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Yastaka — Autumn in Yagyuu Street 1
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Published: 2010-10-31 06:18:03 +0000 UTC; Views: 528; Favourites: 1; Downloads: 3
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Description
Autumn is comin' in Japan and forest will be colored and brightened.Yagyū street (柳生街道), old road from Kasuga to Yagyū, is one of my most favorite places to feel autumn.
These shots are taken about 5 years ago, but leaves are still vivid and colored.
Wishin' you feel it.
This series is dedicated to
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Comments: 43
Nya!! How did I miss this picture!? It's so lovely!! *dreamy sigh* I'd love to take a walk down that path! Oh I bet the trees would have so much to say!!
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Thank you.
I'll take you there if you visit Japan and wish to go.
I want to know what trees were speaking to me then.
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I guess the trees said to me then like this, 'see my beauty as far as you can.'
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If I can ever make it to Japan, I hope you will take me so that I can listen to them as well. 
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You will hear those voices more louder, 'see my beauty!'
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Why do you say I will hear them louder?
To me, they say, "Come, walk the path before you and hear the story that I have to tell you."
Trees live for hundreds of years. Can you imagine how much knowledge you can accumulate in all that time?
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I guess you'll hear their voices more directly, I just feel something passionate.
They will tell you about samurais and people who went through the old path. The way was reclaimed a hundreds of years ago.
If I can live for long time like a tree, ,, It's very hard to answer.
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I would love to hear stories about the samurai. I don't hear THAT directly, though. It is also a feeling that I receive. A feeling in my heart, because trees cannot talk and do not use the same kind of language that we do.
I Had a dream last night about going to Japan.
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That dream may come true. Was loose haired old guy walking beside you? It's me
The element that you said is told in Daoshadru?
I feel like hearing ancient theory.
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Yes, you were in the dream, but you looked as you did on the picture that I saw of you.
To be honest, I probably had the dream because I was looking at all of your pictures in your gallery of Yagyuu street. Because in my dream you took me to those places.
In the dream, I was in Japan to meet with a Mangaka about having Soul Retrieval turned into a manga. After the meeting, you picked me up and took me around to all of the places in your pictures.
I remember riding on a motorcycle (The one in your pictures) I don't know if it's yours or not, but you were driving it. 
Like I said, the whole dream (except for the meeting with the mangaka) was probably due to me browsing through your gallery.
Elements in Daoshadru. We use 7 elements: Earth, Stone, Water, Wood, Air, Fire, & Void/Spirit.
Ancient theory? What kind?
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Like astrology. How to know the element?
Very very good dream. But I can't imagine who the mangaka is.
I myself want to walk in those scenes again, like you.
This year I missed to go there in autumn.
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I meant to reply to this last night, but my internet was down. 
Hmmmm, well, what is your zodiac sign? I'm a Taurus - the Bull - which is an earth sign.
[link]
In Chinese horoscope, I'm a Horse, also an earth sign.
Also, my birthyear in the chinese horoscope falls as being Earth, so I am an Earth horse.
So I have triple earth element.
but you asked how you can tell which horoscope is what element in daoshadru? Well, we use the traditional horoscopes. Though it is true that according to Cherokee tradition, each month has it's own totem animal. The month of May has the Beaver. Hmmm... I believe that would be a water sign, according to Cherokee tradition, but I'd have to ask Sifu to be sure.
In Daoshadru there are 7 sets of "power animals" to go with each element. 
As I said, my dream was most likely caused from viewing your gallery and my desire to want to visit the places in your pictures. Also, the mangaka thing, probably comes from my desires to really want to become published. My original hope for Soul Retrieval was that it would become a manga. So my desires manifested in my unconscious into this dream.
I've just spent the entire weekend decorating for Christmas... 
The pictures were taken with my camera phone, so they don't look as good.
To be honest, I'd rather celebrate Christmas the way you do in Japan. I tried that last year. I bought Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Eve and I made a Christmas cake. But my mother got really angry with me and refused to cook on Christmas day. She locked herself in her room all day pouting like a kid. I swear, sometimes I wonder who the parent is...
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I was born in last half of April, so Taurus me too.
Thanks for explanation, but it's very hard for me to get the meaning.
I don't used to horoscope. I'll read it little by little.
