The Male Who Invites" together with his wife and soulmate Izanami (Izanami-No-Kami), "The Female Who Invites", Izanagi was given the task of creating the world.
Izanagi and Izanami stood together on the floating bridge of the heavens called "Ama-no-ukihashi" and immersed a bejeweled spear deep into the sea. As they gradually removed it from the waves, water droplets condensed to form the first Japanese island where the kami and humans were born.
After their laborious endeavors together were finished, the Izanami needed a lengthy rest and recuperation, so she retreated to the Otherworld for a long period of time before returning to the Earthly realm to rejoin Izanagi.
Izanagi Shrine is located in the vicinity of the Tsuna-Ichinomiya
Interchange Awajishima in the Ichinomiya-cho area. According to the Ancient Chronicle,
Awajishima was the first island created by these two pillar Shinto Deities, and
they are enshrined there. Awajishima is a treasure island for prayers and
happiness where the Deities of Good Fortune reside and are visited by more than
300,000 people each year...Continue on
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Shinto Shrine Kami Way Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
Permission Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 to use Image National Treasure Five Tier Pagoda at Mount Haguro, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Five_tier_pagoda_at_Mt._Haguro_2006-10-29.jpg]. Accessed June 3, 2007.
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