Hello, Everyone who is interested, this is YinWitch9; I would like to bring to you allthe information aboutFolk Shinto. This information is from my personal standpoint as a person inside the bubble of religion and practice of Folk Shintoism.
Folk Shinto or Minzoku Shinto is the religion and belief system of the Japanese Gods or Kami. Kami are spirits, deities, and as well as demons connected to nature and natural phenomena. This being is worshipped in Folk Shinto by forming or making a Kamidama or House shrine in the occupancy of a home or room. Some Folk Shinto beliefs hold that you may also visit an actual shrine or Otera in Japanese. Minzoku Shinto also allows the use of Shamanic practice and has the belief of spirit possession as well as the belief of many God-like beings ar Kami to aid or help in these rituals. Folk Shintobeliefs may stem from Taoist, or other Asian cultures relating to nature spirits of Kami. To become cleansed in Minzoku or Folk Shinto mundane rituals may be added to your daily life, for example,of the shower a few extra times and be in contact with water and its cleansing properties. Another example is to do a few extra prayers or some if none at all before entering a cemeteryor walking through a door that was not opened before. These prayers are usually done for your guardian deities to aid, these deities are also Kami. The definitionof Kami are beings found, from, or created by the spirits of nature the may be Gods, Demons, Ghosts, or energies with intelligence. The word "Oni" or demon, personally I do not use this word to describe evil Kami, I just say devil, demon, or evil spirit. I do this because I am American. As well as me believing in Kotoidama bu that we'll get into later in the thread. Some readers may find the word Evil spirit to be estranged because of not all demons are big scary and want to kill. Evil just means immoral to me. For example, there is a Kami that latches onto the thumbs of people who walk near graves. I do not name Kami I just describe them. I feel that naming "immoral" Kami invites them into your life. Therefore the causeof misfortune on purpose using divine energies is immoral therefore the spirit is evil. You may, if you want to become Folk Shinto or study the religion, say that the Evil spirit is just Kami or ghost. You can say whatever you want, I am not a governing priest. Ok, I mentioned Kotodama. What is Kotodama? First, I would suggest not looking it up in Wikipedia because It's kinda confusing and as you go on in the religion it gets kinda annoying. Wikipedia is a good start, but don't believe it like its written in stone. Ok, so Kotodama is the use of Japanese kanji, Hiragana, and Katakana as a magical language on a talisman used to influence divine or not Kami. thereis no energy unless you count the kami. When I say there is no energy I am not referring to Wicca, pagan, or esoteric energies I am saying the words have no influence over Physical change, All it can do is influence the Kami. When I first realized that I was like "what?", I know for some it is hard just to use nature spirits or Kami but that's how it is. I always thought that was wrong because I was like, I am writing in English (English words, vocab the works) therefore I am still controlling spirits. Then I released the definition on the internet left out detail and was completely wrong. So the definition is that was in Wiki was the belief that mystical powers dwell in words and names. Then I scroll down and Wiki says pretty musc nothinhg else relatable to my religion. What I am saying is all magick works do not confuse them or you may get a headache. I am also saying is that You have try the spells first its like trial and error when you dont have enough info. Luckly I know enough japanese to write a Talisman. Therefore you do not need to be Japanese (Again I am American, living proof) or write japanese to go on this path. I would like to add that kotodama is one belief and one practice of many in Folk Shintoism. The I would say the star of the show of practices is Shamanism ans spirit possesssion. Which is almost and I think all over the world in some form or shape. I would like to add that if you choose, or want to follow this path you can always keep prtactice ng your method of magick. Even if its so diffrernt or European even Hoodoo that your like, "Wow I cant believ I am asking Gods from a Japanbese religion, yet I practice so un-Japanese". Its ok doesnt matter the Kami love as you are.
Thats Wraps up my thread please comment if you would like. feel free to learn and study outside ofmy thread. Therefore and yeah I may have bashed Wikipedia but if you like wikipedis go for it! Just know religon is not abot race language or heritage, its about love devotion and honor.
Bye, bye.
