Back to nature witchcraft (photos by John Dougill)
The extracts below are taken from a paper written by a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University, Eriko Kawanishi. She has an interest in Western paganism, particularly British Wicca and Celtic forms or paganism, and has made what she calls a pilgrimage to the power spot of Glastonbury and the Goddess Temple there. Her survey of Japanese practitioners is limited (11 people in all), which reflects the paucity of numbers. Whether these first beginnings will develop into anything more substantial, only time will tell. The same of course could be said for the relatively small number of Shinto followers in the West.
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Witchcraft in Japan as a Contact Zone for Western and Japanese traditions
by Eriko Kawanishi
Joint Conference between the British Association for the Study of Religions and the Irish Society for the Academic Study of Religions (2018) : Borders and Boundaries: ‘Religion’ on the Periphery
Pagan honoring of the four directions, or the four seasons
From 1994, practical books of Western witchcraft were published in Japan, including
Spiral Dance by Starhawk. However, after the members of a cult, Aum Shinrikyo, released poisonous gas on the Tokyo subway lines in 1995, many matters relating to magic were considered to be dangerous because both were considered as occult. Many magicians stopped holding open gatherings and practised in secret at home.
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How they use Western witchcraft
Only two informants clearly said they didn’t include any traditions from Japan because
both prefer European culture. All the informants hold their ceremony in Japanese. All of my informants followed the Celtic calendar for seasonal ceremony and the concept of four Western elements. Many said it was easy to find the similar celebrations in Japanese traditional calendar which was divided into 24 seasons. Equinoxes, the first day of spring (4th February) and the winter solstice are well recognised in Japan, and therefore more important days for some witches. Both equinox days are national holidays and the period of thinking ancestors. Additionally ancestors are coming back to our home in the middle of August. Therefore some Japanese witches said they felt strange to welcome ancestors in Samhain season (31st October).
Pagan-Shinto altar (photographer uncertain)
Jomonian Modern Witchcraft group
The Jomonian modern witchcraft group, Uphyca, is a small and minor group of solo female witches, founded by Lumi Tanizaki (33) in 2013. She shares and teaches healing, divination, songs etc. based on her worldview of Uphyca without charge. Around 30 people are members, 10 are practising and only 5 are active. According to their website: Following the Western modern witchcraft practitioners revived the old faith before Christianity, Tanizaki chose Jinja Shinto and “Jomon faith” before Yayoi culture as “Japanese ancient divinities” for the source of inspiration of Uphyca. (Uphyca website)
Jomon is a name of prehistoric era between 14,000-300 BCE in Japan. The origin of Jomon people are still unknown, probably from Pacific or Southeast Asia. Around 10th century BCE, Yayoi people came from China and Korea and mixed with Jomon people. Some Jomon people are said to have moved to the edge of Japan, so the indigenous people in Hokkaido (Ainu), and Okinawa are the descendants of Jomon people. In fact, their genomes are similar.
Lumi was a professional healer and has been to O.T.O (Ordo Templi Orientis) meetings. She and her friend were dissatisfied with O.T.O., so they left and started Tokyo Ritual in 2012 which aims to study and practise modern occultism. They organise workshops and open rituals and make podcasts and Youtube movies. Their style is pop, light and hippy, so their followers are mainly in their 20s.
One of the fascinating Jomon dogu
Based on this experience, Lumi founded Uphyca in 2013 and opened a magic shop, Guinqujack (silver peacock), with another friend in 2015. One reason why she focused on Jomon is that she saw an analogy between the Celts in Europe and the Jomon in Japan. She said,
I researched Jomon (culture), but there is nothing left, only dogu (female figurines), pottery and stone circles. (…) So if I pick up cultures between which were left behind by the main culture, and connect, I may get closer to (Jomon culture). (…) But, yes, it’s my creation…
Books are her main resource for understanding Jomon. She also uses Ainu culture but refrains from visiting Ainu people. She said, I don’t think the Ainu want to be approached from the perspective of modern witches. They have more serious problems, such as human rights. So I think my visit will bother them. I don’t think Ainu souls call me. She and her friends are interested in Ainu culture which may have succeeded ancient Jomon culture. However the lifestyle of contemporary Ainu is similar to that of ordinary Japanese, so they learn not from face-to-face communication, but from books, the Internet, museums and manga.
Shinto and Witchcraft
Lumi is fond of Shinto but distinguishes her practices of Uphyca, Sumer (her original interest) from a mixture of Shinto & witchcraft. For her, Uphyca is more a creation and Shinto & witchcraft are more religious practice. She has two altars at home, Western witchcraft and Shinto altar, and prays regularly.
Her magic shop puts black Shinto altar and sells colourful military painted Shinto altar. Her business partner explained that there was no reason why Shinto altar should be white. On the spring equinox this year, this shop and Uphyca held a ceremony in Shinto style. A qualified but independent Shinto priest organised an original ceremony.
After his chanting (message for divinities), a man played sumo. Sumo is considered a sacred sport, dedicating for divinities. Then Lumi and other girl dedicated song and dance. The lyrics and music are created by Lumi. She used classical Japanese words and Ainu words for lyrics. The lyrics means suggesting priestess to pray.
Shinto has been mixed with Buddhism for a long time. The Shinto which is widely spread in contemporary Japan, was constructed in late 19th century. It was used for authorising the Imperial Family as the descendants of Japanese divinities. Therefore some Japanese try to revive the “Ancient Shinto” practised before arrival of Buddhism in Japan or use Shinto elements in their own way.
Lumi is not the only informant who has set up a Shinto altar. Many of my informants like to visit Shinto shrines and worship Shinto divinities. For example, one Goddess altar is set up by a woman who took Goddess training in Glastonbury. She also has Shinto altar.
Glastonbury’s Goddess Temple, first in the land for 1500 years
This is an interesting post. Thank you for sharing. For another topic, I wonder if Shinto beliefs have any relation to Reiki healing practice?
Thank you for your interest.I’m no expert on reiki, but I know it was supposedly revealed to the founder, Mikao Usui, when he meditated for 21 days at Kurama Temple, here at Kyoto. That suggests a buddhist connection, although Kurama is deeply syncretic and very close to nature.There’s a power spot, waterfalls and energy from the thickly wooded slopes. Quote fro the internet-
“Usui fasted and mediated near a massive cedar tree, called Osugi in Japanese. In Shinto Religion these old, massive trees are worshipped as kami, the deities in Shinto Religion. On the last day of his training Usui had a revelation about Reiki.”