It Happens Because It Needs To

An unremarkable day in June, in an unremarkable week.

Six trees dying of matsukuimushi, pine wilt, at risk of hitting the power lines. Six trees with thin brown rope and white lightning-shaped tassels. Six trees with a bonten, small stick also with white lightning-shaped tassels, placed in front. A simple offering of rice and salt completes the picture.

The woodsman, Akimoto-san, suggested the rite as a matter of course. Although it wasn’t really a suggestion, it happens because it needs to. The Shinto priest, Kobayashi-san, merely obliged.

Kakemakumo kashikoki…

Kobayashi-san begins the purification rite before handing Akimoto-san a ceremonial ax and pointing where to strike.

Chop. Chop. Chop.

Three hits is all that is needed. The spirit of the trees have entered the bonten, and now the trees are ready to be felled.

In Japan, rites like this are just as unremarkable as pulling the weeds out. They are a non-event and require no thought, a feeling passed down over the centuries. For the ancient Japanese, there was no need to think about revering nature. They just knew to do it. 

Yamabushi are the same, and this is what we train for.

Master Hoshino always talks about leading from your soul. Forget about your thinking mind for a few seconds, and ask your heart what it is feeling.

Then do that.