Shinto spirit guides



Shinto spirit guides derive from an ancient Japanese form of spirituality known as Shintoism, which dates back centuries and translates as ' The way of the gods '.

Shinto is an ancient Japanese religion, which began around 500 AD or earlier. Its roots lie in nature, ancestor worship and shamanism. The name Shinto comes from the Chinese phrase ' Shin Tao ' meaning ' the way of the gods '. Along with Buddhism, Shinto is one of the two official religions of Japan.

Spiritual beings practitioners of Shinto honour the Kami, who are Japanese deities, and ancestral spirits. According to the tenets of Shintoism, all of nature is seen as being sacred and closeness to nature is equated to closeness with the gods. During Japanese Shinto ceremonies great emphasis is placed on physical cleanliness - traditionally, your hands and mouth would need to be washed before you entered a shrine! Subscribers to Shinto strive to have ' makoto ', which is sincerity and, most important of all, a true heart.

Shintoism is an ancient Japanese religion which deifies the kami and uses them as spiritual guides.

Shinto shrines and practices
Shinto shrines are found in natural surroundings, such as woods and mountains. To enter, you must pass through a special gateway, Tori, which marks entering the realm of the Kami - a bell is usually rung on entering a Shinto shrine to let the Kami know that you are there.
Shinto ceremonies usually begin with cleansing rituals; then offerings, prayers and dances are all performed to honour the Kami.

Seasonal celebrations are held at the time of spring planting and the autumn harvest.
Anniversaries of the shrine's foundation and festival days associated with the patron Kami of the shrine are also celebrated with rituals and dance. Animals are seen as especially important in Shintoism, because they are considered to be messengers of the gods, capable of delivering good or ill omens.

Below are listed some of the major Kami beings that you can summon

Nature Kami
Shinto is ancient religion and, as a result, many of the Kami are based on the natural world that formed part of the Japan's agricultural past. There is Ama no Uzume, a fertility goddess who rules over crops;Amaterasu, the sun goddess, responsible for warmth, wisdom and light to the world; Naru, the goddess responsible for the thunder who also helps to inspire artists; and Susanoo, a devious trickster god, whose cheeky antics often conjure up severe storms and thunderous typhoons in Japan. One of the most revered of the Kami is O Yama -tsu -mi who is an ancient god connected with the mountains found throughout Japan.
Lastly, there is Haya - ji who is associated with the four winds of the world.

Protection Kami
As spirit who helps humanity the Kami have become particularly associated with offering their divine abilities to help people and offer protection.Amida, for example, is a form of Budda who principally rules over forgiveness and the protection of others.
Benton is a Kami with many different qualities, which vary depending on the region of Japan in question; for some he presides over good luck and romance, while for others he promotes wealth and happiness. More recently, Benton has become linked with protection from earthquakes, something of particular concern to Japanese citizens.
Jizo Bosatsu is another protection Kami, who listens to Shintoist prayers and offers his help and protection to humanity.

Justice and revenge
Emma-hoo is one of the most powerful Kami in Shintoist mythology. This spiritual being is the god of the underworld and rules over the dead. He brings destruction to those who have wronged others. By contrast, Ida-ten is the guardian of law and rules over justice and victory.

There are hundreds of Kami spirit guides that you could choose from to help you.