According to Shinto belief, this is the time of year when the gods gather for a yearly convention. The gods leave their various shrines and come together in a kind of retreat.
During this time all but one of the shrines in Japan are vacant - the one that is occupied is the place where the gods have gathered. At the end of the month, the gods are welcomed back. This tradition reminds us that everyone needs to rest and take a break. Make today a kind of restful retreat in whatever way you can. This may simply mean taking time to do something nice for yourself. If you have trouble breaking away, use this chant: "Give me time, take a break, slowly calm this hurried pace. Let me have some time for me to renew my energy." |
© This page is for the enjoyment of visitors to Llewellyn.com, and is the copyrighted intellectual property of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd. You may post a link to this page, but no part of it may be used or reproduced without permission.