Taking a break · 5:06pm Jan 2nd, 2020
I hope everyone has had a good New Year's celebration, and I wish you all good fortune in the future.
Afraid that my own New Year has started on a considerable down note. I am saddened to report that the pride of the Inari faithful in the Pacific Northwest of the United States is no more.
It is my understanding that the go-shintai (御神体, "sacred body of the kami") was stolen sometime prior to preparations for the New Year's festivities. To put it in Western Christian terms, think of the Shintai as a literal piece of the body of a saint, only, in this case, it is a piece of the Kami-Sama. To be true the shintai that had been housed was actually mitamashiro (御霊代, "spirit replacement" or "substitute"). What the thief got was a worthless piece of paper due to their desecration. They did not take the Kami, only the temporary vessel. However, this also means the Kami is no longer present for veneration.
The small shrine was taken away and replaced with a statue of another Kami.
Adding to my deep funk brought on by the loss of the shrine I've a nasty cold. Subsequently, I'm not going to do much in the way of writing for a while. I need to get well, and then I need to do New Year's house cleaning.
Inari faithful in the Pacific Northwest of the United States is no more.
sorry for the loss it may not be my specific god but technically im one of those that believes in all gods and divinities. cause there are sources for all faiths with facts as the basis and claimed as myths
5179091
One of the interesting thing about Shinto is that it's perfectly OK to refer to the stories about the Kami as myth. No one is expected to believe. That said, there are certain set customs and traditions that go with the various rituals. One can not have people praying at a shrine that doesn't have that quintessential component that signifies the presence of the kami. Whoever it was that took it has deprived an entier comunity of an outlet of worship.
Hope you get feeling better soon
5179168
Me too. I got too many things that need doing.