That Christmas tree is brilliant
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I'm not all that big about horoscopes. I'll admit that the description for the characteristics of a Taurus and those of an Earth Horse in Chinese horoscope fit me very well, but I don't read my horoscopes on a daily bases. Only occasionally.
Let's see, under the month of April, in Cherokee tradition your animal would be Rat. I just called Sifu. The Cherokee monthly animals are more totems/spirit guides and don't really go with any element. [link]
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This Ratt ?
They adopt rat as a totem of spring.
I want to request them to change the totem to something that suggests fertility, or birth, etc. It's what I imagine for spring.
Well, I know theory can't be changed easily.
No need to worry, I'm enjoying.
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I've never heard that band before. It is definately the kind of music I like though, so thanks for the link.
I'm not sure that I understand about the spring, thing? I don't think that Rat is the totem animal for April because of spring, but I would have to ask Sifu about that. Naturally spring is already seen as a time of birth and fertility. That is already a given. it's obvious.
I'm glad that you are enjoying the reading. :relieved:
I went out to the movies tonight, by myself... I'm pathetic, aren't I? But I really wanted to see the movie. Sifu's wife was going to go with me, but she's really sick. We were supposed to go on Sunday and rescheduled for today. I didn't want to reschedule again, so I just went by myself... I Loved the movie, I would definately consider it my favorite Disney movie, but it was kind of lonely going alone...
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Happy to hear that you like Ratt.
No need to bother Sifu, I'm hearing the doctrine of Daoshadru just from curiosity.
You saw Tron Legacy?
I'm eager to see it in 3D.
I went to see 'Shine a light' alone. There's nobody who has interest in Rolling Stones around me.
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No, I didn't see Tron Legacy. I saw Tangled - the new Disney Movie based on the story of Rapunzel.
I'm not sure what Tron Legacy is. Gomen ne.
And, the description of the Rat that I set you is just a general description of how the Rat is normally seen as a Totem. It is not specific to Daoshadru, but any system of belief that uses animal totems. Generally in the west, but it did give some description of other countries' views of the Rat as a totem.
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Tron Legacy is a sequel to Tron... m, hazy.
The character of the totem is made from that of the animal, so it has a generality... I got it thus.
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ohhh, I saw a trailer for that movie once. I remember now. I'm not sure that I understand it, though.
For example, My name, "Gentlewolf" is taken from my wolf totem. Wolf is normally seen as being a warrior. I don't know how to fight at all, so for me, my wolf totem is not a warrior. She is the alpha female. The mother, the loyal protector of her children and family. but also, wolf is often described as: "Those who have a Wolf Totem will move on to teach others about sacredness and spirituality. Wolf can also teach how to balance the responsibility of family needs and not to lose one's personal identity. Wolf teaches us to develop strength and confidence in our decisions. He shows we will learn to trust our insights once we learn how to value our inner voice."
But, I also have 9 Totems. One for each element, plus a couple to spare. Wolf is my personal totem for the element of Earth. This obviously does not go with the cherokee power animals elements, which say that Wolf is fire.
My personal fire totem is the Phoenix.
Personal elemental totems sort of describe your personality I guess. I'm not sure how to explain it.
For example, Earth in Daoshadru is seen as being calm and stable. My totem for the element of earth being Wolf shows how I am calm and stable, yet always guarded. At least, that's my own idea of it.
Phoenix as my fire totem shows how I will always come back. Phoenix is resurrected from the flames. I'm not quite sure what that means for my warrior spirit, being as I've never faught for a single day in my life, but...I'm sure I'll understand it one day. Maybe it means that I never give up? I'm not entirely sure.
Of course, according to Daoshadru, Phoenix is an animal of myth and legend and of the element of void/spirit so, again, my personal totems aren't traditional with their elements.
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It's nice to understand totems, but you know, fundamentally I don't have a belief for that.
Here let me say thanks to your Sifu and his wife for caring us. But I'm, if anything, a person who has a belief in Shinto, not in totem.
With your words I recognized that I should say my stance frankly.
Anyway, does the totem that you say mean this? [link]
Or, something else that's mixed with several religions? I don't know that at first.
And, you see, we're talking about only Daoshadru till now.
I'll tell you about Shinto, comparing to Daoshadru.
It will enrich this talking.
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That is a Totem pole...
