What is Kotodama 言霊?

What is Kotodama 言霊?

Kotodama (言霊) refers to the mystical, sacred power believed to dwell within words. It is one of Japan's ancient spiritual cultures, centered on the idea that words spoken aloud can influence the real world—that uttering good words brings about good events, while uttering inauspicious words brings about misfortune.

The core of the Kotodama 言霊 philosophy is the concept that each word is not merely a phonetic symbol, but possesses its own soul and spiritual force. For this reason, the Japanese people have, since antiquity, chosen their words with great care, cherishing and utilizing their power in daily life and rituals.

History and the Concept of Kotodama 言霊 in the Man'yōshū

The idea of Kotodama 言霊 appears clearly in the Man'yōshū, Japan's oldest existing anthology of poetry. Within it is a poem that describes Japan as "Kotodama no sakiwau kuni (言霊の幸わう国)—"a land where the power of words brings happiness." This indicates that by the Nara period, the concept that the spiritual power of words could bring peace to the nation and happiness to individuals was already deeply rooted among the people.

Furthermore, the norito 祝詞 (ritual prayers) in Shinto are also a reflection of the Kotodama 言霊 philosophy, praising the gods with beautiful words to wish for their divine protection. The custom of imikotoba (taboo words) at weddings, which avoids words like "to cut" or "to separate," is further proof that the cultural concept of avoiding the power of inauspicious words has been passed down to the present day.

The Mechanics of Kotodama 言霊 and a Spiritual Perspective

The power of Kotodama 言霊 is not mere superstition; its mechanics can be understood from a modern spiritual perspective.

• Words as "Vibrations" The words we speak are vibrations of the air—in other words, "vibrations" or "energy." Positive words are said to have a high, light vibration, while negative words have a low, heavy one. We can all unconsciously feel the difference between the warm energy of the word "thank you" and the piercing energy of a curse.

• Consciousness and the Creation of Reality Words are the tools that shape our consciousness. By repeatedly uttering positive words, their content becomes imprinted on our subconscious, naturally shifting our perspective and actions to be more positive. As a result, we become more likely to attract a positive reality. This can be described as a universal law that aligns with the idea that "thoughts become things."

KICHIYA's Proposed "Good Fortune Actions"

Here are specific actions to utilize the power of Kotodama 言霊 in your daily life and attract good fortune.

1. Utter Positive Words First Thing in the Morning At the start of your day, try saying an affirmative phrase (an affirmation) to yourself in the mirror with a smile, such as, "I am lucky today," or "This will be a wonderful day." Declaring positive energy to yourself can greatly change the flow of your fortune for the entire day.

2. Make "Thank You" Your Magic Words Make it a habit to express gratitude with the words "thank you" for even the smallest things. Words of gratitude are said to have an especially high vibration among all Kotodama 言霊, warming not only your own heart but the hearts of those around you, thereby attracting good relationships and further fortune.

3. Speak of Your Dreams and Goals in the Past Tense Instead of a wish like, "I want to become...," the power of Kotodama 言霊 becomes stronger when you speak as if your dream has already come true, such as, "I have become... Thank you." This is a technique to strongly impress the realization of your dream upon your subconscious and accelerate its manifestation.

4. Refrain from Complaints and Slander Negative words not only lower your own fortune but also pollute the energy around you. By consciously refraining from complaining or speaking ill of others, you will find that a pure and positive energy begins to fill your surroundings, allowing things to proceed more smoothly.

Words are a gift from the heavens, holding the power to create the future. Starting today, why not become conscious of the power of Kotodama 言霊 and begin to weave a fortunate life with your own words?