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Showing posts from July, 2025

Snake Hollow: Japan Report Six 令和6年

This morning in Japan, I got up early to visit 蛇窪神社 Hebikubo Jinja. “Snake Hollow” shrine was founded during the Kamakura period in 1323. The white snake has a close association with Benzaiten, and symbolizes living a life with a pure heart and dedicated to kindness. Since 2025 is the year of the snake, I thought it would be nice to pay my respects. I started by taking advantage of the 撫で白蛇 Nade Shirohebi. I’ll let you translate that one! But this feature of the snake hollow shrine was supposed to bring good fortune and health, so I held my wife in my thoughts since she has been struggling lately. Then I visited the 銭回し Zeni Mawashi and 銭洗い所 Zeni Arai-sho. This is where you bless your money and wash it to purify. The mawashi helps to circulate wealth more freely among people. And the washing cleanses in case there were any ill gotten gains. I guess it is a sort of spiritual money laundering! Of course I brought my 集印帳 shūin-chō and received a nice stamp for the year of the ...