Mirror system works here in Tenakawa village.

Dear Friends and readers

We are still facing hot summer days in Japan.

Today, I would love to share with friends about ceremony I documented.

This called "Tanabata" which means " Evening of Seventh "
Like a traditional star festival.

But here in Tenkawa, because of The river of heaven and 7th of July (in old calendar 13th Aug).
This has lots of meaning in Tanabata.

Tenkawa means milky way galaxy in solar system. River is representing milky way here.
and this time of year, milky way set perfectly mirror with river. so, universally connected area and
this Tanabata and Obon are meeting and welcoming ancestors, this mirror system area has lot to
do with this universal approach.

I confused in first, because now these days, Tanabata is more casual wishing day for children and
lost meaning behind, but now I understood more human, ancestor, earth and universe connection.

Here is some snap of the day.

Back stage photo,  well prepared and so real. Those foods present to Gods. 

Tanabata use lots of bamboo trees for decoration. 

Daytime before ceremony at shrine main stages. 

People wrote wishes and put on bamboo. 

If anyone wishes to send message to ancestors, wrote your name and wrap to candle for the night.

This is Koyasan style of ceremony. Every details has meaning. 

This is candle with message to ancestors. This candle was everywhere in shrine. 

Each candle with message,  someone said "candle is like a life." 

Special guest performed piano to Gods and spirits of ancestors. 

Candle was beautifully set. artistic approach without strong intention. 

Some candle representing sprit of fire. warm gentle light from bee-wax candle by master "Masanao".

Tanabata decoration. Reflection by candles, fascinating. 

Next day "Goma taki" fire ceremony was formally groundling our spirits and sublimation of ancestor's spirits.

Smoke looks like living artman. It moves like a dragon. 

There is no universal approach of fire than this. This is spirit= Universal fire. 

This has lots of means, I keep learning the source of Japanese spirits here in Tenkawa. 

 It's very universal approach I heard from Shrine Master. More I learn and more I deeply understood.
What a amazing place. Tenkawa.

Thank you for reading.