Dictionary

What is a Shimenawa しめ縄?

What is a Shimenawa しめ縄? A "Shimenawa しめ縄" is a sacred rope in Japanese Shinto, crafted from woven rice straw and often adorned with zigzag-shaped paper streamers called  shide. Its...

What is Obon お盆?

What is Obon?  A Sacred Japanese Tradition of Welcoming Ancestral Spirits In Japan, "Obon" arrives during the summer, a time when many people consider returning to their hometowns. This period,...

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...

What is the Flower of Life?

What is the Flower of Life? The Flower of Life is an ancient, sacred symbol composed of multiple overlapping circles of equal size, which join to form a beautiful geometric...

What is a Magatama 勾玉?

What is a Magatama 勾玉? A Magatama 勾玉 is a C-shaped or comma-shaped bead used in ancient Japan as a personal accessory and a tool for rituals. The materials were...

What is Naka-ima 中今?

What is Naka-ima 中今? Naka-ima (中今) is not a word that simply means "now." It is a profound concept originating from Japanese Shinto, meaning "the center of the now"—the most...