Totems vary from culture to culture and from person to person. It can be very complicated.
A Totem pole represents a specific culture of a tribe. The pole typically consists of the different totems animals or ancestors that protect that specific tribe or culture.
Individuals totems (as I am talking about) are spirit animals or ancestors that help to guide and protect one specific person.
Some cultures or tribes say that you can only have one totem, while others say that you can only have a specific amount. Still in other cultures (Daoshadru included) you can have an unlimited amount of totems.
So, in reality, I don't think that our beliefs are really THAT different. They have a lot of similarities.
However, it is not my mission to convert you to Daoshadru or anything like that. I respect your beliefs and am willing to learn about them. That is what we do, in Daoshadru. Above all, we respect and reconize all paths/beliefs/religions.
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Great words. I hope all religions become like that.
One thing, I'm not a person who can teach Shinto. I'm just studying, not a priest.
What you said about Shinto are right. And those are also what I wanted to say at first.
Now I can go further.
I'm wondering, if Shinto is included in esoteric religion or not.
Shinto is somewhat esoteric, but has a movement to be fundamental, simple.
I think esoteric religions intend to gain amount of contents, limitlessly, like hidden Gods, animals.
As a result, its expression takes gaudy form. Like esoteric Buddhism, Shamanism, Totem Pole that's consisted of many faces.
As for Torii, its most supreme style is most simple. Like this; [link]
That form comes from tradition. But I think it can't be explained only by tradition.
Surely, Japanese Gods are called Yaoyorozu no Kami (Gods in limitless numbers) entirely. But I doubt that it's as same as esoteric religions in the meaning of limitless. Or, in Shinto, the concept of limitless may be limited in some occasions.
Anyway, do you think esoteric religion and Shamanism are the same?
Is there Shamanism un-esoteric?
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I understand that you can't teach Shinto. I know that you're not a priest and you are still learning. It is the same with me in Daoshadru.
Wow.... um, I'm really sorry to say this, but I am really confused by what you are saying/asking. I'm honestly not sure how to respond.
All religions are esoteric to some point. They are also commonplace to some point.
Yes, I understand that Shinto is a very ancient religion. If you really want to get down into it, so is Shamanism. Shamanism is one of the worlds most ancient religions. Shinto is a "shamanistic" type of religion. Daoism is very Shamanistic. Norse has many shamanistic ideas. I'd almost be willing to bet that all religions have something shamanistic about them. Even Christianity to some point. It depends on how deeply you delve into the religion.
Sorry if that doesn't make sense, but It's the best that I can understand of what you are saying.
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Sorry, I couldn't explain well in last message.
You don't need to apologize.
I'm just interested in comparison between Shinto and Shamanism, it's in short what I wanted to say last time.
This is a mere conjecture, Japanese people including me feel a little repulsion for the word Shamanism.
I guess, if one says 'Shinto is Shamanism' to Japanese people, he may get depressed by the saying, or reply 'It's no'.
Though just a guess, but I'm sure it's not wrong to some extent.
I want to know why it is.
Thanks for kind words.
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I'll try to explain this as best as I can. I'm going through my notes, too.
When David (Sifu) first started to teach me Shamanism, the first thing he told me was that many people, his own tribe of the Cherokee Native American Indian Tribe especially, Look at Shamanism as being "Pagan" and as being a "sham." This is the direct result of Christianity. When the "white man" came to North America and brought Christianity with them, they told the Native American Indians that their ways were wrong and "pagan." And taught them the "proper" way... Christianity.
You see, by now the Christians had labled anyone who "worshiped the old ways" and who did not follow Jesus Christ as being evil. Anyone who practiced the "old ways" was called a witch.
Let me explain that the term "Pagan" in it's oldest and most basic definition means, "of the land." The "Pagans" were the people who lived off of the land, who lived too far away from a church to be converted to Christianity. The "Pagans" were the country dwellers.
Since then, the term "Pagan" has been turned, by the Christians, into a term that defines people who they believe are evil.
You may be wondering thy this is so important and you may say that it's not answering your question. I'll get there, but first this is something that you have to understand.
I know that less then 2% of the Japanese population are Christian... but unfortunately Christianity has influenced Japan, and I believe it is most likely that early "white man" who came to Japan and the Christian missionaries have influenced the Japanese people against terms like "Pagan" and "Shaman(ism)" based on their belief that they are "Evil" and "not real."
