The Oyunohara (大斎原) Otorii Gate, the largest of the Kumano Kodo sanzan. Before 1889, 熊野古道, Kumano Kodō pilgrims arriving at Kumano Hongu Taisha Shrine visited its original site of Oyunohara 大斎原, an island located at the fork of the Iwata River and the Otonashi River in Tanabe, Wakayama. Instead of Misogi, 禊 a Japanese Shinto practice of … Continue reading 熊野古道, Kumano Kodō: Oyunohara 大斎原
Nature Divine
Walking the Kumano Kodō – 熊野本宮大社 Kumano Hongū Taisha –
Walking the Kumano Kodo beings at 熊野本宮大社, Kumano Hongū Taisha. It serves as the head shrine of more than 3,000 Kumano shrines across Japan and is part of the san-zen - three famous shrines that cover the route. Hongu Taisha enshrines its own deity and the deities of the other two Kumano shrines, Hayatama Taisha, Nachi Taisha, as well asthe sun goddess Amaterasu.
八咫烏 Yatagarasu – The Three-Legged Crow of Japanese Mythology – With Photos and Haiku
The divine messenger of the sun, the crow, is exemplified in Yatagarasu, the three-legged crow in Japanese mythology. With photos and haiku by Sydney Solis.
Walking the Kumano Kodō: 玉置神社 Tamaki Shinto Shrine – With Haiku and Photos
Haiku and photographs accompany Sydney Solis's journey to Tamaki Shrine in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan while on pilgrimage walking the Kumano Kodo.
Inunakiyama Tohorinji Temple犬鳴山轉法輪寺, Nara – Haiku and Photos
First stop on the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage was an unexpected and little known one at the Inukaiyama Hohonen-ji founded by Kūkai in Nara. Inunakiyama Tohorinji Temple犬鳴山轉法輪寺
‘In Japan, Nature is Our Religion’ — Mine Too
Aligning with, not destroying, nature is the future of the planet in the age of coronavirus. Japanese culture and reverence for nature show the way in the Reiwa Era.
自然 Nature & the Sacred 木 Tree: Trees that Survived the Atomic Bombing at Hiroshima
Photograph of Kurogane holly trees that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II, with commentary by Alan Watts about our relationship to nature.
Healing Waters and Haiku – Japanese Onsen at Kamiyusou, Totsukawa, Nara 神湯荘
The Healing Waters of Kamiyusou onsen in Totsukawa, Nara prefecture are a perfect stop to write haiku and rest your weary bones as you make your way as a pilgrim on the Kumano Kodo in Japan.
熊野古道 Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage – Japan’s Sacred Trees
Photograph of trees along the Kumano Kodo, or dark path, at Nachikatsuura, Wakayama, Japan.
Faith in Nature: Forest Bathing and Mythic Yoga Journey to Mt. Atago, Kyoto
Nature heals, and forest bathing on Mt. Atago in Kyoto, Japan is just what the planet orders to heal depression and help us find our life purpose.
