As I walk through the suburbs of a small town, I reflect on Shinto and what happened yesterday.

Cleansing, purifying, cleaning. Shinto is like a big spring cleaning. Thoroughly swiping the cosmic floors, cleaning the spiritual windows, or like the Sufi Master said “scrubbing the ethereal toilet, and keep it clean.’ A well cleaned space or body can receive the energy of Kami. Physical and spiritual. Get rid of the smudge that sticks to you, Kegare, defiled energy. If its not relevant, than throw it away and if it is relevant, go through it and dissolve it.

Misogi, the start of the Shinto practice. Originally done at the the sea at dawn. The body is first methodically washed, afterwards enters the sea. Then you dip yourself 7 times under water with quick breaths in between. The Master explained to me it’s also to ionize. This can also be done under the shower. If you set your intentions right, use cold water and also possible to scrub with salt.

The bell at the entrance of a shinto shrine is also for purification. Cleaning by sound. Also possible to clean by smell, by scent.

My walk brings me to the old palace of emperor Iejasoe, a group of guides greet me. One of the, went to the Netherlands once. He shows me pictures. He brings me to the stone where the emperor was born. In those days the women gave birth outside the main buildings. I continue to write there.

To first prepare the space for a ritual and the entrance of Kami a Gohei is set up, a sort antenna. Made of a branch and paper. This ‘antenna’ functions as a sort of conductor for the Kami. [Makes me think of this tribe that had a totem and from that reality sprung. They migrated and would take the totem and set it up in the new place. Which then was their new reality. At one point some anthropologists took away the totem. As a result the whole tribe died.] Many religions have a form of antennas, churches, totem poles, stupas, kalashas, the apex on mosques and synagogues, Inca crowns.

The Kami he welcomed in yesterday’s ritual is one that purifies like waves. I ask “How can I practice Shinto?”. He replies “To live peacefully throughout the day, relaxation in everyday life.”

I try to do the things that make me wake up refreshed in the morning, happy to get another day, Make me smell good and make me have beautiful dreams at night. That give me good stool. Makes my body feel strong and fit. And my spirit feel light. Not to push

away the negative, just let it be there. And rather focus on creating the positive. Input of beauty, good food, exercise.

Shinto sees Kami in everything. Each existence forms nature. Everything in nature is the transformation and creation of Kami, therefore the sacredness of Kami dwells within it. It is the underlying force that can take on many forms. And makes everything alive in a way. When everything is alive like that, you are never alone. Embraced by life. You just

attune yourself to that energy or specific form the energy takes.

Evening falls as I walk back to my hotel. Feeling more sympathetic with mosquitos nowadays, since I learned that only the pregnant females drink blood.