Ok, I think this post is getting very long. I will continue to explain in my next post. Are you okay with everything that I have said, so far?
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No problem, very nice to hear.
I don't know Christianity well, but sometimes read Bible.
Let me say simply what I think of Paganism here.
Paganism takes roots in what Jesus said in Bible. For him, even Greece Gods are pagan.
And as churches grew and held the reins of power, the view got radical and severe as well.
And it caused several incidents, like witch hunt, right?
Surely, when Christian missionaries came to Japan and taught Christianity, some people influenced and denied another religion. It's since 16th century.
But, if the view of Christian influenced people to have an unpleasant feeling for pagan religion, Japanese people would have same feeling for Shinto, or Buddhism.
Christians turned some people to Christianity, but I doubt if they influenced such deeper.
Thus. Lookin' for your next post.
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Okay… so I have to remember what I was saying. Hmmm, I was explaining why I think I understand why the Japanese feel badly about Shinto being called Shamanism…
I was trying to form a theory as to why it might be that so many people dislike the word “shaman(ism)” seemingly worldwide. I can explain it from what I understand here in the United States, but it seems to be different in Japan; at least, slightly different, maybe.
Maybe I’m going a bit too deep into it…
Your initial question is about the “comparison between Shinto and Shamanism.”
Unfortunately, I cannot find my book that has what I personally found to be the best definition of Shamanism. (Actually, I loaned the book to my girlfriend, and haven’t received it back.) So, I’ll try my best to explain in my own terms, but I may fail at this. Either way, please don’t take any offense if I say something wrong. 
So, Shamanism is all over the world. A “Shaman” was primarily a “great magician” (as it is translated in Cherokee) or a spiritual person who acted as a “middle person” between the “real world” and the “spirit world.” (The Avatar in Avatar the last Airbender is a good example of this… but I don’t expect that you’ve seen that series.) They communicate with spirits. Whether it be the spirits of the dead – ancestors, or Spirits of life – spirits of nature.
This is the very basic explanation of Shamanism. (There are a lot more complicated things, but my goal is to explain how Shinto is “shamanistic.”
If I’m not mistaken, Shinto works extensively with spirits. You honor your ancestors. Also, you honor the spirits of nature. Shamanism does not say that “there is a god for everything.” It says that “everything has a spirit.” In Shinto, you have shrines to honor water spirits and tree spirits, am I correct? It is the same for what I worship in Shamanism. I honor the spirit of my Japanese Cherry Tree, Kodama-kun. (Though I need to make a new spirit house for him because his old one broke… ) I honor and listen to the spirits of the wind or of the river (when I go to my favorite nature spot).
That is how and why I say that Shinto is shamanistic. (It may not directly be “shamanism,” but it is “shamanistic” in nature, where as you honor spirits of both the living and the dead… and does a Shinto priest not act as a “guide” to communicate between the “real world” and the “spirit world.”
Does that make any sense? If not, I’m truly sorry… Honto ni gomen nesai…
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It's very clear, thanks for explanation.
Now I reached to a temporary result. The problem doesn't lie in a concept of Shamanism, but a name.
We're not used to them, so feel strange. That's all.
I guess it's morning there. Good day.
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I'm glad that I was able to help.
Today is a big day for me. It is Yule/Winter Solstice. I will be going to the Grove soon to exchange gifts and for ritual. Tonight is the birth of the Sun. From this night on, the days will start to get longer again, until Summer Solstice.
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Now sun may be toddling like a baby.
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How was your Christmas Eve? Did you have anyone to spend it with?
I wanted to make a Christmas cake, but yesterday was really busy here.
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On the night I slept alone,, forgive me, I can tell only this.
It's to be hesitated in Japan, generally, chatty. you know
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Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry or anything.
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No need to worry, it's my fault.
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Happy New Year!
Did you go to the shrine? What do you do on New Years at the shrine?
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I don't know, but somehow feel it's my fault.
Happy new year
I'll go shrine to wish today... and may buy a talisman.
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not at all, not at all.
Really? Awww, I wish I could go to a shrine! But the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America is over 2,000 miles away from me.
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I wish more Jinja will be built in America,,,
How about your private shrine?
It's completed?
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no...
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