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Devils Make Sneak Attack on Japanese Spring Ritual - Setsubun
This February 3rd on Setsubun, the Japanese version of Groundhog Day where Japanese drive away evils, bad luck, and Winter. a sudden snowstorm hit Tokyo in the wee hours mucking up train schedules, flights, and traffic. The work of devils seeking to thrawt the annual exorcism rite known as Setsubun? This February 3rd on Setsubun, the Japanese version of Groundhog Day where Japanese drive away evils, bad luck, and Winter. a sudden s... more
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Setsubun - Japanese Spring Cleaning Exorcism
Here's a vlog of me explaining the Japanese holiday of Setsubun which is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up together. It's a day where Japanese seek to drive Oni or Devils from their homes by throwing beans at them. Oni don't like beans - makes them go blind apparently.
Also many temples and shrines have mami-maki which is where people throw beans and other items at gathered crowds. To catch these items is to bring you good luck all year.
This Setsubun a sudden snowstorm struck in Tokyo. A rather ominious sign as the Setsubun is a Spring Ritual and exorcising the devils is like driving Winter out. I think it was a sneak attack by the Setsubun Devils myself. However the ritual must have worked because the next morning the sun was out.
I plan to do a proper pod on this in the near future so stay tuned! Here's a vlog of me explaining the Japanese holiday of Setsubun which is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled ... more -
Setsubun: Japanese Drive Devils Out in Spring Ritual
February 3rd in Japan is Setsubun, a spring holiday that is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up into one with a dash of "The Exorcist." On Setsubun, Japanese seek to drive evil out of their homes by tossing a handful of beans and saying "Oni wa Soto! Fuku wa Uchi!" - "Bad Luck (Devils) out! Good Luck In!" Also many people go to temples and shrines for mame-maki. Mame-maki is where people throw beans and other things to the crowds for good luck. Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese holidays. February 3rd in Japan is Setsubun, a spring holiday that is like Groundhog Day, New Years, and Halloween all rolled up into one with a... more
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Phuck you Punxsutawney Phil
Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of winter.
Now, more than ever we need a time traveling Bill Murray to save us from the icy armaggeddon this rodent has doomed us to. Brace yourself for more wintry weather. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Saturday, leading the groundhog to forecast six more weeks of... more -
Six more weeks of winter
Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow. Happy Groundhog Day!
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Imbolc And The Pagan Groundhog
by Marisa
Most of us know Imbolc by its more mainstream moniker, Groundhog Day, a day on which a prophetic Pennsylvanian groundhog alerts us to the coming of spring. Less well known, is that this unusual holiday is grounded (ahem) in rich Pagan history.
The word Imbolc derives from the Gaelic "Oimelc" (ewe's milk), referencing the seasonal lactation of pregnant ewes as spring approaches. In Ireland, Imbolc honored the Goddess Brigid in her maiden state, as she lured the youthful Sun God's return with candlelight and "Brigid's Crosses" (equilateral crosses encased in circles, representing the Wheel of the Year). Eventually Christian traditions integrated Imbolc, renaming it Candlemas and shifting the candle-lighting focus to the Virgin Mary.
What does this have to do with a groundhog? By Pagan legend, Brigid's snake would emerge from her womb (do with that symbolism as you like) on Imbolc to determine the proximity of spring. To the same end, in Brittany, grain sheaves were thrown on a fire - with the pace of the burn representing the speed of spring's approach.
So sure, our groundhog tradition has the seasonal fortune-telling angle covered, but this year maybe round out the holiday with additional Imbolc rituals, such as fashioning a Brigid's Cross to hang protectively over your door, tossing coins in a well for fortune, or cleaning your home, both physically and spiritually with a smudging of sage and sprinkling of lavender or rosemary water. Then settle into a candlelit purification bath, and await the forecast on spring.
http://www.dailymantra.com by Marisa ... more
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